Growing Kids Against Drugs Issue #1.3
December 3, 2001: "Joey’s Story"
Dear,
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“Good habits result from resisting temptation.” - Ancient Proverb
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"Joey’s Story"
A few months ago my son Jake and his wife Jamie experienced a personal tragedy. Jamie’s younger brother put a gun to his head and killed himself. This act has had a devastating effect on the family, friends and neighbors.
Although the full story is not known, 23 year-old Joey was at a holiday weekend party in the Utah Mountains. Friends said that Joey had been drinking and was very drunk. It seemed he was upset about a sour relationship with his girlfriend. They said he walked over to his truck and saw someone in the cab and became angry, grabbed his loaded gun and shot the intruder. Several reported that he apparently thought he had killed the intruder who happened to be his best friend, and Joey was heard to say he was not going to go to jail and put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He died instantly. The intruder only had a flesh wound to the shoulder.
It all happened so quickly, so tragically. A bright young man dead, another wounded and many others hurt, bewildered, shocked and saddened. Quickly, news of the tragedy spread through family and friends. Many lives were forever changed on that holiday weekend in the quiet beauty of the Utah Mountains.
Joey was a good guy, everyone’s friend. He was always there to give a hand, a pat on the back, an encouraging word, to share a joke. He was a good son loved by loving and caring parents. He had a wonderful relationship with his siblings. His young nieces and nephews thought he was the greatest. He had his own successful business and had a very bright future.
Already people are starting to place blame, some on an uncooperative girlfriend, some on Joey having a loaded gun around, some on the gun, some on the intruder, some on Joey losing control because he was drunk. Actually blame is not really important, what matters the most is, Joey is dead. A really good guy is gone.
Recently I went with a minister to the home of a family in his congregation. It was really just a casual see-how-you-are visit. The wife immediately opened up about a problem with one of her married daughters. The minister quietly sat there listening and nodding his head and then gave some quiet advice. We concluded our visit, gave them all a hug and handshake and then left. When we were out in the car driving away I mentioned to the minister that he must hear that type of story often. He said that he had heard hundreds of versions of that very same story. He said the faces and names were different but the facts were always the same.
As I have done the research and read countless stories and met real people who have been through the ‘drug scene’ I have been amazed at how all the stories seem the same. As my friend the minister said, “the names were different but the facts were always the same.” Although Joey’s tragedy affected my family and me personally it is typical of so many other tragedies that occur where drugs and alcohol are present and are being actively used. A bright young persons future is snuffed out by tragic death or even worse, changed by mind numbing and altering drugs and a lifetime of addiction and slavery to the siren song of the demon substance.
Joey’s family is back to working on life day to day. They are putting their lives together and getting on with living. But I can testify of a Great Big Empty Hole in a lot of people’s lives where Joey used to be. I plead with young people “Don’t try drugs or alcohol, not even once. It just isn’t worth the pain and grief it’s use causes.
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Help your kids stay off drugs and GROW them into Kids Against Drugs. Get our New, Unique Digital Home Study Workshop. Everything a parent needs to talk with and teach their kids about drugs. It’s a NEW five-part do-it-yourself home study workshop you download directly from our web site. Get Part 1 for $30 USD and try it out risk free. If you’re not satisfied just notify me within 30 days of purchase and I’ll return your money. Go to http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/ and get the Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan today.
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We have learned from this and other experiences that one person using drugs and alcohol affects many lives. We continually emphasize that a person, young or old never walks away unchanged when he/she just experiments with the demon substance. Once inside the body, drugs and alcohol always have a negative affect. ALWAYS. The person who tells you to “just try it, it won’t hurt, it just makes you feel good”, is lying to you. CAUTION: In this world you can’t ever trust a liar, about anything. We always counsel the safest thing a person can do is avoid drug use at all cost. Make the firm unchangeable decision to never, ever try drugs and alcohol.
I am sounding a warning call to any and all that will listen. I’m suggesting everyone read, study and ponder the evidence against recreational drug use and abuse because these horrible substances will negatively affect everyone who plays with them. I have spent many years studying this issue and have personally developed the web site www.kidsagainstdrugs.com and this e-zine to tell the story. I intend to teach and motivate as many people as I can to avoid the terrible scourge of drugs and alcohol.
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Family Action Tip of the week: Hold regular family council meetings weekly. Discuss the everyday issues facing your family. Get all family members to participate and require everyone to be present at every family council meeting.
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The "Campaign For Drug-Free Families:"
We have organized and launched the Kids Against Drugs Campaign For Drug-Free Families to warn people about the evil of recreational drug use and to spread the word about our new home study workshop the Family Action Training Plan. Families are invited to join us to learn about drugs, how to avoid using them, how to turn homes and communities into Drug-Free Zones and to practice and establish resistance techniques. To find out more about this exciting new grassroots program come to our web site at www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/.
When you visit our web site www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/ you will find several areas of interest. The young people will find information for school reports, our kids club and its programs and how to organize a chapter at their school, church or home school neighborhood. Parents and grandparents will find valuable educational resources and reports to learn about the drug issue.
In our e-zine you will receive regular up-to-date information, tips and training about drugs and what they do. You will read real stories of those hero’s that have overcome drug use and the tragic stories of the victims of various drug use and abuses and it’s lurid lifestyle. You will read of new programs and publications to help you learn and become aware of ways you can protect your family members. You will be notified of workshops available nationally, regionally, locally and on the Internet.
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Sincerely,
Michael J. Meredith, Publisher.
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