As a parent you hope you never get that phone call or a knock on the door in the middle of the night. You know, deep in your gut, that when police come knocking on your door at 5am the news is not good. Two years ago this month, I received one of those knocks on my door. The police officer told me I needed to get to the hospital right away. But when I arrived at the hospital, the doctor told me my beautiful daughter was brain dead. She was just 17 years old.
We have always been a close family. I thought I knew what and who my daughter was hanging out with. I certainly had no idea that kids as young as 13 were abusing this prescription medication. I know for sure my daughter did not know the dangers of OxyContin and she certainly didn’t think that taking this drug would in turn take her life. As the days after her death unfolded I learned a lot. She had been with friends that night when a man she worked with her picked her up and took her back to his house. He was the one that gave her the OxyContin. Since she worked with this man, I know Courtney trusted him. She took it and soon told him she didn’t feel good. She went to sleep and never woke up. By the time he called 911 to get her help, it was too late.
Unfortunately, I’m finding out that I’m not alone. Since Courtney’s death, I’ve met other parents who also lost their children to prescription drug overdoses. Kids think these drugs are safe because they are prescribed by a doctor. If they only knew that abusing these medications just one time could kill them maybe they would think twice.
Parents please don’t fall into the trap of thinking something like this can’t happen to your family. My daughter was bright and beautiful. She loved to laugh. She was excited about high school graduation and going off to college. She was a typical teenager, with her entire future in front of her. Unfortunately, one horrific mistake cost her life and her future. Drinking and drug use is fact of life for our teens these days, so please make sure you and your children know the facts when it comes to the danger of abusing prescription medication. It could save their life.
I couldn’t just to go to work and come home anymore. I had to do something to be sure that this man never got another chance to hurt another family’s child. I was very active in his prosecution. He is now serving time in prison for his crime. Now, I’m involved with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Arizona Affiliate and am focusing my attention on raising awareness for parents and teens about the dangers of abusing prescription medication. I want all parents to educate themselves on the prescription drugs kids are abusing, communicate with their children about the dangers of abusing these medicines and learn to safeguard their medicine cabinets so your kids don’t get access.