Jordan's Story

Summary

Kerry Strickland reflects on her son Jordan's struggle with heroin addiction, detailing how his journey from prescription drugs to heroin escalated over time. She shares the painful lessons learned from his battle, emphasizing the importance of love, kindness, and acceptance in helping those with addiction. Kerry highlights the shame and emotional struggles addicts face, urging parents to treat addiction as a disease rather than a moral failure. She also expresses regret for not discussing drugs and feelings more openly with Jordan and encourages greater understanding and support for those battling addiction.

Takeaways

• 😀 Addiction can start from experimenting with prescription drugs and escalate over time to more dangerous substances like heroin.
• 😀 Once addiction sets in, it can become incredibly difficult to overcome, especially when it progresses to injecting heroin.
• 😀 Parents often experience feelings of guilt and shame after their child’s addiction, but it's important to understand that addiction is not the parent's fault.
• 😀 Tough love and strict boundaries, while well-intentioned, may not be the most effective approach in dealing with a loved one’s addiction.
• 😀 Love, kindness, compassion, and acceptance are more beneficial in supporting a person struggling with addiction than criticism or distance.
• 😀 Addiction should be seen as a disease, similar to other serious health conditions like cancer or diabetes, and it requires understanding and empathy, not stigma.
• 😀 There needs to be more open conversation about drugs, especially heroin and prescription pills, to equip parents with knowledge to prevent addiction.
• 😀 Emotional struggles, like anxiety, sadness, and anger, often lead young people to mask their feelings with drugs, making emotional support crucial.
• 😀 Parents need to understand the importance of teaching their children how to cope with emotions and challenges without resorting to substances.
• 😀 Addiction affects not just the person who is struggling but also their families, and offering support, resources, and compassion can make a meaningful difference.

Q & A

How did Jordan's drug use begin?

Jordan's drug use began with experimenting with prescription drugs during high school. He then smoked heroin a few times before transitioning to using heroin more frequently after graduating. Eventually, he was introduced to injecting heroin, which marked the point when his addiction became serious.

What role did addiction play in Jordan's life?

Addiction took hold of Jordan particularly after he began injecting heroin. This shift marked the point where he lost control, and the addiction became overwhelming, making it difficult for him to fight it.

How did Kerry Strickland cope with Jordan's addiction and death?

After Jordan's death, Kerry went through a period of shock and shame, questioning if she had done something wrong. However, she came to understand that she hadn't done anything wrong and that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of their background.

What advice does Kerry offer to parents of children struggling with addiction?

Kerry advises parents to approach addiction with love, care, kindness, and acceptance. She suggests that, although boundaries are necessary, addiction should be treated as a disease, similar to other illnesses like cancer or diabetes.

What did Kerry initially believe was the best way to handle Jordan's addiction?

Initially, Kerry followed the typical approach of 'tough love' by trying to get Jordan help and being firm with him. However, over time, she realized that compassion, understanding, and support were far more effective in helping him cope with his addiction.

What was Kerry's realization regarding Jordan's shame and its impact on his behavior?

Kerry realized that Jordan carried a lot of shame, which affected his behavior. His actions, such as lying or arguing, were not meant to hurt his family but were rooted in the shame and self-blame he felt due to his addiction.

Why does Kerry believe society should treat addiction differently?

Kerry believes that addiction should be treated like any other disease, such as cancer or diabetes. People suffering from addiction should not be stigmatized or shunned but should instead be supported with resources and care.

What does Kerry wish she had done differently during Jordan's addiction?

Kerry wishes she had talked more openly about drugs and their effects, as well as discussed heroin and prescription pills in more detail. She also wishes she had been more understanding about Jordan's emotional struggles and worked harder to help him cope with his feelings without turning to drugs.

What was the main struggle Jordan faced while battling addiction?

Jordan struggled with coping with everyday emotions, including anxiety, happiness, and sadness, without resorting to drugs. After seven years of heroin addiction, he lacked the necessary coping skills to manage life’s ups and downs without medication.

How does Kerry suggest parents should approach discussions about drugs with their children?

Kerry suggests that parents should have open and honest conversations about drugs, including their dangers. She emphasizes the importance of educating children about drug use and helping them understand the emotional struggles that can lead to substance abuse.