Be Sure They Know the Danger

In what now seems like a long time ago I had a very intimate and emotional conversation with Lauren. It was quite early in the morning. I had just finished what I have done every morning for as long as I can remember, read the Bible, pray reflect. As a person of faith I feel it helps. The morning in question was one where I felt an extreme heaviness about all that had been happening in our family and in the life of our daughter LaLa (Lauren). In one sentence, I felt completely overwhelmed in my spirit.

ONE OF THE THINGS I AM MOST HAPPY ABOUT DOING

As I headed up our stairs to my bathroom I went to slip a note I had written for Lauren every morning from the first time she entered rehab at a place called Walden, it is one of the foremost treatment centers for someone battling an eating disorder. The post “Looking at This Image Hurts” tells more about LaLa’s experience there, and the documentary “Thin” shares what it feels like for people facing eating disorders in treatment at another well-known treatment center called Renfrew.

When Lauren started the program I would text her a note of encouragement every morning and evening. I wanted to help her know we were with her.

After she left the residential program for the next level of care she was living at home again, so I stopped texting her the notes. In conversation with her mom, Lauren asked if I would continue writing the morning ones. She felt they helped her. It’s amazing how during conflicts happening in our homes with the people we care the most about we misread the impact some of our actions have in the shadow of the negatives. As a result, I wrote her a note every morning, I missed two, up to the day she passed away.

As I was slipping the note under the door Lauren invited me in. There were many nights and early mornings where Lauren just could not sleep, this was one of them.

THE HEART IS ALWAYS RIGHT

I sat on the end of her bed and began sharing how heavy my heart was. I revealed my great fear, through a stream of tears, of the possibility of losing her. At some point, I could no longer control my feelings and wept openly. LaLa’s response was to sit up and hug me tightly. We held each other for a long time and she finally whispered “I won’t let that happen dad.”

At that moment I wanted so much to know that was what would happen. Lauren would overcome her addiction, anxiety, and anorexia … she would be happy again. At the same time, I knew that Lauren really wanted to keep that promise with every fiber of her being. Everyone fighting addiction does, but sadly it is a very dangerous process.

PLAYING WITH DRUGS HAS BECOME VERY DANGEROUS

The problem has become increasingly dangerous with a dramatic increase in fentanyl coming into the US from China in many ways but mostly Mexico. In June it was reported that the amount of fentanyl coming in from the South has increased by 338%. Since 2018 the increase has been 4000%.

Unfortunately, that means only one thing, more people we love are being lost. In this report, a dad shares about losing his daughter 2 days before Christmas. She thought she was taking Oxycodone, it wasn’t it was a bootleg fentanyl pill.

The national Center for Health Statistics estimates that opioid overdoses will soon be over 100,000 per year. In the twelve-month period ending April 2021, there have been an estimated 76,000 opioid-related overdoses. More than any previous year.

Please be sure to let young people and those you love know about the risks of fentanyl being mixed with pretty much every illegal drug available including pot and bootleg pills.

Let them know how dangerous playing with drugs has become.

This is a very helpful podcast that discusses ways we can be more effective in helping people we love in adiiction “There’s No Good Plan to Stop 100,000 opioid Deaths Year”

This weeks featured image is called “Dreaming in Darkness” by Brooke Shaden. Please keep dreaming the best for you and that person you love, no matter how dark it may get!