“When a child uses drugs, we assume that he/she is the only one who suffers. However, the family is suffering as much if not more, becuase they see their child in trouble and yet they are powerless to help them.” These are the words of a Former Crack Cocaine and Crystal Meth Addict located in florida, we’ll call him “Z”

When I used, I knew my family was feeling the pain to, but I didn’t care - I just wanted the high. As my addiction got more and more out of control, I started to notice the obviuos. I noticed my rapid weight Lost, bad breathe, Bad hygiene – Sometimes I’d forget to take showers for days.

I also started to notice that my family who became so fustrated with their failure to fix my addiction, that they began ressembling me. My Mother started loosing weight, started having nervous spells, couldn’t sleep, lost her apitite for life or anything else – she became addicted to wanting to help me/ fix my addiction. I mention my mother here, but my entire family – my sister, two brothers and even my farther started looking like addicts. As addicts we forget that the families also suffer, they serve the same sentence that we serve – our pain is their pain.

When I decided/court ordered to go into rehab, my family served that sentence with me as well – all three  times I relapsed. Now, it’s been almost 4 years since the last time I picked up. I have to say, the feeling of being clean is greater than any high I’ve ever exprienced. Since rehab “I am finally able to be a son to my parents, a brother to my siblings and a friend to all those who beleived and stood by me even when all hope seemed lost.”