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
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom