Topic : 05/17 Brandon Behind Bars

I just found out also that my son has tried pot, he is only 15 and its devestating to me because I'm afraid this will lead to more, just the other night he seemed stoned to me, I was so sad I dont know what to do, the last time he told me he likes how he feels when he smokes it, so do I put him in treatment or what any suggestions would be appreciated if you are or have been in this situation.

Life is lonely...the world is not always a welcoming place.  To be able to just experience the warmth of sunshine or the sweet smell of a flower is precious.   I believe that sometimes we expect too much from life and become overwhelmed.  When you wake up tomorrow, just step outside and experience the brightness of the sunshine, or if it's raining, think about the growth and cleansing that the rain can bring.  If you can experience one small moment of peace, one moment of escape from the overwhelming crush of the world, you will be blessed in that moment. 

  

Peace.... 

as a person of addictions my self  and was out there practising , the last thing i needed was for to go on television  and tell the world about it then hope Dr Phil or who ever was going to fix my problem , also having a enabling family , especially the mother , who by the way is just as sick as he is trying to council him or others (please keep an open mind ) hes a con just like we all are and untill he hits his own bottom ,he will continue to do what hes doing , just my opinion ., but your right for the most part ., were all cons and i can sure see one in brandon ., and as you know we cant con a con . as for you keep up the good work myfriend and good luck to you .

Couldn't agree more, but how much influence does a family have? 

Go look in my profile, look at my baby pictures, one at 4 months, one at 6 months, just two of many......with a beer bottle in my mouth.  Yes, addiction may very well be in the genes, but regardless, the very beginning does matter.  I'm sure many have very, very similar pictures. 

I hope Brandon will find his way before the drug finds it for him. 

If only Brandon, and so many young ones like him, could visit our son and talk to him about what drugs did to his life and his family. Our son is handsome and everyone loves him, he is kind, thoughtful, hardworking, loads of fun to be around. That is when he is clean. As I watched Brandon talk as he's sitting in jail, he says so many of the same things our son has said over the years. Our son started drugs at 15, and when he was 18 he completed a drug program.  Relapsed, spent the next 7 yrs. in and out of jail. When he was 25, and a new father, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for burglary. Guess why? His attorney was able to have him sent to CRC (Calif. Rehabilitation Center in Norco, Calif.)  He was home after 13 months, and swore he never wanted to go back. Within three months he was sent back for using and violating parole. This went on four times, he would only be home for a few months and then relapse and never even get off parole. One trip home he was ordered to complete a drug program, and he did. He spent a year in that program and graduated, and then relapsed again. When he was released the fourth time and ordered into yet another drug program, he had only a short time to be released from parole, and after only three months he walked away and violated again. He was homeless and on drugs. The next time we saw our son was in county jail charged with Homicide. Charged for a murder he didn't commit, but was tried and convicted under the felony murder rule, and because he had a prior, his sentence was doubled. He was sentenced to 66 to life. His co-defendent who killed the man was sentenced to 25 to life. You asked yourself, how could this happen to our son who would never harm anyone or even think of murder? He asks himself, how could this happen when all I did was get into a fight with a drug dealer? I can't begin to tell you what life is like for us and for him. All the little things he took for granted, mean so much to him now. I have to fight a daily battle to keep from falling completely apart. I will never be happy again, it's just not there. No matter how hard I try. Just the grace of God keeps me going, and the fact that I know I can see him, and know where he is. But where he is, is maximum security, level four. You still live in fear everyday, almost as bad as when you lived in fear with him on the outside. Our prayers go out to Brandon's family. His Mother just breaks my heart to watch her. I feel every pain she is experiencing, and you always live in constant fear not knowing if the next day will be back to the same life you hoped and prayed would never come again.

  i can  tell brandons parents this : what his future holds 

  

if he doesnt stop you can burry him now along with his children why you ask yourself i am the perfect example 

  

my sister was addicted to heroin and when she tried to get off it she then became addicted to methadone.now she is addicted to both and many other things she is in her 30s she has children 6 of them to be exact and i have been trying for the last 4 years to get the state to take away her kids and save them from the life there mother leads and the danger she presents.i am now trying to organize a joint effort in my family to encourage to permanetly take her children away and put her up for adoption her last baby was born 17 weeks early and addicted to crack we have no idea what his future holds. why does this pertain to brandon? because birds of a feather flock together and that means the girl brandon gets pregnant will be a drug addict and she will give birth to a drug addicted baby as well if he doesnt OD first my entire family tree is littered with drug addicts and those who have OD'd and those with friends that have. this show was a topic close to my heart because you cant imagine the grief my family has gone through and the hurt my sister has caused espesially to her children.the post before me is the naked truth i hope you all see this  

  

sincerly  

me a family member whose trying her best to break the cycle 

Today's show was very painful to watch, as my 21 year old son is currently serving jail time as the result of criminal activities while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  Our struggle has gone on for several years and has included residential and out patient treatment programs, private counseling, halfway houses, AA/NA, begging, pleading, countless tears, remorse, improvement, relapse......As his Mom, the hardest thing is to realize that I am no longer able to protect my adu;t child, and that only if and when he comes to terms with the realities of life as an addict can there be any long term change.  As a person, my son is wonderful, kind, loving, intelligent, all that a parent could ask for.  Then there's the addict, who bears no resemblance to him. 

  

To those who are dealing with a similar problem, never give up hope, continue to love your addict, and pray, pray, pray. 

  

To those who condemn the addicts and criticize their loved ones behavior, remember that "There for the grace of God go I" and show some compassion 

I don't care if you are God himself. If you lack the responsibilty to NOT use drugs then it is YOU OWN PROBLEM.  

  

Druggies are drama people who want to be the focus as "victims of a disease"  

  

Grow Up.  

  

And as for Brandon? Grow up young man, you are 21 now so be held accountable for your actions.  

Brandon is a lost cause and now is tearing his parents apart in marriage.  

  

This punk is 21 now so time to be an adult and suffer the consequences. The Dad is 100% right.  

  

Cut this punk out.  

give the guy a break. having an addiction is a problem, which odviously you know nothing about. all he can do is try to improve himself and i hope to god he does that. but until then he needs all the help he can get and he especially does not need people cutting him down