Lauren Huston had a full plate – five kids at home and a husband fighting a war overseas. When she started suspecting that Matt, her 15-year-old son, was using drugs, she knew she had to act immediately to keep his life and her family from falling

Lauren Huston and her husband, Joe.

apart.

My husband, who is in the military, received orders to head to Iraq.  I was now faced with being a “single” parent for over a year.  With five kids, I knew that hard times were ahead of us, but little did I know just how hard.

Shortly after my husband left, I noticed changes in my second oldest son, Matt who was 15. He’d always had a moody side but this was much worse. His group of friends changed. And while he still hung out with some of his old friends, I believe it was just to keep a good cover. But as time went on, even those friends disappeared. I also noticed that Matt had red eyes, erratic behavior, constant “munchies,” and late nights out. I knew something wasn’t right. I soon found out that he was using and selling marijuana as well as abusing cocaine. A friend of mine brought it to my attention. I immediately confronted Matt and he confessed. 

I talked to a few friends and through them I

How could this have happened?  We were involved parents with good morals and values.  We have an open door policy for our children. So what went wrong?

learned of a new treatment center in our hometown in Georgia.  Their teen program was not yet underway, however, I didn’t think Matt’s problem was so serious that we couldn’t wait a couple months.  Through his football training and summer practices, I felt Matt would be kept busy enough that he would not have time for his drugs.

But Matt is a charmer – and he had me wrapped around his little finger. Summer came and Matt missed a number of practices I did not know about.  Maybe I did somewhat, but that first stage of denial had set in.  I thought, Not my Matt -- this is just a phase of life he is experimenting with and it will be over soon.  Haven’t most of us tried illicit drugs once or twice in our lifetimes?
 
At one point that summer, Matt was jumped, or so he says, and the money that he owed to his “people” was stolen from him.  I was told about this from another source and confronted

"The fear that lives in our house on a daily basis is suffocating."

Matt about it and only then did he come clean.  He knew he was wrong, and hung his head with shame when he confided in me. He seemed to be filled with guilt. To keep him alive and safe, I had to fork out $660-- to a drug dealer! 
 
My husband was finally due home from Iraq.  Nothing was stopping me from going to Colorado to welcome him home. As I waited for his plane to land I got a phone call: Matt had been kicked off of the football team.

Matt had played for three years and was good.  I had such hopes and dreams for my son.  Maybe at times they were too much for Matt to take but I knew he was capable.  Getting the news that he was not going to play in his senior year was so heartbreaking. But now the reality of his drug use was setting in. How could this have happened?  We were involved parents with good morals and values.  We have an open door policy for our children. So what went wrong? 
 
We

"Joey (above) looked up to his big brother -- Matt is the athlete, the popular kid at school, he had it all. Joey so badly wanted that, too."

started Matt off with outpatient services at the treatment center because of our insurance policy.  He went for three weeks and it failed.  Only then would insurance cover inpatient services, but they did not inform us that the three weeks of outpatient were taken off of what they would cover.  So that meant we ended up with nine days of inpatient. I know now, you cannot even begin to scratch the surface with nine days!
 
After bringing Matt home from inpatient, we thought we were on the right track to getting him clean.  He seemed to be doing well in school again and staying at home more. The wrestling season was about to begin and we were looking at colleges. Even though we knew addiction was a disease he would be fighting against for life, things were looking up.
 
But, low and behold, Matt relapsed and we were back to square one.  He had lost football and now wrestling -- and a life that held a future for him. Not only was he back to using, he was back to dealing.  This disease had control of my son.

Matt and his dad had a fight and Matt was given the choice – he would either go back to treatment or leave our house. At this point, it really started to sink into Matt how serious this was. He knew if he left, he wouldn’t graduate – his future was too uncertain. So, he went back to treatment.

The treatment center gave him a two-week intensive outpatient scholarship. It was the best thing that ever happened to Matt because it helped him mend his relationship with his father.

Matt has now been clean since January 11, 2006, keeping his head above water in the same local treatment program as well as attending counseling sessions.  I know that this is just the beginning, but I believe he’s making progress. I am committed to keeping Matt on track. I monitor his friends, set curfews and require that he calls frequently to check in. I also took away his car privileges, so I drive him up wherever he goes. He has picked up two jobs to keep him busy so that there’s no time for relapse. Matt is also being home-schooled and hopes to soon return as a full-time student to complete his senior year.
 
I cannot begin to tell you what this has done to our family.  I have four other children in my house who have had to live through this as well.  I’m afraid it has affected my youngest son the most.  Joey looked up to his big brother -- Matt is the athlete, the popular kid at school, he had it all. Joey so badly wanted that, too.

The fear that lives in our house on a daily basis is suffocating. My husband has actually asked for a divorce because he just could not take it any more.  This disease either makes your family stronger or it tears it apart.  My husband and I are still together, but he and Matt no longer talk.  My husband has taken the “tough love” approach.   I on the other hand, am his mom and I am just not ready to give up.  I still see a glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel. 

I am starting a local parent support group called P.A.N.I.C. (Parents Against Narcotics In our Community). I believe that parents need to become more aware of their children’s whereabouts and activities. Even when you think your child is somewhere, you need to double check. Also, trust your instincts. You know your child the best, so if he or she starts acting differently, it might be a sign that something in their life is changing – and you should find out what it is before it’s too late.