This past week, I had the privilege of hearing Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens speak at the California Youth Services Open House—a non-profit organization that provides needed counsel and drug/alcohol education to parents and students in our county.
Sheriff Hutchens personally and professionally understands the negative impact of substance abuse on our culture and has made a career of trying to make our county a better place to raise a family. Beginning with statistics, she told us that underage drinking and substance abuse is on the rise across America. She added, that after 33 years in law enforcement, she was confident that a poll of every jail inmate would reveal either personal or family drug/alcohol abuse had been a factor in his or her crime. But in order to make an even stronger connection with us, Sheriff Hutchens shared that her father had been an alcoholic her entire life, until he died.
The same week, ABCNews shared the story of one family whose teenage son overdosed on a legal synthetic drug that he purchased at a local mall. Even just a little digging around reveals how easy and how cheap drugs can be purchased, especially by teens.
Why does a heart-broken family who just lost a child tell their story? To prevent other families experiencing such pain.
Why does a sheriff fight against the legalization of marijuana? Because she sees firsthand how the lives of those 1000's who commit crimes while under the influence of a mind-altering drugs are devastated.
Why did I attend the open house? It was not because I am the parent of a student at risk, but because as a former teenage alcoholic, and I believe that all adults—not just parents of teens or sheriffs--have to take seriously the cultural threats against our young generation of boys and girls.
How can you make a little change that will make a big result in your family or community?
Read and discuss the current stories about drugs and alcohol that include young adults, parents of teens and teens. Ask related questions to the families and students you know, such as, “Does this happen in your school or with your friends?” Support youth counseling organizations; attend events where professionals are trying to bring awareness to the community, become a “Big Brother or Big Sister,” or volunteer to be a foster grand-parent. You don’t have to be an expert. Just be available, caring and informed. The big result? Become a part of changing our culture.
Be encouraged,
Becky
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