By Magee Police Chief Denis J. Borges
People do not usually wake up one day and say they want to destroy their life with drugs. A lot of times, it starts with pain, trauma, stress, depression, bad friends, curiosity or trying to escape something they do not want to face. Some people start because they think they can control it. Some start because everybody around them is doing it. Some start because they are hurting and just want to feel normal for a little while.
But drugs do not care why you started.
Once addiction takes hold, it does not just affect the person using. It affects the children, the family, the home and sometimes the entire community. One of the saddest parts is when children are born into it. A baby born to parents trapped in drug use may start life already facing battles they did not ask for. Some are born exposed to drugs. Some may suffer withdrawal, health problems, developmental delays or emotional struggles later in life.
Even when a child is physically okay, growing up around addiction can still cause damage. Children may grow up around fear, neglect, instability, unsafe people and unsafe living conditions. They may not understand what is happening, but they feel it. They feel the stress. They feel the absence. They feel the chaos.
Children deserve peace. They deserve food, clean clothes, love, safety and parents who are present. They should not have to raise themselves. They should not have to wonder if mom or dad is coming home, waking up or going to jail. They should not have to live around drugs, strangers, violence or dangerous conditions.
This is not about judging people who are struggling. Addiction is real, and many people need help, treatment, support and accountability. But we also have to be honest. When drugs enter a home, children often pay the highest price.
The best way to avoid it is simple, but not always easy. Do not start. Watch who you hang around. Stay away from people and places that pull you in the wrong direction. If you are hurting, talk to somebody before you try to numb the pain with something that may take over your life. Get help early. Call family. Talk to a pastor, counselor, doctor, officer, teacher or someone you trust. There is no shame in needing help. The real problem is refusing help while your life and your children continue to suffer.
We also have to teach our children early. Teach them that drugs are not a game. Teach them that one bad decision can follow them for years. Teach them that real strength is walking away, not fitting in. Teach them that peace is worth protecting.
Drugs may promise an escape, but most of the time they bring chains. They can take money, health, freedom, family and peace. The best decision is to never open that door. And if that door is already open, the next best decision is to get help and close it before it destroys everything you love.
Chief Denis J. Borges
