Stories

Drug abuse doesn't only affect the teen or young adult using drugs--it also has a huge impact on every member of that child's family.  Here, parents and other family members share stories about how drug use in their family has changed their lives.

The stories that follow come from parents, caregivers, and some of the members of the Board of Directors of Families Changing America, a national non-profit organization founded by a network of families who have lost loved ones to substance abuse, as presented on their website, www.familieschangingamerica.org

  • Predicting the Past - a Dad's Regret

    No…I don’t mean that I try to predict things that have already happened. Rather, I’m talking about predicting what may have happened had I done things differently in life. Since the death of my youngest son, Mark, in May of 2004, I have asked myself so many questions over and over again. What if I had talked to Mark more about the dangers of drugs?…or spent more time learning about what kids were doing at the time? If I hadn’t missed the signs of an addiction problem, would Mark still be alive?….and on and on.

    Phil Bauer

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  • Jason Surks’ Story

    I have relived that day in my mind so many times, and while I really can’t tell you exactly what the doctor said, the message was clear – my beautiful son was gone. Apparently, Jason had been abusing prescription drugs and had overdosed.

    Linda Surks

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  • Ryan Michael Greivell’s Story

    I wish we knew about interventions back then. I don’t know if it would have worked for Ryan, but it would have been one more thing we could have tried, one more chance to save him. The real insidiousness of addiction is that the sufferer’s ability to make rational decisions regarding what’s in his or her best interest is severely impaired.

    Sandy Prisak

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  • Efrain Marrero’s Story

    Efrain was preparing to play football at the community college he was attending, but didn’t want to play his normal position of lineman. He wanted a more prestigious position of linebacker. Efrain began using steroids, under the impression that it would make him bigger, stronger, faster, and earn him the title and recognition he so much desired. Efrain, unaware of the serious side–affects of steroids, began to experience severe paranoia and deep depression, but did the right thing and turned to his parents, mom and dad, for help.

    Frank and Brenda Marrero

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  • Ryan Haight’s Story

    Ryan was born on December 28, 1982 and died on February 12, 2001 from an overdose of prescription drugs he had purchased on the Internet. He was only 18 when he died.

    Francine Haight

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