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"Knowledge is Hope"

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"Knowledge is Hope"

My youngest son Mark was not an addict (at least not as far as we know - there were no signs).? Who was he?? He was the coolest kid there ever was!?- an athlete - a protector - at times an "airhead."?? He was soft spoken with a great sense of humor, a "risk-taker", and the strongest kid I have ever known (could bench press 400 pounds).? So why am I writing this?? Mark is dead.? He died a week before his his school graduation?from taking prescription drugs that weren't his.? To this day, we don't know why.? It could have been to get high - or to self-medicate - or to self-regulate...or perhaps a combination of all of them.? We will never know the answer to that.

So...how can I offer hope to anyone?? To any parent who reads this - Please listen to me!? What killed my son is ignorance...my ignorance.? I never knew about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs,? After all - they are meant to help people.? The can cure, comfort, and improve the quality of life.? They are prescribed by a physician and approved by the FDA.? However, when abused or mis-used, it is drug abuse.? Prescription drugs today "aren't your daddy's medicine."?? They are powerful and easy to obtain.

Being a dad to my two son's is my legacy.? After my kids were born, I wondered what I cared about before that.? They are my life.? Of all the things I worried about, I never worried about abuse of prescription drugs...it wasn't on my radar.

Parents, please learn about what's going on in your kid's school, ?and please get to?know who their friends are.? I encourage you to talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs - and when you do, make sure that you include the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.? It is never o.k. to take prescription drugs that aren't prescribed for them - or to take them in any way other than what is prescribed.

My hope is that this will help?keep you?from being like me...a devastated dad who lost his "baby boy."? Our son is dead...and life will never be the same.? Please learn from my ignorance.

Knowledge is power...and knowledge is hope.



Partners for Hope raise critical funds on behalf Partnership to End Addiction – the nation’s leading organization dedicated to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery. Every dollar raised on behalf of the Partnership* will help ensure free, personalized family support resources, including our national helpline, peer-to-peer parent coaching, customized online tools and community education programs, can reach those who need them most. Please consider donating to this fundraiser and sharing this page.

*Donations made to Partnership to End Addiction are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. All contributions are fully tax-deductible, as no goods or services are provided in consideration in whole, or in part, of any contribution to this nonprofit organization.  EIN: 52-1736502

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