I was talking to an addict today whose 18-year-old daughter is addicted and on the streets. She hasn't heard from her for about five days, and of course, fears the worse.
Is she in a ditch somewhere? Has she overdosed? Is she in a hospital? A lot of scenarios are running through her mind. And none of them are good.
She says she checks the county jail website each morning when she awakes and each night before she goes to bed, hoping that she's been arrested. If she sees her mugshot there at least she'll know she's alive.
This experience of having a child who's deep into addiction has made her realize what she put her own mother through. In fact, she was affected so strongly that she called her mother to make a second amends. She never realized the constant worry and suffering her mother must have experienced when she'd disappear for long periods.
Part of our recovery is realizing the hell we put our families and loved ones through. If we can keep that in the forefront of our minds we have one more reason to stay on the path of recovery.
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