31 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

Heroin Use Skyrockets In Folsom

Authorities carried out raids of a suspected heroin supplier this week in an effort to stem the surging popularity of the cheap drug.

 

http://sacramento.cb...MayE6w.facebook

[bordercolliefan]

I am against the death penalty, but I think I might just be able to carry it out with my own hands against someone who sold heroin (or any bad drug) to my kids or their friends... 

 

Drug dealers are despicable scum. 

[supermom]

Some stupid female you-know-what tried to sell my kid some heroin at the light rail on iron point. 

he came home and told me. I was so P/O I was ready to hunt her down. 

 

I hate what that stuff does to people

[4thgenFolsomite]

Some stupid female you-know-what tried to sell my kid some heroin at the light rail on iron point. 

he came home and told me. I was so P/O I was ready to hunt her down. 

 

I hate what that stuff does to people

Did you report that to the police?  I would.

[Steve Heard]

My daughters have lost quite a few friends to overdoses. It's incredible. I grew up in the inner-city and never knew anyone who od'd. It is out of control. 

[New Girl]

Three wonderful sons of Folsom aged under 24 have died this month alone. Drugs are a major problem here. I wish I knew how to help. My heart bleeds for their families and friends.

[4thgenFolsomite]

It's incredible! Kids who have great lives and opportunities just throwing their lives away.

[WolfMom]

A lot of kids are under a lot of pressure to perform in school, in sports and maintain an unreal body image. There is so much pressure to conform to an image (a very narrowly defined image) in Folsom, to look and be a certain way, is it any wonder that so many of the kids here are turning to drugs?

[Rich_T]

A lot of kids are under a lot of pressure to perform in school, in sports and maintain an unreal body image. There is so much pressure to conform to an image (a very narrowly defined image) in Folsom, to look and be a certain way, is it any wonder that so many of the kids here are turning to drugs?

 

Yes, it is a wonder to me.

 

Pressure is probably highest in Asian "Tiger Mom" households - school, not sports, and not body image -, and I am guessing that their kids are not resorting to heroin, which can only harm your academic performance.  If you are into sports, heroin is an obvious non-starter, as it can similarly only harm your performance.  That leaves "body image".  I just can't believe that the heroin problem in Folsom is due to people trying to lose weight.

 

Plus, what kind of "image" do you end up with if you take heroin?

 

It may sound trite, but all will be well if a teenager is secure enough to "just say no".  Parents, talk to your kids, and then hope for the best.  Know who their friends are, though that is no guarantee of anything. 

 

My take is that some kids are just always going to take drugs, including heroin, not because of pressure to conform to a high standard, but because of peer pressure to be bold and daring and "bad", preying on a lack of self-esteem.  Teens obviously know what they're doing is wrong when they take heroin, but it's partly about the thrill of doing what's wrong.  Then, once hooked, it becomes a physical dependency, and things quickly go downhill, including image.

 

P.S.  Does this mean that no one here is in favor of legalizing heroin?

[bordercolliefan]

I am not in favor of legalizing any drug, including pot.  I just don't know why we want to send a message to kids that it's acceptable and socially condoned to be in an altered mental state. 

 

My kids are 13 and 15, so only at the very beginning of navigating the tricky social situations that may come with high school.  I believe a parent's best defenses are knowing what your child is doing and who they are with.  "Hanging out" and parties are red flags to me and are unlikely to get my "okay"... I prefer that the kids be socializing in the context of some productive activity, whether it be doing a sport, going to a movie, working on a school project, etc.   

 

I'm not sure how easy it will be sto stick with this philosophy all the way through high school... we'll see. 

[Rich_T]

I am not in favor of legalizing any drug, including pot.  I just don't know why we want to send a message to kids that it's acceptable and socially condoned to be in an altered mental state. 

 

My kids are 13 and 15, so only at the very beginning of navigating the tricky social situations that may come with high school.  I believe a parent's best defenses are knowing what your child is doing and who they are with.  "Hanging out" and parties are red flags to me and are unlikely to get my "okay"... I prefer that the kids be socializing in the context of some productive activity, whether it be doing a sport, going to a movie, working on a school project, etc.   

 

I'm not sure how easy it will be sto stick with this philosophy all the way through high school... we'll see. 

 

I echo everything you wrote. 

 

My daughter has been out of high school for a couple of years now, and got through just fine.  Her socializing was indeed generally in the context of some productive activity, and her weekend get-togethers were with kids we knew, either at our home or at their houses with parents around. She was plenty busy with schoolwork and school activities as a freshman/sophomore/junior.  As a senior she had more available time, but by then her social circle was tight.  Sure, if she had wanted to trick us and find a way to get drugs, obviously she could have.  But nothing ever suggested she would want or need to do that, and she never did.

 

I am guessing your kids will do just fine as well.  If they are already making good choices in middle school, that is a very good sign.

[jpow5]

I was wondering how I missed this story so I googled the suspects. Although drugs are still a current problem, this story is from 2011link. However, I bet many high school parents are still unaware that heroin and other drugs are being abused by Folsom teenagers. I know the media walks a fine line in reporting or not reporting drug use,  including arrests and overdoses, but its easy to live in the Folsom Bubble and believe it doesn't happen here unless you know someone directly effected by drugs. 

[4thgenFolsomite]

so you mean NewGirl's post that three Folsom boys have died in the last month from heroin overdose is inaccurate?  and the original news story is three years old??

[jpow5]

so you mean NewGirl's post that three Folsom boys have died in the last month from heroin overdose is inaccurate?  and the original news story is three years old??

I can only assume that NewGirls post is accurate since she posted it and it sounds like she personally knows the families.

 

As for the news story, yes, I believe it is from 2011. Usually all the local news outlets would carry such a story and I was surprised that I hadn't seen it until it was posted here. I watched the video in the original link and then googled the suspects names which produced links from all the local news outlets which had datelines from Sep/Oct 2011. 

[cw68]

Heroin is rarely this first drug one tries. Prescription pills are often the first step, and they are usually found in Mommy and Daddy's medicine cabinet. Parents take them freely and openly and share with friends when they have pains, and when Junior is wanting to experiment and alcohol so hard to get someone is usually able to find some. Then, after that addiction sets in, heroin is cheap (as cheap as $5 a hit) and easy to find. Availability and one weak moment is all it takes.

A Folsom cop once said to me, "Any bored or rebellious kid with a little time and $20 can get some, and there are a lot bored or rebellious kids in Folsom, and even more with $20. Keep an eye on your kid's money as well as time."

My hometown, an affluent, white-collar, Republican, Catholic suburb outside of Chicago has had a heroin epidemic for years and I have talked to a lot of kids about it. Seems like not having limited funds, or having to justify their expenditures to their parents is a factor.

So I'm going to try to be aware of what they are doing with whom; kids need some unstructured time, but not too much. If they regularly just "hang out" or"party" with certain people, that would be a red flag for me. I am going to try to keep them involved with fun things, not just competitive or academic ventures so they can blow off steam. I'm going to keep an eye (and limit) on the money they have and spend. And I'm going to continue to talk to them about the realities of our times, not just what I hope is going on.

I hope all of us can continue to share our experiences here to help keep us all grounded in reality and to use them as a resource. Knowledge is power.