Women Share Stories About Kids Struggling With Meth
Women Share Stories About Kids Struggling With Meth
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Women Share Stories About Kids Struggling With MethThey are women with different backgrounds, and for the most part different experiences.
But one thing they share is the pain of having a child addicted to methamphetamine.
And now they are gearing up for the first meeting of their group, which will be officially called Mothers Against Methamphetamine once the group is incorporated as a not-for-profit next month.
The group is set up to offer people in the community information, resources and support when it comes to meth use.
The group wants to reach out to everyone from parents of children abusing meth, siblings of addicts, concerned citizens, business owners to parents who suspect their children may be using.
Three women have been instrumental in starting the group. Annie Zartman, Amber Blackford and Belinda Lukens got together Wednesday evening at Blackford's law office in Warsaw.
They are preparing for their first meeting, which the community is invited to attend.
It's taking place Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Munson Building, 216 N. Lake St., Warsaw, across from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
For Blackford, an attorney, it all crystallized one night when her daughter, Tara Miller, 26, overdosed.
"I turned to my husband and said, 'Tara's going to die tonight'," said Blackford.
Blackford's daughter is now in jail for meth-related charges. But she's also receiving treatment for her addiction.
"I wish I was lucky enough for my child to get arrested," said Belinda Lukens.
Lukens has a 30-year-old son, Jeremy, who is still struggling with the drug.
For Lukens' daughter, Becka, 18, that struggle has been all she's known. Jeremy has been using since Becka was 6.
Becka was able to relate to stories Emily Zartman, 16, was recounting Wednesday evening.
Emily's older brother is Troy, 21.
While her mom, Annie, has been able to stop the cycle of co-dependency with Troy, Emily still can't help but help her older brother.
"That's exactly where I've been," said Becka. "You loan them money, you let them use your phone because you want to help them. They're your brother."
But one thing the mothers know all too well is that when the child is addicted to meth, relationships go out the window.
"All they think about is how they are going to get more drugs," said Blackford. "They will lie, steal. Whatever it takes."
At the Dec. 11 meeting, an ex-meth addict will speak to the group to let them know what they did and what parents can look for.
"Sometimes I feel guilty because I saw drugs and I would tell my mom and that would get him in trouble," said Emily.
Emily also said she has become angry at her brother's treatment toward their mother.
"All she has done is try to help and he treats her like crap," said Emily.
All three mothers acknowledged how tough it is for siblings, especially younger ones, to live in a house with a meth addict.
"All the energy goes toward the user," said Zartman. "And it causes a strain in your family."
For that reason, Becka and Emily will be at the Dec. 11 meeting in hopes that more teens show up and can share their stories.
As for the mothers, Zartman said one feeling they all had to get past was the guilt of having a child addicted to meth.
"There's a lot of shame associated with it," said Zartman.
"If you're a mother and your child is an addict," said Blackford, "society tells you it's your fault and your failure as a parent."
The women said one focus on the group is to help people dealing with that shame and get them to open up.
For more information, contact Blackford at 574-265-6681 or 574-551-8308 or email methmamas@gmail.com
