Breaking Free Teen Wins Personal Battle With Drugs

Editor’s note: In keeping with the tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous, the author of this story will be referred to simply as Derek C.

Derek C. is 16 years old. He has been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit disorder), which means he cannot concentrate very easily. He was a very hyper child. All through school he would misbehave and wreak havoc. He hardly ever did his work, although he was highly intelligent.

Despite the fact that the teachers gave him more than enough chances and tried extra hard to help him get through, he usually ended up getting kicked out by the end of the year. He became very spoiled. He had moved back and forth between his dad’s and his mom’s houses. He began to use drugs.

This story, of course, is about me. I am Derek C. I was 14 when I began using. It started out with cigarettes - I don’t know exactly why I started smoking, probably because my friends were doing it and I wanted to. Then it advanced to alcohol (although I didn’t like booze at first), then pot and on to harder chemicals.

By the time I was 15, I was a full-blown addict. I lived with my mom in Idaho City by then. That’s where I started my main use abuse. I was accepted into the “group” the instant they discovered that I had smoked marijuana. I dropped out of school and began getting loaded all day, every day.

Then I began to use other, harder drugs such as methamphetamines (crank, crystal meth) and hallucinogens (acid, psychedelic mushrooms). I also developed a taste for alcohol.

When the town dealer lost it on speed, I kind of took over. I got what I considered lucky at that time and was living in my own trailer next to my mom’s. I started dealing drugs. I would invite everyone over to my trailer to use. It was Drug Central promise to quit, but after I came down I was doing it again. I had no control.

I moved back to Spokane to be with my dad, and even though they were after me about my drug use I still used a very large amount of marijuana.

But I had to steal to buy it. I got caught stealing money from my dad and he turned me in so I’d learn my lesson. To get out of the possibility of jail, and to earn my dad’s trust, I told my dad I wanted to get sober by going to Daybreak’s out-patient program.

I lied. I was just saying that, connivingly thinking it would be an easy way to look like I was getting sober. I planned to keep using though; I would just get better at hiding it.

What happened, you ask?

As it turned out, my dad decided to send me to Yakima for a 28-day in-patient treatment program. After a couple days of filling out papers, they sent me back to Daybreak of Spokane because of my anger problem and my trouble following rules. Daybreak was a 60-day treatment program - in-patient. I thought I was going to die.

The system there was like a jail: Phase I got the fewest privileges, Phase IV got the most (not many kids made it past Phase II). I threw many fits (withdrawals) for the first few weeks.

Over time I decided to stay clean … but just until I got a job. My plan was to work so I didn’t have to steal to feed my addiction.

I went to many groups and endured numerous lectures. After a month, the drugs had cleared out of my system; I saw what I was doing to myself.

I realized I was slowly killing myself, and since I have a drastic fear of death, I decided to stay clean. I even made Phase III right before I “coined” out (was discharged).

When I got out, I began out-patient treatment at Daybreak once a week. I also started attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly - at least five a week. That’s how I stay sober. It’s hard to stay clean when all your peers use, and mine do. Now, I also try to hang out with people who don’t use.

I went to court and I got off lightly due to my recovery and new attitude. I’m on probation, back in school and have developed new goals and dreams again. I’d like to enter medical school one day, but I have a lot of school to catch up on first.

Since my brain is clear, I can think straight enough to make catching up possible. I even have a job now, and I’m still staying sober. Although I’ve had one relapse since treatment, I still manage.

I feel lucky that I got caught stealing - it started me on the path to getting clean.

Now that I am living clean and having fun, I can start my life over without drugs. I may possibly achieve my goals now. Some kids believe it’s impossible to steer clear of the drug scene, but I’m living proof.

Hopefully other kids decide to do the same. And that’s my story.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Need help? Do you think you might have a problem with drugs or alcohol? Here are some places to turn: Alcoholics Anonymous: 624-1442 Deaconness Dependency Center: 458-7000 Your school counselor DARE officers: 456-4734, 625-4175 Daybreak of Spokane: 747-3088