Drug Addiction Stories & Info

Most people look forward to New Year’s. I look on it as a reminder of a major wakeup call. It was New Year’s Eve, 2007. I was 17 and enjoying my senior year. College, work, the military, one of them loomed ahead but I did not care that night. It was all about party time then 

My girlfriend Amanda came up to me and started goofing off with a permanent marker, laughing that she was staking her territory. She wrote her name on my chest close to my heart. Then just as I thought she was going to lean in to kiss me, she began throwing up. We helped her over to the couch where she promptly passed out. 

Everyone laughed but after a little bit I went to check on her. She did not look like she was breathing. I yelled for my buddies and her friends to come quick. Daniel was in ROTC and started CPR. Amber called 911. We were still trying to get her to breathe when they pulled up. They immediately went to work on her and when one of the paramedics yelled “She’s breathing!” we all looked at each other with relief.

The cops had showed up also and we were all reprimanded and our names taken. My uncle came and got me and we drove immediately to the hospital. Amanda was in ICU. She stayed there for several days. The doctor said she had alcohol poisoning but would pull through. He said she was very lucky as many teens die from alcohol poisoning every year.

Amanda and I parted ways after high school but really, things had never been right between us after that night. I thought about how close she came to dying. Each time we tried to talk about it, it felt like she was accusing me and our friends yet we went into action immediately after we noticed she was not breathing. It had been a wakeup call for all of us.

I got a job working for my uncle at his repair shop. I plan to start college next year. The last couple of years since I finished high school have been different than I planned. I have lost touch with some of my friends I used to party with and my uncle said I have really matured. I am thankful every day that Amanda is okay and I am grateful for my own wakeup call that night.