Children Of Alcoholics and Drug Users

As a child I was exposed to my uncle David being heavily into alcohol and drugs. We were always moving him and carefully watching him when he was around for fear he would steal from us to make drug money. He was married and divorced and out of that marriage he had a child, Kash, and two step-children, Skylor and Cody, who he raised as his own. In 2007, my uncle died of drug related causes leaving his three children to fend for themselves. Kash was 11 at the time, Cody was 13 and Skylor was 14.

Skylor: When David died Skylor lived with his biological father and started working with him. He quit school and started taking part in the drug and gang life heavily. Two years ago Skylor was arrested for many charges including attempted murder and has spent the last two years in jail. After recently getting out he is still very involved in this reckless life. I believe that because he really had no one to turn to as a role model when David died he felt a sense of acceptance in the life he had chosen for himself. He had people that would be there for him and take care of him, something his real dad, mom or David was able to do for him. Skylor is a much different person now than when we grew up together.

Cody: When David died Cody stayed with his biological father and his mom. He also failed to continue in his education and began using drugs heavily as well. I haven’t had much contact with Cody for a few years but last I seen him I remember hiding my belongings when he was around for the fear he would steal them. Last I heard of Cody he was starting to get his life on track and taking college courses.

Kash: When his father died Kash choose a much different life for himself than the other two boys. He moved back in with his mother, and due to her abandonment to camp jobs up north he took on all the bills as a young age of 11 and 12. At 13 he moved in with a friend, whose family took him in and helped raised him as his own. He is now 17 and is moving into his own apartment, graduating from school this year and doing an apprentice. With the help of my family, my grandparents and all the other important people that took him is as their own, Kash was able to stay on the right path away from drug use.  

For each of the boys the common theme is having someone there for them. For Skylor he had the `gang’ and for Kash it was his immediate family and friends. Kids of narcotic using parents need someone to take them in as their own so they don’t feel as alone. Teachers can be this person who takes them in as someone to talk to, trust, and be an immediate role model and as a source to get away from the troubles at home. As a teacher, I can be an important person in the lives of these children.