On Seven people worked together in heroin-related burglaries, thefts

Posted on February 27 at 4:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

This is such a sad case and unfortunately it is happening in just about every community. I knew a few of these kids form the time they were pre-teen up to a few years ago when my son stopped hanging out with them. They came to my home every weekend and even then I knew they were headed for serious problems. I am an AODA counselor and talked to them on numerous occassions about where their drug use would bring them. Like all kids I am sure they thought the old lady doesn't know what she is talking about and it will never happen to me. There is an old saying that if you sober up a drunken horse thief you will just have a sober horse thief. Yes, these young adults need to be offered treatment for their addiction but they still need to be held accountable for their crimes. I know there is treatment offered in prison and that is where they need to be. Making excuses for their behavior, sympathy for their upbringing and rationalizations that this is what addicts do will not help these young adults get their lives together eventually. A brief jail sentence and release back into their old community will just result in momentary remorse then they will return to their old ways. Long term prison so when they are released they are old enough to make a better choice to stay away from using friends and old haunts is what is needed. Hearing about this broke my heart and I wish there was more I could have done but they just never listen. Garret and Zack if you read this know my thoughts and prayers are with you. There is still time to change the big picture. I love you both. Mom