My Son Kicked Heroin’s Butt!!!!!!
“My son's road to recovery started Feb 25th, 2015. I am happy to say that he has been clean for over a year now.
“But it just wasn’t that simple. I knew he was using drugs but wasn't sure what. I had sent him to 3 rehabs. While he was there, not one of them ever called me. There was even one that did call me to say they were putting him out for his bad attitude and I had 2 hours to get him or he would be left at a bus stop. It took me longer than 2 hours to arrive and when I got there, he was nowhere to be found.
“Finally… the last rehab was Narconon Louisiana. As soon as I arrived at the facility, I knew it would be the last place he needed. I experienced an overwhelming feeling of relief.
“Before we embarked on his journey to recovery at Narconon, my family lived on the roller coaster of his addiction. He had isolated himself from the family, his hygiene was poor, and his mood was always awful (which was so unlike him). He had lost weight and the handsome young man he used to be looked horrible. It broke my heart every time I saw what he had become.
“One day I told him I was going to clean his house but I really wanted to go there to snoop around to see if my suspicions were right. When I found a burnt spoon, my heart sank. I then dug some more and found a needle and rubber arm band. I sat on his couch and cried.
“I couldn't wrap my head around this. My thoughts raced:
"How can this be?”
“He wasn't raised around drug users.”
“Where did I go wrong?”
“Why would he make this choice?"
“I left there not saying a word to anyone. I was ashamed and embarrassed for myself. I thought people were going to judge him and me. My main thought was ’I need to fix him.’ I know that may sound selfish but I was losing it, holding all of this inside. I begged God to save him and even questioned God as to why my son?????
He became a person I didn't recognize; his appearance, his personality and his actions. He wasn’t the boy I raised.
“I begged and pleaded with him. I just wanted him to stop using. I told him if you want to stop, you can. At the time, I had no clue what drug addiction or heroin really did to a person mentally. For the next few weeks, I would google heroin and addiction and how to get off of heroin. I even watched YouTube videos on how to detox from it.
“My life as I knew it would never be the same for 2 years. My life revolved around his addiction. I could barely function wondering if he would live to see another day. He became a person I didn't recognize; his appearance, his personality and his actions. He wasn’t the boy I raised.
“What the hell happened to my son?? He was lost in this addiction. Heroin had taken over his existence, had taken control of him and I thought he was gone for good.
“Through my internet searches, I read so many articles and blogs and came to realize there was no way to just quit. The odds of him beating this were almost nonexistent. But I was so determined to ’fix him.’ After so many times of me battling with him over this, I broke down one day and cried begging him and pleading saying ’I can't fix you, you have to fix yourself.’
“I saw him wearing down after time and I could see he wanted to quit and often tried. He even brought himself to rehab and when he left, he went straight back to the drug. People started telling me you have to use tough love.
“I would try to convince myself I was going to do just that… tomorrow. When tomorrow would come, the mother in me would say do you really want to tell him you are done with him and you want him out of your life if he doesn't straighten up??? What if this is his last day on this earth and he leaves this world thinking I didn't love him or that I had given up on him. I would never forgive myself.
“Instead I would tell him I was disappointed for his choice but I loved him and would never give up on him. I stood by that.
“The day he said:
“Mom I want to go to the place my friend went to, I need help—I hate living like this”
I cried tears of joy. I called Narconon and made arrangements for him to go there that day.
“Little did I know, that would be the first day of the rest of his normal life. I was a nervous wreck and the first couple of weeks were rough. He stayed for 3 months and on his graduation day he made a speech in front of everyone.
“The words he spoke are embedded in my memory forever:
“First I want to thank my mom and dad for sending me here. If it wasn’t for them I would be dead or in jail”.
My heart sank again, but in the best way ever. He finally got it!
“I saw the handsome man I raised, back to himself again. He was happy and healthy. All my prayers had been answered; my baby was back and he beat the odds.
“Fast forward to now. The past year hasn’t always been easy for him but as the days go by,
I see more and more of his ’normal life.’ I am so proud of him and happy for him. He has a 2 year old son who lights up when he sees his daddy and his daddy does the same. He loves his life and often says ’I don't know how I lived like that’ and ’I never want to be like that again.’
“From a mom’s side of a heroin addiction, I hope this article helps lift someone’s spirit or helps them with a direction. I get to see my success story live every day and I pray that others get to experience the same.
“I cannot thank the staff at Narconon enough for saving my son’s life and giving my family their lives back. The staff there are still in contact with him and me for this past year. I don't know how I’m going to feel when this is no longer part of my security blanket.
