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I can’t get the images from this site out of my mind… but I’m still glad I saw them.
I literally sat stunned and watched each horrific video ad.
I prayed for all the children and their mothers whose lives have been destroyed by Meth. I prayed that when my girls reach Jr. High, I’ll be equipped to help them avoid making the mistake of using such devastating drugs. I prayed that every day until then, I will be able to help them grow into strong, secure girls who will say “not even once”.
If your children are nearing 12 or 13 years of age or older… I think you might want to take a look. I know if my children were old enough to go to parties on their own, I’d sit down with them and read through the stories on this site.
Meth is everywhere. I remember one young teenage girl telling Janice that it was easier for her as a 13 year old girl to purchase Crystal Meth than it was for her to purchase cigarettes.
I think it would be helpful for us as moms to share our experiences and hopefully we can learn from each other.
Have you talked to your kids about Meth and other drugs? If so, how did the conversation go? What did you say and how did your child respond?
Have you found any helpful websites, books or other resources that can help parents figure out what to say to their children to effectively warn them about drugs?
Do you have any personal experiences that you’d like to share to help other moms?
Please leave a comment on this post and let us know. If you want to share a longer story, feel free to write about it on your own blog and then link to it here in the comments.
Let’s work together to help keep all kids away from Meth.
Alexandra says
I just want to say, I find it awesome, amazing ect. that you all are looking at this. But I think we all need to realize, its not a set age thing, like show in their teens, I know at least 4 people that started doing drugs at age 9. I also think its great that you have such high hopes that your children will not lie to you. Look at the pressure kids have these days, its so easy to find a way, when there is a will there is a way. You have a front door what are you going to do if they run out it, call them in as run aways… search for them…
As having two brothers that are twins that are meth addicts, at the age of 12 for one and 15 for the other, i know too well that statement.
I’ve never tried meth, we grew up in the same house. So never say never.
My brothers always say I have no clue, they’ll go to treatment centers pass, and be right back where they were at. It never seems to end. They are both now 16, and one has a 11 month old daughter. My mom, was always honest with all of us. She set rules, she tried so many ways.
I am going into my third year of college. I have a third brother that is starting college this year. You can’t believe the pain of watching this unless you’ve been there. Two amazing boys with hearts of gold, tweaking out thinking there are FBI in the house and the sleeping bag on the chair is a large animal out to get them. And here you are and one other brother going to school having jobs, and not knowing what to do.
I think if you are a mom, or sister, brother, any form of close friend…
You have to know, YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM CHANGE UNLESS THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEY WON’T STOP UNLESS THEY WANT TO STOP…
So make sure for those of you, that you realize you can’t feel guilty about the choices you make, that it was their choice. Me and my brother had the same life as the two 16 yr old brothers… the same mom, the same house, the same almost everything… and yet if you meet us, you’d have no clue.
I also love the videos…
I send them to my brothers…
and there is pics on google…
i print them off and leave them around them…
it made one of them admit himself at 14 for treatment and was clean for a 342 days…
then he stopped basketball… he was bored and missed his old friends and boom back in…
I hope this helps someone anyone…
be strong and keep faith… just remember to keep yourself healthy and strong… and talk about it with others… like councilor and therapist or a friend, cause the guilt inside can really mess with the family.
Sisterlisa says
Dot, ‘kids’ won’t look like those videos. But it DOES happen and the very first time a person uses meth they can become extremely addicted.
Ladies, please don’t let your kids be unsupervised. Meth KILLS. I have seen it.
Sisterlisa says
Susan and Janice, My husband is the Executivce Director and Recovery Pastor of a recovery home. We deal with meth users in recovery everyday and assist families in fidning help and resources for their loved ones who are addicts. My husband has a counseling institute that teaches and equips others in helping addicts to get help and counseling. I took his classes and got certified as well to be an addiction counselor. This is our ministry. If you have any questions let me know.
You can read more about my testimony here:
http://ourapplesofgold.blogspot.com/2007/08/why-me.html
I think all tweens, depending on maturity level, should see videos such as those. And my children will not ever attend parties where I don’t personally know the parents and their home life myself. Parents should always have homefield advantage by hosting activities in their own home so you can supervise your children.
Diane says
I have been living the experiance right now and for the past 6 years with my brother. I don’t keep in contact with him, but I do hear often that he is still around the neighborhood where we grew up.He is now 33. 6 years ago he broke his back and was put on pain killers. Being addicted to those is not very pleasent. He is now a meth addict which has ruined his marriage.It’s also leaving a big hole of uncertainty in our families lives. He can only help himself at this point. We have done everything we can to help. Sorry to ramble it just helps to talk about it!
Thanks
Michele says
Thank you ladies for sharing this information. I have a 13 year old sister and I’ve sent this link to my Mother so that she can share it with her.
Jacquie says
In Canada, there is a bill being debated on this issue this Friday!
Chris Warkentin (MP for Peace River, AB) has brought forth an amazing bill, Bill C-428 which is making great progress in the House of Commons. This legislation will make production and sale of crystal-meth illegal.
C-428 will be debated in the House of Commons on Friday February 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm and will likely go to a final in the next week (TBA). Please keep this bill in prayer. We are believing that it will not only pass the House swiftly but will also receive Royal Assent from the Senate swiftly.
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=223714
Susan says
Thank you Ladies so much for sharing your experiences.
Wow Lori, that must have been so hard watching your Dad go through that. But it’s so good to hear you were able to turn it into a learning experience.
Great comment Dot. You’re right… people can definitely be hooked on it and not look any different. That’s an important point to discuss with kids.
Angela says
I first found these ads through the Montana meth project. When they started this they had the highest use in the country I think. Now they are in the middle. Idaho where I live just started doing it too. They are horribly graphic and even scare me. BUT they show the real side of Meth that most people don’t think about. One on the radio today had a “user” discussing how it only took a month to ruin his life after his first time. And all of them talk about how just once is enough. I think they are great.
Dot says
I have nieces and nephews that are hooked on meth….they don’t all look like the meth addicts in those commercials…sometimes you can’t even tell from the appearance. You can usually tell by the actions now and maybe the appearance years down the road. So I hope kids don’t think, “Johnny doesn’t look like that, so that commercial isn’t true.” But other than that I think those commercials are great ways to get dialog started about drugs. Another good resource is the show “Intervention” on A&E…although it would be more for older teens, I would think.
Thanks for posting such a heavy, but necessary, topic.
Lori says
During my teenage years, when I lived with my father, I had the fortunate experience of seeing my dad do meth, shoot heroin, etc. You may wonder why I say “fortunate” but I believe seeing it made me hate it. I was able to see what it did to a person and it made my not ever want to be like that. I’m EXTREMELY upfront with my kids about drugs. They have seen my dad in prison, I’ve told visionary stories about what I’ve seen and can only hope they make the right choices. One of the hardest things about being a parent is trusting our kids. I hope that our VERY open line of communication helps in the long run.
Lindsey says
Wow, the first video with the girl in the shower really had me scared. That video is the best out of all of them. Although it’s to help kids, I think it’s good. Thanks for sharing that site.