AN ADDICTS RIGHTS!

by Kathryn
(Adelaide S.A. Australia)

HI,

I AM A 43 YEARS OLD. I HAVE BEEN ADDICTED TO METHAMPHETAMINE FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS. I AM
A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN NOW AGED 15 AND 12.

I HAVE MADE AN EXTENSIVE EFFORT IN OVERCOMING
MY ADDICTION, AND AM ABOUT TO RE-ENTER FOR THE
FIFTH TIME A REHABILITATION CENTER.

THREE YEARS AGO I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TRUSTING
THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN WITH THEIR CARE WHILST
I WAS ATTENDING A REHAB PROGRAM. I WAS UNFAIRLY
DISCHARGED EARLY FROM THE PROGRAM, THE FATHER USED
THIS AGAINST ME WHEN I TRIED TO HAVE HIM RETURN
THE CHILDREN TO MINE AND MY PARTNERS CARE.

THE SCHOOL ILLEGALLY ALLOWED THE FATHER TO PICK UP
THE CHILDREN, AFTER I HAD CALLED AND TOLD THEM HE
WAS NOT ALLOWED TO. I HAD CURRENT COURT ORDERS OF
THE CHILDREN'S CARE.

I FIND IT REALLY OFFENSIVE THAT IT IS BETRAYED THAT CHILDREN IN THE CARE OF METH ADDICTS PARENTS
NEED TO BE REMOVED TO PROTECT THEM FROM ANY ABUSE.
I DID NOT ABUSE MY CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE IN MY
CARE. THEY WENT TO SCHOOL, PLAYED SPORTS, HAD
FRIENDS, FOOD OF THE TABLE AND WERE VERY MUCH LOVED.

THE FATHER AND THE COURTS REFUSE FOR ME TO SEE MY
CHILDREN. I AM SADDENED TO SAY DUE TO THE TUNNEL
VISION VIEW THAT ALL METH ADDICT PARENTS ARE ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN. RE-ENFORCED BY SUCH WRITTEN INFORMATION AND MEDIA REPORTS.

THE HELP HAS "NOT HELPED BUT WORSENED" MY SITUATION AND DEVASTATED MY LIFE MORE THAN THE DRUGS WILL HAVE EVER DONE. ALL MY RIGHTS AS A MOTHER WERE TAKEN AWAY. I HAVE FELT SO ALONE IN FIGHTING AGAINST WHAT SEEMS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IN REGARDS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME.

I HAVE MET OTHER ADDICTED MOTHERS AND FATHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM AS WELL. NOT MANY, BUT THE INJUSTICE IS CRUEL AND SO MORE DAMAGING TO THE CHILDREN'S WELL BEING AND TO THE ADDICTS RECOVERY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A UNIFIED APPROACH TO THE WELFARE AND TREATMENT OF ADDICTED PARENTS, BY THE LEGAL, MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AND ASSOCIATIONS. THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE OPINION THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS JUST RECENTLY WROTE TO ME SAYING HOW HURT SHE FEELS, OVER THINKING THAT I HAVE CHOSEN MY DRUG HABIT OVER BEING ABLE TO GET HER BACK. IT KILLS ME WITH GUILT, ANGER AND SADNESS FOR HER TO BELIEVE THIS.

AND WHY DOES SHE BELIEVE THIS, BECAUSE THE LAW, HER FATHER AND EVEN THE COUNSELORS HAVE TOLD HER THIS, BY THE COURT ORDERS, HER FATHERS HAVING TOLD HER THAT I MUST CARE MORE ABOUT THE DRUG THAN HER ETC.

BUT WHOSE GONNA CARE OR BELIEVE THE WORD OF AN ADDICT ANYWAY HEY! UNLESS I'M CLEAN I HAVE NO SAY, NO RESPECT, NO RIGHTS AND NO SUPPORT FROM ANYONE IN A POSITION TO HELP ME TO SEE MY CHILDREN LEGALLY.

DEVASTATED IS UNDERESTIMATED AS TO HOW BADLY THINGS WENT WRONG FOR ME IN SEEKING HELP.

A GRIEVING MOTHER........

{THIS LETTER DOES NOT MEAN THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE
ABUSE OF CHILDREN DOES NOT OCCUR IN THE CARE OF ADDICTED PARENTS. SADLY IT DOES. I SPEAK ONLY FOR MY SITUATION. WAS I ALWAYS THERE FOR MY CHILDREN, NO, DID MY ADDICTION EFFECT MY PARENTING, YES. DID I DESERVE TO NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH MY CHILDREN. NO}