“I truly love each and every one of you. Rachel, I don't know how I would have kept my sanity throughout this process without you and your support. You guys did an amazing job taking care of my son!!
“MY SON KICKED HEROIN’S BUTT!!!!!”
—P.J. Narconon Graduate Mother
Responses to “My Son Kicked Heroin’s Butt!!!!!”:
Sherry Marshall says:
APRIL 30, 2016 AT 1:14 AM
Well, I love this so much! God Bless your entire family!
Wendy Tardo says:
APRIL 30, 2016 AT 1:25 AM
Brandon is my little cousin whom I think of as a nephew, and my former 4th grade student as well. This story is very hard for me to read. You see, I love this family so much, because they are my family…. I am so proud of Brandon and his parents for fighting this horrible addiction. I am so glad that he found this place where miracles happen. You all are great!!
Johnnette Lemoine Chauffe says:
APRIL 30, 2016 AT 1:28 PM
As I read with tears rolling down my face and the lump in my throat of the realization of the pain I’m going through myself with my daughter. Reading just confirms my fears of her being an addict. I only wish I could find her again to get her help.
Thank you so for sharing. It’s painful to read but hopeful at the same time.
Rebecca says:
APRIL 30, 2016 AT 8:03 PM
Anna, not every story turns out but I’m grateful your hope and faith was so. Sounds like your son is on his way, one day at a time. God is so good.
Pamela says:
MAY 2, 2016 AT 2:20 AM
I love my son sooooo much!!!!
Kim flournoy says:
MAY 2, 2016 AT 3:30 AM
What an amazing story we are on our 24 rehab
Marcia says:
MAY 2, 2016 AT 10:45 AM
Thank you for posting this. Yesterday was a bad day (for me). You just hear of all these young people dying… I was beginning to loose hope. Thanks to your article, which I can relate to, you lifted me up with hope for another day for my as to continue on his path away from his addiction. He is in rehab now and I hope and pray he will have the strength to remain strong.
Rob marvenko says:
MAY 3, 2016 AT 12:48 PM
Inspiring congratulations! Thank you for sharing that and beating the odds. Gives others hope
Joey Held says:
MAY 3, 2016 AT 10:17 PM
Hi Pam, I know the feeling. My youngest brother is in jail right now over drug addiction. He lost his daughter over drug addiction. My sister has burden raise in his daughter which 13 years old. We have tried everything. It’s shameful have people in your family like that. We let him live in my mother house in Mississippi help him and his little girl. Bad mistake, it became drug house. Good Luck to your son. Best wishes to him. He has good life ahead him. Stand proud of him.
Annette cascio says:
MAY 6, 2016 AT 5:55 AM
I’ve also been through my own sruggles with a heroin addiction and iam abt to gwy that heavy metal one year! Happy joyous and free from the gigantic gorilla i call herion!
Darlene says:
MAY 6, 2016 AT 11:18 PM
I’m so happy for you and your family! My family wasn’t as lucky I lost my son to heroin on March 3, 2016. I hope and pray your son stays on the path of sobriety. God Bless You and Yours! I hope one day this horrible drug disappears, so no other mother has to bury a child!
StaciJo says:
MAY 7, 2016 AT 10:53 AM
Yay for your son! As previous writers have posted, not everyone is as fortunate. My daughter has and continues to struggle with heroin addiction. It’s heartbreaking. I’m going to look into the place in Louisiana – maybe, just maybe- they can help my daughter too. Thank you for sharing!!
Cindy says:
MAY 8, 2016 AT 9:34 PM
My son was on that too. I know the worries your family went through. I felt the same way. He was turning his life around and then God him away from me in a car accident. One year ago today we buried him. Tell your son I may not know him but I am proud him. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!
Terra Seidule says:
MAY 9, 2016 AT 4:19 AM
What amazing people… A great mother for loving despite all reasons why you should not, the center for truly helping someone and your son for getting through this program. I hope to god for this one story we see several thousands more.
June says:
MAY 11, 2016 AT 5:53 AM
I know for a fact this is one awesome family, and what a mother Pam is and always has been. She always was there for her children, and not even a satan drug can stop her from making sure her son was back to himself, that lil boy she raised to be! Way to go Brandon!!!! You got this
Mike says:
MAY 11, 2016 AT 12:19 PM
Such a wonderful story of hope! As long as they’re still alive….there’s hope!! Remember, it’s not really about kicking heroin’s butt, it’s about battling the disease of addiction.
