Dear Parents,
I would like to share a personal story with you.
My daughter Sara was born in 1972. When she was twelve years old, Sara started to show behavior problems that included smoking cigarettes, using marijuana, and drinking alcohol. In middle school she became involved with the wrong kind of friends. She acted out, skipped classes, and started to use drugs. Although her behavior was poor, her grades were good.
Sara’s high school years were the same. The drug use increased, the friends had the same behaviors that she did, and the grades were good. Although we took her for counseling, the therapist was not qualified to deal with drug issues. After high school, Sara went to college and earned a master’s degree. Because of the drugs, she was never able to find a good job over the years. In 2016 my daughter overdosed on heroin and went into a rehab program for the first time. Sara remained sober for four years. In February of 2020 Sara bought a “fake pill” that ended up being fentanyl. She died immediately at the age of forty-six.
You may be wondering why I’m sharing Sara’s story with you. When I lost Sara, I decided to do whatever I could to help stop teenagers from using drugs. I wrote a book for parents, I joined coalitions in many states, and I speak to groups. My hope is to provide education about the dangers of drugs to you so that you can educate your children. Drug prevention begins with education about recognizing early behavior problems, signs of mental health issues, and being aware of early risk factors.
There are resources available for parents to get their child help to prevent later substance use addiction. When Sara was a teenager, we didn’t have the resources or information that is available today. Ask for help when you have questions or need information. We want to help you educate your children about taking the right path in life.
Phyllis Babrove, LCSW
S.A.R.A. Coalition
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