CINDY'S STORY

Parents: learn the signs of heroin addiction.

Cindy is a mother in our community. Her daughter is a heroin addict who has been struggling with addiction for more than seven years.

Nicole was an honor student, on the homecoming court and was a skilled photographer in high school. She earned a photography scholarship to a university in Washington, D.C. It was there that a friend introduced her to heroin.

Cindy brought Nicole back home after seeing the signs of heroin use and heroin addiction. Like many parents of heroin addicts, Cindy tried for years to help her daughter and prevent her from using heroin. She put a GPS on Nicole’s phone. She followed her to friends’ houses. She became aware of the signs of heroin use and systematically searched Nicole’s room, her clothes, old purses for heroin and drug paraphernalia. She confronted Nicole and got her into treatment programs.

But every time Nicole entered treatment, she came out and relapsed. It seemed that Heroin was too strong.

But recognizing that no one WANTS to be an addict and that addiction is a disease is vital to being able to fight on behalf of the people that you care about. They cannot do it alone.

Ultimately, Cindy says all parents can do is make it as hard as possible for their child to use. Don't give them money. Take away their expensive things like computers and cameras. And most importantly be there for them, expect the best out of them and love them.

Nicole had to decide for herself that being clean was better than the consequences of using Heroin.

Today, Nicole is in recovery. She struggles to make the right decisions everyday. But with a good support system and the tools to combat addiction, she is beating heroin one day at a time.