Deadly Meth Addiction Affects Family, Too
Dear Editor,
On March 13, the police and swat team in Morgan Hill had a seven-hour standoff with a resident who threatened “suicide by cop” and threatened to shoot officers, while smoking crystal meth in his home. The police had responded to a call from the man’s estranged wife who asked them to check on him, after a phone call she received from him, leading her to believe he or those around him could be in danger.
Fortunately, no one was injured and he was apprehended by police and taken for a psychiatric evaluation. His estranged wife reached out for help which ultimately got him help, but what about help for her?
As I read about this, memories came flooding back of the many years my meth-addicted daughter was still living at home. The police were called numerous times by neighbors who heard the noise as my daughter raged and destroyed property in the house. When they arrived, my daughter would quick-change into an innocent, sweet adolescent you’d never suspect of such behavior. I’d show the police the latest broken furniture or appliance or hole in the wall. They would talk to us each separately, give advice about attending anger management class and leave. I tried everything, including calling police myself, having her 5150’d (arrested for being a danger to herself and others), sending her to residential treatment several times, the list goes on and on.
While she was in treatment around her 15th birthday, I found a Nar-Anon meeting and began attending weekly. Their 12-step support group was so enlightening and helpful to me. I heard stories from other parents going through the same bizarre, turbulent, irrational and violent behavior that often accompanies methamphetamine use. I learned that I could change my co-dependent behavior enabling my child. The literature clarified how I could survive despite the active addition in my home. Detachment with love and setting limits changed the dynamics in our home. After she reached 18, the limits I set ultimately forced her to leave my home.
My daughter has now been clean and sober for three years, attends meetings regularly and lives in her own apartment. These are nothing short of miracles. I attend two or three meetings a week, have been doing service in Nar-Anon and encourage those families and friends whose lives are affected by the disease of addiction to come to a meeting.
There are now seven meetings in the Greater South Bay Area, including Gilroy’s meeting is at 7:30pm on Thursdays at First Baptist Church, room 202. Nar-Anon, in cooperation with NA, has an upcoming event open to the public at the Santa Clara Convention Center April 5-8 with meetings, speaker panels, and many other special events to boost awareness of support for families affected by addiction.
For more information about Nar-Anon and its meeting schedule, please go to www.naranoncalifornia.org or www.nar-anon.org or call (408) 778-2333 or the World Service Office at (800) 477-6291.
Jonnie Gault, Morgan Hill
Opponents of Medical Marijuana Not Close to Evil
Dear Editor,
Lisa Pampuch has saved us countless hours of debate by labeling those who would oppose medical marijuana as ” … awfully close to evil.” I wonder if she would apply the same label to the unethical doctors who, for $200, will write anyone a medical marijuana prescription without a physical examination. Would she apply the “awfully close to evil” label to those who purchase medical marijuana in quantity, under guise of terminal illness, and then resell it to the good citizens of Morgan Hill? Does Lisa think that the Morgan Hill Police Department has the time to combat growing methamphetamine abuse, increased property crime, increased gang activity, and then spend their spare time monitoring possible criminal activity at a marijuana dispensary?
The issue is more complex. Just how many people in Morgan Hill have terminal illness and require medical marijuana? I agree with Lisa that nobody with a terminal illness should be denied any medication that will alleviate suffering. On the other hand, when most of the marijuana club clients are twenty somethings with a prescription for “stress,” it’s fair to be skeptical of any request to bring medical marijuana to our town. To treat this issue with anything less than full scrutiny and frank skepticism would be, well, awfully close to evil.
Allen Lillie, Morgan Hill
Dogs are Not Guilty
Dear Editor,
About the Morgan Hill Times March 16 story telling readers about the pit bulls that killed 11 goats and a chicken in San Martin I would like to offer the following.
n All dogs, not just pit bulls, are made/taught to be vicious. Punish the owner not the breed.
n I have pit bulls and they couldn’t hurt a fly and of course they were trained not to because all dogs are born with prey drive and need to be taught that attacking other animals is not acceptable.
n The article stated that the steer got out of the fence. It’s not like the pit bulls went on the property. I do feel bad for the owner of the goats, loosing any animal is awful. The dogs were probably not trained or trained wrong.
I just want it to be known that there are a lot of good pit bull owners out there that are suffering the consequences of the bad owners. So once again punish the deed not the breed.
Sandra Pina-Sanchez, Gilroy
