Post by Teresa on Feb 3, 2006 19:59:31 GMT -5
Letters To Editor WC News Telegraph Cleveland GA
Family wants to start group to help drug addicts
I was encouraged to see the article in a recent edition of the White County News-Telegraph on the Drug Court in White County because I have been contemplating writing this column. I would like to share a painful story and some insight to an addict's life.
One of my brothers missed the drug court; he did not qualify. You see, my brother is a methamphetamine addict, one of the hardest drugs to kick. The use of methamphetamine destroys dopamine in your body.
Dopamine is what your body naturally produces to make you feel good about yourself; it's your self-esteem, your self-worth. After one hit of meth, it will take your body years to completely heal itself. Meth users will do whatever it takes to get a high, even if it is against the law. An addict will eventually break the law if he cannot afford his habit.
An addict may sound horrific to you, but to me it's the saddest experience I have ever had. My brother is a great man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He's a wonderful person and a loving father to his son.
What happened? My brother is waiting to be transferred to a state facility for a probation violation where he was sentenced for two years. Our family is no stranger to addictions. Our father is an alcoholic and abandoned our family when we were very young. Studies show that the addiction is hereditary. I thank God each day that He spared me.
Read the following poem that my brother and an inmate wrote describing the life they live. He has asked us to put this poem in every room in the house to help us all remember what he is going through. Take a look into my brother's soul - an addict's soul:
I destroy homes; I tear families apart. I take your children, and that's just a start.
I'm more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold. The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
If you need me, remember I'm easily found. I live all around you, in schools and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor. I live down the street and maybe next door.
I'm made in a lab, not like you would think. I can even be made under your kitchen sink.
I can be made in a child's closet or deep in the woods. If this scares you, well it certainly should.
I have many names; there is one you know best. You've heard it before - my name's Crystal Meth.
My power is awesome; just try me you'll see. If you do, though, you may never break free.
Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me some more and I'll own your soul.
When I control you, you'll steal and you'll lie. You'll do whatever it takes just to get high.
The crimes you commit for my narcotic charms are not worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.
You'll lie to your mother and steal from your dad. When you see their tears, you won't even feel sad.
Forget your morals and how you were raised. I'll be your new conscience and teach you new ways.
I take kids from parents and parents from kids. I turn away people from God and from friends.
I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride. I'll always be with you right by your side. You'll give up all - your money, your family, your home. When I get done you'll be all alone.
I'll take and take until you've nothing to give. When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.
If you try me, be warned - this isn't a game. Given the chance, I'll drive you insane.
I'll ravage your body; take control of your mind. I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine.
I'm the nightmares you'll have while lying in bed, the voices you'll hear inside your head.
The shakes and sweats and visions you'll see; I want you to know they are all gifts from me.
By now it's too late and you know in your heart; you're mine forever and we'll never part.
You'll regret you tried me, they always do. Remember though, you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen; many times you were told. But you tested my power and chose to behold.
You could have said, "No," and just walked away. If you had it to do over, now what would you say?
I'll be your master; you'll do as I say from now until the grave in which you lay.
Now you've met me; what will you do? Will you try me or not - it's all up to you.
I'll give you more misery than mere words can tell. Come take my hand, Child, I'll lead you to Hell.
This drug is not like the other drugs that have plagued this area.
Meth is so overpowering that there are few addicts who can overcome this addiction without outside help.
Withdrawals can last up to two years. It destroys their minds and bodies. I appreciate the state's hard work concerning the newly-formed Drug Courts.
But what about the addicts who didn't qualify or who failed the program? They and their families need help, too. From what I've seen about the Drug Court, it does hold the person accountable and responsible. I know my brother made his own choices and must pay the price, but he must be held accountable. He's an addict. I do not feel that the system held my brother accountable.
If you give addicts an inch, they will take a mile. That's their nature, it's part of their addictive behavior. I could give you numerous examples on where I feel the system let my brother down but at this time I'd rather share my ideas and focus on positives.
He needs personal and family counseling. He needs anger management. He needs addiction education. He needs financial planning. He needs job skills and job placement because no one will hire him. He needs a whole lot of Jesus and caring people who won't judge him. Without these, he will not even begin to survive what has consumed him for so long.
There are others - a mother with three children who failed two drug screens while in Drug Court and was sentenced to 10 years, serve two in prison. What about her children and husband she left behind? The state of Georgia needs to develop a comprehensive program for addicts in general and consider alternative ways to help drug offenders help themselves.
Hats off to Corrections Commissioner James Donald in pursuing legislation that will help prisoners learn job skills, work ethics, job placement, pay child support and even save money that will help inmates once they are released.
When my brother is released, he will get $25 in cash and a one-way bus ticket.
I love my brother. My family is committed to finding help for my brother and other addicts in our area.
I ask for your prayers as we begin a process to find help for families like ours in North Georgia. It is too late for my father. He has alcohol dementia and is in an Alzheimer's care facility.
But it is not too late for my brother and others like him.
If you are interested in helping addicts become contributing members of our community and bring families back together, please contact me at: days (9 a.m-5 p.m.) 865-2378; nights (5-9 p.m.), 865-6931 or my mother, Helen Fincher, 865-5100.
