This fact sheet is very dated, but, relates the story. I witnessed the son of a very dear friend of the family disintegrate into substance abuse.
Drugs are related to crime in multiple ways. (click here) Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines are examples of drugs classified to have abuse potential. Drugs are also related to crime through the effects they have on the user’s behavior and by generating violence and other illegal activity in connection with drug trafficking. The following scheme summarizes the various ways that drugs and crime are related
The young man had a sibling younger than he and was struggling with cancer. The family was dedicated to the ill child and in the meantime the older sibling, I will call Sam, was growing up in a normal and healthy body.
The young man had a sibling younger than he and was struggling with cancer. The family was dedicated to the ill child and in the meantime the older sibling, I will call Sam, was growing up in a normal and healthy body.
Years of exacerbation of the cancer and treatment would ultimately rid the boy of the disease. In retrospect the costs of the cancer went far beyond the treatment into the dissolve of the family.
As the afflicted son when through his therapies, sometimes days in the pediatric intensive care unit, the family disintegrated. The father divorced his wife, both were working and the older brother turned to substance abuse. The mother received custody because of an adulterous relationship by the father that later would fall apart.
Eventually, Sam's abuse of alcohol was so bad he was put out of the only home he knew. He was about 17 at that point and his grandparents took him in and decided it was Sam's turn for their dedicated attention.
The course of Sam's addiction took him past alcohol and into heroine addiction with a girl friend that became pregnant. He was in way over his head and sinking fast.
The grandparents took him by the hand and helped him get a job at a local fast food restaurant and set limits on his time away from home. He was given a new SUV to help him with his work schedule. They began to ask for information regarding his ability to learn and possible education in college.
A high school councilor responded to their inquiry. She stated while his grades have deteriorated over time, he was a very bright young man with high aptitudes of success. He maintained a good standing with his high school and achieved graduation, but, realized he would have to rehab his GPA in a community college before seeking scholarships or admission into what he saw as a very ambitious college career.
Sam wasn't a bad guy and had a family with resources to bring him to a life they wanted for him. What he didn't have was the ability to turn completely from substance abuse. The grandparent's plan was working to some extent, but, Sam was then faced with a girlfriend that had a miscarriage. They were planning to get married. The family didn't see the girlfriend as any part of the problem, but, she was his enabler.
After graduating from high school and working to pay for his own expenses the grandparents attended an open house at the local community college. Sam was excited about all of it. He really wanted it. It was obvious in every conversation anyone had with him, including me. Then comes the phone call.
Sam had broken the law. He and his girlfriend were caught breaking windows of cars on a dark street. They were arrested with articles taken from the cars. It was the first time for both of them. I was surprised, but, what I didn't know is the particular character of his addiction.
When I heard about the arrest a family member told me Sam was addicted to heroine. I knew that was nearly a death sentence. The family left him in jail rather than paying his bond.
After two days, the grandparents asked a lawyer to visit him and see what could be done, but, they were not interested in any actions that would endanger his life or return him to a life of damnation.
The attorney set a court date with the county judge and it was decided the two young people would not be charged with a crime and start a police record that would rob them of their future.
The judge ordered the young woman probation for two years and during those two years she was not to have contact with Sam and vice versa. If they returned to a relationship that obviously enabled the drug addiction she would return to court and be sentenced to prison.
The same provisions were leveled for Sam, however, he was remanded to an out of state and unknown drug treatment facility. The facility would contact the grandparents as they were seen by the court as Sam's best option for support.
He was to stay in the rehab program for 3 months and during that 3 months he would find work and a residence for himself. After the treatment program he would be required to maintain his employment and report to probation for two years.
Currently, Sam is in compliance, his grandparents know where he is and the couple does not have contact with each other. He is in rehab about two months now. He no longer has a new SUV and it was sold.
Drug addiction and crime go hand in hand. Heroine is among the worst drugs to be addicted to. It takes lives with overdoes all the time. It is a profound problem for the USA. Drug addiction has to be addressed if the USA is ever to have a country with far less criminal content.
