Pubdate: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Author: Madelaine Christian PEOPLE TOO I am a close family member to drug addicts. The addicts have nephews and nieces, they have mothers (who sometimes had to be a father too), they have fathers and stepfathers (who love them just as much as their own). Addicts have brothers and sisters who worry about them, they have children who care and love them unconditionally, they have significant others who love them and worry too. When dealers are selling their addictive death, do they think about the pain we, their family, are left behind with or just the stupidness they started selling the addicts? I have watched each of my family members who are addicts change drastically, they have lost their homes, their jobs, their lifestyles, their personalities along with their reason for living. I do not understand why dealers choose to sell death as a business. Lies and denial are unacceptable and we people do not find this acceptable in reality. We see them as hurting souls but not only to the addicts themselves but also the ones that love them and all those around. We should not be trying to hurt the ones we teach (our futures) but try to encourage and help show them they are strong and not weak. If we take a look into the past to find out what has happened to make us the way we are, only then can we find what we have to do to change our futures. Please look inside yourselves to find out what has to change in order for our futures to look ahead proudly. Madelaine Christian - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom