"Impact of drug abuse on youth"
It takes, it destroys, it limits and it kills. No consequence is a guarantee for "hitting bottom" either.
Parents, schools, judges, PO's, pastors, etc...can consequence (or try and control) through shame, guilt, anger, expulsions, alternative school, rehab, jail, placing them on probation, PO requirements: community service, get a GED, get a job, Bootcamps, Private boarding schools, home school associations, psychiatric hospitals etc. People can lose their babies, lose their marriages, lose their homes, lose their last dime...lose their lives.
There are many addicts who will go back to prison because they would rather use once, than maintain daily sobriety. It is certainly a possibility for my oldest difficult child and Yes, he will have monetary damages to repay, po appointments to make, fines imposed, UA's, a job, housing, etc to secure. He may get to see just how capable and able bodied he really is. He may get to see his gifts and talents take over. He may get to find out that "life is good". He may begin to uncover and discover beauty all around him in each and every day...Or, he may die.
That's the cold hard truth, "It takes what it takes". Not everyone goes through all of the consequences to finally wake up, get conscious, and get "willing". But at some point we all hope that a consequence WILL get their attention, allow them to hit their "personal bottom".
It's just the way it is. It's reality, "life on life's terms".
The way I sorta see it now, No consequence would be like removing all of their senses, ability to know pain and when to back away from it,like Deb said (which the drugs are already working on). Like being eaten away at by a parasite with no temporary reprieve, Nothing to stop and perhaps finally get their attention to the damage being done and the life saving messeges being offered.
But they have to want their lives/sanity/sobriety for themselves more than they want their drug of choice. It's a personal decision between life and death.
I wish there was just one universal, across the board, consequence that would be the end all/cure all, lol, I would have found it, invented it and be making millions of mom's happy round the world! But, thank G-d it's not up to me anymore.
In the end (and every parent of a drug addicted child knows this) The consequences are theirs alone to own, unless we want to place our lives in their hands and go where there drug addiction takes us...NOT!
lovemysons
ps...Giving birth is such a gamble!!!