Sharon Lee of Cleveland is a White County business owner.
Family wants to start group to help drug addicts
I was encouraged to see the article in a recent edition of the White County News-Telegraph on the Drug Court in White County because I have been contemplating writing this column. I would like to share a painful story and some insight to an addict's life.
One of my brothers missed the drug court; he did not qualify. You see, my brother is a methamphetamine addict, one of the hardest drugs to kick. The use of methamphetamine destroys dopamine in your body.
Dopamine is what your body naturally produces to make you feel good about yourself; it's your self-esteem, your self-worth. After one hit of meth, it will take your body years to completely heal itself. Meth users will do whatever it takes to get a high, even if it is against the law. An addict will eventually break the law if he cannot afford his habit.
An addict may sound horrific to you, but to me it's the saddest experience I have ever had. My brother is a great man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He's a wonderful person and a loving father to his son.
What happened? My brother is waiting to be transferred to a state facility for a probation violation where he was sentenced for two years. Our family is no stranger to addictions. Our father is an alcoholic and abandoned our family when we were very young. Studies show that the addiction is hereditary. I thank God each day that He spared me.
Read the following poem that my brother and an inmate wrote describing the life they live. He has asked us to put this poem in every room in the house to help us all remember what he is going through. Take a look into my brother's soul - an addict's soul:
I destroy homes; I tear families apart. I take your children, and that's just a start.
I'm more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold. The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
If you need me, remember I'm easily found. I live all around you, in schools and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor. I live down the street and maybe next door.
I'm made in a lab, not like you would think. I can even be made under your kitchen sink.
I can be made in a child's closet or deep in the woods. If this scares you, well it certainly should.
I have many names; there is one you know best. You've heard it before - my name's Crystal Meth.
My power is awesome; just try me you'll see. If you do, though, you may never break free.
Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me some more and I'll own your soul.
When I control you, you'll steal and you'll lie. You'll do whatever it takes just to get high.
The crimes you commit for my narcotic charms are not worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.
You'll lie to your mother and steal from your dad. When you see their tears, you won't even feel sad.
Forget your morals and how you were raised. I'll be your new conscience and teach you new ways.
I take kids from parents and parents from kids. I turn away people from God and from friends.
I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride. I'll always be with you right by your side. You'll give up all - your money, your family, your home. When I get done you'll be all alone.
I'll take and take until you've nothing to give. When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.
If you try me, be warned - this isn't a game. Given the chance, I'll drive you insane.
I'll ravage your body; take control of your mind. I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine.
I'm the nightmares you'll have while lying in bed, the voices you'll hear inside your head.
The shakes and sweats and visions you'll see; I want you to know they are all gifts from me.
By now it's too late and you know in your heart; you're mine forever and we'll never part.
You'll regret you tried me, they always do. Remember though, you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen; many times you were told. But you tested my power and chose to behold.
You could have said, "No," and just walked away. If you had it to do over, now what would you say?
I'll be your master; you'll do as I say from now until the grave in which you lay.
Now you've met me; what will you do? Will you try me or not - it's all up to you.
I'll give you more misery than mere words can tell. Come take my hand, Child, I'll lead you to Hell.
This drug is not like the other drugs that have plagued this area.
Meth is so overpowering that there are few addicts who can overcome this addiction without outside help.
Withdrawals can last up to two years. It destroys their minds and bodies. I appreciate the state's hard work concerning the newly-formed Drug Courts.
But what about the addicts who didn't qualify or who failed the program? They and their families need help, too. From what I've seen about the Drug Court, it does hold the person accountable and responsible. I know my brother made his own choices and must pay the price, but he must be held accountable. He's an addict. I do not feel that the system held my brother accountable.
If you give addicts an inch, they will take a mile. That's their nature, it's part of their addictive behavior. I could give you numerous examples on where I feel the system let my brother down but at this time I'd rather share my ideas and focus on positives.
He needs personal and family counseling. He needs anger management. He needs addiction education. He needs financial planning. He needs job skills and job placement because no one will hire him. He needs a whole lot of Jesus and caring people who won't judge him. Without these, he will not even begin to survive what has consumed him for so long.
There are others - a mother with three children who failed two drug screens while in Drug Court and was sentenced to 10 years, serve two in prison. What about her children and husband she left behind? The state of Georgia needs to develop a comprehensive program for addicts in general and consider alternative ways to help drug offenders help themselves.
Hats off to Corrections Commissioner James Donald in pursuing legislation that will help prisoners learn job skills, work ethics, job placement, pay child support and even save money that will help inmates once they are released.
When my brother is released, he will get $25 in cash and a one-way bus ticket.
I love my brother. My family is committed to finding help for my brother and other addicts in our area.
I ask for your prayers as we begin a process to find help for families like ours in North Georgia. It is too late for my father. He has alcohol dementia and is in an Alzheimer's care facility.
But it is not too late for my brother and others like him.
If you are interested in helping addicts become contributing members of our community and bring families back together, please contact me at: days (9 a.m-5 p.m.) 865-2378; nights (5-9 p.m.), 865-6931 or my mother, Helen Fincher, 865-5100.
Sharon Lee of Cleveland is a White County business owner.