High Cost of Living

"The high cost of living ain't nothin like the cost of livin high..."  These lyric ring true time and time again.  Coming from a family of drug abuse, stemming from simple alcohol addiction to hardcore drugs like meth, cocaine, and prescription narcotics, I've seen first hand how destructive drugs can be. And by the grace of God, I was able to resist the peer pressures of using and had just enough common sense not to fall for the lies that brew when one is under the influence. My mother and brother were not so fortunate.  Thankfully though, my mother will celebrate one year of complete sobriety next month. So it is in her honor that I blog this post in hopes of opening even just one eye, one mind, and one conscience to the fact that times aren't like they used to be.  They are ever changing and ever evolving and when desperate times call for desperate measures, an addict will do whatever it takes to get their next fix. Here's a video of the many faces of Meth.
And the ones that meth truly hurts. And these.

I remember growing up in little 'ol Cardwell, Mo. Population then, 797 (mostly older folks and pets... kids were scattered here and there from Arbyrd, to Hollywood, to Silverdale and back again). But, I had wonderful friends who didn't dare partake in the things that were available. Don't get me wrong, Cardwell had its fair share of pot smokers and drinkers, and while I like to think I'm a saint, I'm not. Alcohol as a minor was as risky as it got and Grandma got me good for it when I got home.  That was the extent of it. Crystal Meth wasn't real well known and people were more concerned with whether or not the Cotton Festival would get rained out or if Mr. McMinn would be wearing those tight fittin jeans in Science class... Major issues for us girls... The guys worried about baseball try-outs, basketball championships and where the next bonfire would be.  No talk of Meth or pills or other hard drugs.

Fast forward 15 years and you see it everywhere you look.  People in line at the grocery store, their kids with no clothes in the winter and filthy, because their parents would rather smoke it up than buy some soap and take care of their responsibilities... I'm not talking about 40-50 year old parents; I'm talking about 16,17 and 18 year olds who have missing teeth, scabs on their face and a particular body odor that lingers long after they have left the cashier line.  Look on the street corner on any given day and you see the society that we live in today. Pants sagging, hats are worn side-ways, loud music, no manners, shoplifting, truancy, disrespecting authority figures, and failing to care for themselves. But it doesn't stop there. Meth and every other known narcotic out there as taken it's toll on the higher ups of our society. How can we stand by and let this continue to happen.  Our government officials go to work everyday, battling out the latest trend on the Hill and arguing over which Rep or Sen member will get a little more padding in the wallet, while the people they are their to serve (and yes, they are there to serve us, not give us headlines in the morning paper) are literally wasting away. 

Many of you have seen the news reports coming out about Bath Salts.  No, their not taking baths, cleaning their flesh or removing dirt and debris... They are snorting bath salts because the effects produced are something akin to cocaine. My question and I'm sure it is yours as well: What in the hell are these kids thinking?  My next questions goes a little deeper. What could be so horrible, so tragic, so morbid, that these kids feel the need to escape through drugs?  Has society changed that much in 15 years?


Vanilla Sky, Ivory Wave, BlowOut and
Snow Blow are just a few of the names 
in which these products are being sold

These kids are opening up packages of Bath Salts and snorting them through a tube constructed from rolled bills to cut down ink pen casings: because their lives are so miserable?!? And we are letting them do it. Don't shake your head, you are just as guilty as I am for letting this happen! Yes, you are! Because, rather than be a role model, lending a helping hand, being a positive influence or even offering an 'atta boy, we turn our heads, too busy with our i-pads, i-pods, and i-phones (no offense to apple, but the analogy is really good)... What do these have in common? "I". Simply stated, this country has become full of narcissistic people only looking out for #1 and piss on everyone else. Shame, shame to each and every adult who has witnessed something, ANYTHING involving a child and didn't bother to even acknowledge what you had seen.

The following links are to some recent news stories with more information on the Bath Salts epidemic. Please read them. You don't have to do it right now... but take a little time, pause your movie, turn your phone on silent for a few minutes... It could mean the difference between life and death.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/011411-legal-%E2%80%98bath-salts%E2%80%99-drug-alarms-doctors
http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-bath-salts-drug-fake-meth-story,0,6081438.story
http://consumerist.com/2011/01/drug-masquerading-as-bath-salts-banned-in-louisiana-1.html
http://www.kpho.com/news/26523159/detail.html
http://www.newsoxy.com/health/synthetic-cocaine-sold-as-bath-salts-16790.html

And here is the link for Big Brothers Big Sister of North Central Arkansas.
http://www.bbbsnca.com/

Don't be afraid to talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors, whoever! Just let them know that drugs aren't cool, they don't make you popular and they are never the answer... And for God Sakes! Parents, check up on your kids. They'll hate you for it, but you'd hate yourself if you found out they were doing drugs when you could have prevented it.  Be a parent, not a friend. Be a strong support system for them, show them you truely do care for their well-being, and dammit, don't give up! 

And if you want to get involved... I can't think of a better way than this!

Until tomorrow,
LaVonda