Opinion: Drugs Affect More People than Just the Users

by Katina Garner

Red Ribbon Week is an important week of saying no to drugs and alcohol. This is a big thing because over the years drug abuse have gotten worse and worse, and not just in Philadelphia. In 2015, a really horrible drug called flakka was created and was mainly used in Florida. So, drugs are everywhere, just like alcohol. At least everyone has known someone who done drugs whether it was a family member or a friend.

I’ve had a experience with drugs before. Sometime last year, my aunt lived with us and was trying to recover from drug abuse. She has been off and on drugs since she was a teen and we let her in and out of our house because we wanted her to get better. During her stay, she was secretly doing crack.

She would lie saying she was getting better, and of course we put trust in her. But while she was living in our house, she overdosed in my sister’s room, which she was staying in. I found her lying after falling off her bed with her mouth open and eyes wide. Of course I was scared and the first thing that came to my mind was she was dead. When I got my dad and he called 911, they had to give her Narcan, an opioid antagonist used for the complete or partial reversal of opioid overdose.

After all this, our lives were greatly affected. I had to go to therapy and every time I would go down into my sister’s room I kept thinking about seeing her. My dad was of course upset because we opened our home to her, and she disrespected us and OD'ed in our basement.

Drugs don’t only affect that person’s life but also their love ones. Drug and alcohol abuse mainly starts at an early age, and most people will fall for it because they may think it will make them cool and fit in, but it will only ruin your life and future. If anyone ask you, think about how that can affect you, your family, and your future. Say no to DRUGS and ALCOHOL!