I recently had the experience of listening to Rich Barnes speak about his life-long battle with drugs and alcohol. On April 12, 2012 at the Whitman-Hanson High School he spoke to a packed room of approximately 75 people that included students, parents and faculty. I was amazed throughout the entire presentation. There was not a sound in the room as Rich spoke.
I am a Registered Nurse and the mother of tow sons, ages 11 and 14. Working in an Emergency Department for 3 years has given me a very personal, close-up, first hand look at the devastation that drugs and alcohol can inflict on its victims. To me, as I listened to Rich speak, all I could picture were “demons or monsters” in cloud0like formations hovering around him as he recalled the many instances where he was controlled by drugs, alcohol or both. These are the demons that controlled his life for such a long time, until he found the strength to crush them. His experiences were “real” and “true to life” as he spoke I thought of the countless people that I know who went through the same ordeal or stories that I have read in the newspaper and circumstances that I knew were possible! Listening to Rich speak made me think of the abundant number of patients/victims who I have seen come into the Emergency Department. They come in barely conscious, unresponsive or many times DEAD. Their families are usually following behind them, distraught and overcome with sadness. The family appears exhausted, consumed with grief and feelings of guilt. Always saying “I should have done more to help them with their addiction.”
I have been sharing these awful stories of drug overdoses and alcohol/drug-related incidents with my children for years. At first I thought “they might be too young” or “maybe this information is too mature for them” but then I thought “someone else might show them a bottle or a needle or a pipe telling them how good it made them feel.” I decided that it was better for them to hear it from me, being their mother, their biggest supporter and advocate and also the one who loves them most. My children have also taken the opportunity during our conversations to ask questions, express concerns and more recently discuss their own peer pressure. Developing this type of parent/child relationship is crucial if you want your children to feel comfortable talking to you about ANYTHING!
I feel strongly that education young people about the damaging effects drug and alcohol can have on a person and their family should be an option. This education should be MANDATORY! The presentation that Rich gave was true life story, made up of many chapters with one novel. There was something in this presentation that everyone could relate to. I am glad that I went and I hope to bring my children to hear his story at some point in the near future.
Laura McCarthy, RN