Drug Addiction Stories & Info

A few days ago, I went to bed exhausted after spending the day at the Food Bank. While I enjoyed the feelings I got out of helping others, pleasantly finding out that I was being just as blessed emotionally as they were physically, it had still been an exhausting day. As a result, I went to bed early. Still, when the phone rang about 2:30 a.m., I was terrified that something may have happened to my son who goes to college at a well known and popular one. I admit it was with relief when I heard my brother’s voice. 

I could tell he was agitated. “Sis”, he said to me, “please, I need some money. I have to get a fix or I am going to go crazy.” I begged David to tell me where he was. Then I called a cab to go pick him up.

When David arrived, I was ready for him. My husband and I sat down with him. He was looking around but didn’t want to make a scene in hopes of getting some cash from us. Then his eyes fell on the family photo albums. He picked one up and saw pictures of himself and Tara. He began crying.

“This is why I need a fix, Sis. She is always on my mind and I keep remembering how it was suppose to be.”

Then, it was almost as if Tara was there. I suddenly knew what I needed to say to David.

“If Tara were able to be here, David, you know she would be. She would have done anything in the world for you. Didn’t you feel the same way about her?”

He looked at me. “How can you ask me that? You know I loved her! I still do!”

“Then prove it.”

I told him that if he continued to throw his life away, it would be like throwing Tara’s life away. He had to get clean and live out of respect for her. She would not be able to rest in peace if she thought the love of her life had died that same night with her in a different sense of the word.

He broke down and cried. He had turned to drugs because he was hurting. Instead of jumping his case this time, I told him Tara needed him to get clean in honor of her memory. He agreed. He fell asleep on the couch and the next morning, with Tara’s picture still close by, he told me he meant it, he really wanted to get clean. I got him an appointment at the local treatment center and he was accepted that same day.

As he turned to walk away for his residential stay, he looked at me and said “I will do it this time, Sis. For Tara and for you.”

I really believe he will. Want to know why? Because I really believe Tara gave me the words to say that night. Thank you, Tara.