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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1983)
^ .iX * - u*.f«v-X.~4 I» »i<»«w>» ¿W A* JK ». « LIKING SECTION "Chemical free" kids bring hope to teens by M arih A llyn-C laire M ike. Scon. John and Todd, ages 14 - 1?, w e inpatients at the Adoles cent Care U n it o f Physicians A Sur geons Hospital in Portland. The Adolescent Care U nit Program as sists teenagers in uncovering their addictions and offers tools to build a “ chemical free” life. “ I t ’s a progression; it gets worse and worse,” said M ike. “ I started smoking pot between the ages o f 7 - 9 with my 14-yfcar-old sister,“ he said. “ It d id n ’ t do any thing for me then. It just thrashed my throat. In 7th grade. I ’d go out on weekends with my friends d rink ing and smoking. W e’d space out on the lights. Nothing seemed wrong to me. I was getting As in school, but as time went on I started drinking during school. There was lots o f pressure. M y parents got divorced; I got kicked out for selling and buy ing drugs and coming to school d ru n k .” John explained, “ W e had a lot o f fam ily problems before I started smoking pot. M y parents used to get into arguments. M y Dad hit my M om a few times. I didn't care about anything anymore. . . Drugs ruled. “ I d id n ’t go to school at all. During my freshman year I smoked pot daily. I started doing burglaries and auto (heft. I was arrested and served 2 months in a group home in Gresham. I was later sentenced for 15 months in Corvallis for other charges. Runaways all the tim e.” Scott said, “ M y brother turned me on to pot and champaigne. It was the greatest feeling I ever had. It gave me something to d o . . . . I de pended on my brother to get drugs for me. I gave him my allow an ce.. . but most of the time he d id n 't have time for me. "D u rin g Kth grade I started a new school. W e moved after my parents got divroced and my M o m started going out every night and drinking heavily. I ’d be home alone. "P re tty soon I d id n 't have the money so I started ripping people o f f .” M ike added. “ W e'd gone over the edge. W e’d ripped o f f too many people.” Scott continued, " I stole a com puter from school, and had my sis ter hock it. M y step-parents knew 1 was getting into trouble. They could see right through my lies----- We robed this house. M o ney, booze, equipment. W e hit it five or six times. W e never got busted." M ike said he hit bottom when he started stealing from his father. " I ’d steal $20 at a lime out o f my dad’s wallet while he was in the shower. I never imagined 1 would steal from h im ." Scott: “ I got a D W I ticket for negligent driving. M y parents had to come and get me.” John said, " I thought I had killed my M o m . I was stealing from her. When she caught me. she started screaming at me. I pushed her down some stairs, and she broke her ankle. She just lay there— I thought she was dead. " N o w I have to go to court in two weeks, on assault and battery charges. I ’ m pretty scared. Todd explained, " M y family life started going down the drain. " M y brother and I would get into brawls. H e threw me across the room and cut my head open. " I got in trouble w ith my Dad. I ’d sneak out after my parents went to bed, and smoke weed and drink with my friend when he got o ff work. M y grades went down. Todd continued, " I knew I need ed help. I started being open with my parents. They brought me to the Care unit. I ’ve been here 43 days. The big test is, can I stay sober out in the streets?" M y friends will probably say, " O h , you pussy, you can’t take a bong h it.” Now a patient at the Adolescent Care U nit Program, M ik e said, " I feel really good. I ’ ve been sober and clean 13 days and I feel really good. I don't wake up loaded and all burned out. “ A t first when I came I felt weird — out o f place. I ’ve been here nine days. I ’ ve started going to meetings. They say, ’ Y o u ’re Number One. You have to take care o f yourself first. They have the level system and if you screw up you go d ow n.” The program uses the “ H o w ” concept: H — Honesty: Adm itting you have a drug problem. O — Open to accepting help. W — W illing to give the program your best. M ike explained, “ 1 made a prom FredMeyer ise to myself that after I'm out I'm going to stay clean and sober. I'd like to help rome o f my other friends. An A A friend o f mine told me about a dance where 1200 people are going to be. A ll sober: that's going to be a real rush!” Open 7 Days a W eek 9 AM to 10 PM Prices good Wed., Nov. 2 thru Tues., Nov. 8, 1983 Your Family's Favorites on Sale SAVE MONEY NOW Beautiful Fruits & Vegetables MEAT MARKET FRESH PRODUCE Texas Ruby Red Ground Beef G ra p e fru it iUi FOR Sweet and Full of Juice M Y T E F I N E • 11 Varieties French Cheer D etergent Breada 15 oz. loaf Reg. 8 7 ' 171 or. box Reg. 8 .2 9 Powdered • Light or Dark Brown White or Assorted Colors Armour Sliced MY-TE-FINE S u g a r M.D. Bath Tissue Lunchm eat 10 Varieties 10 to 12 or. pac kage Reg. 1.49 First two Additional at regular price All Portland Area Food Sections except Morrison or 122nd and Stark MM— E— First two Additional at regular price c 88* J K t C O t^ tC w C t ME a M e a EANMM ONE STOP SHOPPING < CF/VTCTS Each of th a t* advertised items must be readily available for sale at or below the advertised price in eech Fred Meyer store, except as specifically noted In this ad. 44-2t5« <
