Taking a Stand

by Cody

I know first-hand the effect that drug-use can have on a person.  I have seen my dad progress in his drug use as far back as I can remember.  He started using marijuana shortly before I was born.  Over the last 11 years he has gone to using other drugs.

When he used marijuana he was somewhat irresponsible and would make promises to me that he would never keep.  Often times he would visit me for five minutes and then he would have to leave.  It made me feel that I wasn’t as important as his drugs.  He also couldn’t get a job because he would have to take a drug test to be hired.

When he started using drugs he stopped visiting me because he knew that my mom would realize that he was on drugs and that would cause problems.  He ended up getting caught and went to jail.

About three years ago he was a passenger in his friend’s vehicle; both of them were drunk.  They were speeding more than 100 miles an hour and lost control of the vehicle.  It left the road, severed through a tree, and then hit a utility line pole.  The car rolled several times and ejected my dad as it was rolling.  He had to be transported to the hospital in a helicopter, and he had injuries that were so severe that there was a possibility he could die from them.  He didn’t die, but he had a broken back, collar bone, six ribs, shoulder, and collapsed his lung.  He promised he would never touch drugs again.

For about a year after the accident he stayed drug free, and he took me for regular visits and spent time with me like a normal dad does.  Then he went back to using drugs and being irresponsible again.

I have seen in watching my dad that once you start to use drugs it’s almost impossible to stop.  When I was little I use to wonder what I could do to make him stop, but now I’m starting to understand that there is nothing I have done or can do to change it.  The addiction is too strong, and if almost dying didn’t make him stop there is nothing that will.  His drug use has caused him to cough a lot, have slurred speech, and not care how much he hurts me or anyone else. 

My mom tells me that it’s not that he doesn’t care, but the drugs have turned him into a stranger in his body.  He was recently charged with his second offense and ended up in prison for 12 ½ years, plus up to six years more because it’s his second time being charged for drugs.

Being the son of a drug addict has made my life hard.  When I see other kids with their dads it makes me sad because I don’t have that, too.  I have a stepdad who is more of a dad to me than my dad ever was, but from the years of disappointment from my real dad it makes it harder for me to have trust in anyone that’s suppose to be a dad to me.  I think that people shouldn’t abuse drugs because all they end up doing is hurting other people.

I feel that DARE is a good idea because when kids in DARE get to high school it can keep them from abusing drugs.  Eventually, abusing drugs can cause someone to become violent, irresponsible, and make their children’s childhood very sad.  I think it is important to be drug free and avoid violence.  It could be the difference between living a long, healthy life, or dying young, being sick a lot, or being in prison for years.  I think it’s worth saying NO to drugs because it means you’ll have a better life. I will never do drugs because I wouldn’t ever want my kids to feel how I have felt growing up.

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