Your Child...Your Responsibility!

Stop, Talk & Listen is a public awareness campaign developed by Putting Youth First, an education subcommittee of the Centralia Area Drug Task Force in Centralia, IL.
 
Stop Talk & Listen is to raise the awareness of 6th, 7th & 8th grade parents about the harmful effects of underage drinking.

DRUG ADDICTION
You Think It Can’t Happen To Your Family
by Susan Sloat
Mother of Josh Sloat

You think drug addiction can’t happen to your family. That your kids would never let drugs control them, cause so much pain, and possibly cost them their lives or close to it. STOP! Read and try to picture it happening to your family because it happened to mine. I am more than happy to share my story in hopes it saves at least one person from using drugs.
  I never knew my son was a heroin addict. I never knew that the nice things I bought him were pawned for money to buy drugs. I never knew that his paycheck lasted only a couple of days, especially since he lived rent-free at home with hardly any bills. I never knew that when he needed to borrow money from me, and I gave it to him, that I was “enabling” him to “feed the monster” that had him hooked – Heroin. This is what I never knew. This is what I’ve learned.
  On 8-6-08 my son overdosed on heroin. I went to wake him up for work. There he was, lying across his bed, white froth coming out of the corners of his mouth, eyes rolled back, arms folded with a syringe laying on his chest. I screamed from him to wake up, slapping him in the face, checking for a pulse. There was still one – good! I ran downstairs and called 911. I ran back upstairs, still trying to wake my son. I hardly ever went upstairs and remember looking around his room. What a mess! Still screaming and shaking him, I was relieved to hear sirens – help at last! The police, firemen and EMT’s bolted up the steps. I came down. My heart was racing as was my mind. What it did to me to see my son that way still haunts me.
  I called my best friends to tell them my son had overdosed. They went directly to the E.R. and as soon as my son was in the ambulance, my fiancée and I headed to the E.R. too. I prayed the whole way. After the doctor had stabilized him I pulled up a chair and talked to him. I was scared; I was mad; I was full of questions as to why. How did I not see he had a problem? Now I felt it was my fault. After being in the E.R. for a while, two policemen came in and asked me to leave. A few minutes later I watched from the hall as my son was led out of the E.R. in handcuffs and was under arrest.
  I had seen my son near death that evening and now I’m watching him being led out in handcuffs. What a horrible night. He goes to jail. I go home and after coming inside the house, I faint. After I come to, I try to take in all that had transpired. I go up to his room. I cry. I pray. I clean. How did this happen?
  So…my son lived. He spent about 1 ½ months in jail and another 90 days in court ordered re-hab. That’s a lot of time for my little grandson, who is 3, to wonder where his daddy is. My son completed rehab and is now living out of the area in a half-way house with others who share his problem – dealing with addiction, one day at a time.
  He has a good job and is learning to be on his own at 22. He calls and comes to my house occasionally.
  I’ve never given up on him. He’s my son and my love is unconditional. As far as trust, I’m not there yet. I blamed myself first. Then I blamed every friend of his. (I still have no use for them.) Then I realized the one to blame for the hell my family and I endured was ultimately my son. I have forgiven him and have since learned what this wicked drug, heroin can do to someone. It’s out there, in your town, in your kids’ reach, and maybe even at your own door. Watch for signs, changes, etc.
  I didn’t know what to look for. Information is available. Read it – Share it – Don’t push it aside. Don’t say, “My family would never need to know about drugs, drug abuse and drug addiction.” You think it can’t happen to your family? THINK AGAIN! It’s easily obtained, and the drugs can change your life forever. Keep your eyes open and read up on drugs. It may just save your child, a friend or a relative. But in the big picture, it can save your family.
  My son wrote lyrics and music on his guitar of his overdose and how the drug possessed him. It’s hard to read but it’s the best song I’ve ever hear, especially since my son sings it. see song
  I thank God I met Chris Marler who inspired me to write a poem and gave me information and has been a tower of strength for me. When my son was released from rehab, I took him to meet her. It was a most precious moment when they hugged.
  Parents wake up!! It CAN happen to your family. It happened to mine.