Over this summer, I worked on a farm. While there, I met a variety of different people. Only a few spoke English fluently, and over my time there, I was able to get to know a man I will leave unnamed for his privacy.
We talked about life, our experiences and many other topics. One thing that really stood out to me was how many loved ones he has lost recently. I noticed that many of them shared a trend. They died not from car accidents or old age but from a very quiet epidemic that has been killing many of our nation’s young men and women in record numbers, as of recently.
What I am talking about is the drug heroin.
Although I admittedly have never had any experiences personally with this drug in any part of my life, I have been very aware of its devastation for a while. I have family in law enforcement, and they’ve told me about the numerous calls they get relating to overdoses every month.
Young men and women around my coworker’s age (20 to 25 years old) have slipped into this almost inescapable addiction that steals their money, their health, their family and, eventually, their lives.
Some are saved, but far too many are found cold, lying on their beds or couches. I asked my family what got those people started with the drug, and they have all said opioid painkillers.
It’s very sad how ironic it is that something that was originally meant to take away pain could also be the thing to lead you on a path that only ends with more pain. Pain for your mother, your father, your friends and your loved ones.
My coworker told me about the losses he’s had to go through because of that epidemic and the pain it brought for him. He’s told me of how, if he could, he would create a place for people suffering from this to be saved and given another chance.
By the way he spoke about it and how he acted, I believe he would.
I hope one day America will realize the epidemic within its borders and shed more light on this issue, as well as work harder to save those affected, before more young people are lost, so you and your loved ones don’t have to bury your own children because of this.
Brandon Trueswell
Grade 11 at Frontier
South Deerfield