GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MAY | JUNE 2018 13 TIPS AND ADDICTION RESOURCES Angie Rogers says that as a veterinarian, she gets calls daily from people about their pets; now she receives just as many calls from other parents with children who are addicted or have died due to overdose.“It’s a sad commentary about how bad this crisis is in our nation,” she says. ADVICE THAT ANGIE OFFERS TO PARENTS OF KIDS ABUSING SUBSTANCES: •To help prevent substance use, know your child’s friends. Have clear expectations, boundaries and consequences. Angie says that though she and her husband David knew Brandon’s friends, they should have followed through better. • Discuss ways to repel peer pressure. Detail the reasons not to use drugs; don’t use scare tactics.Tell them how it will affect what they have or do and explain that they can have fun without drugs and alcohol. • If your student is in high school and is using drugs or alcohol, send them to Serenity High School or another recovery school to get them into a sober, safe environment.“You need to take the parents’expectations out of the equation and look at the child,”she explains.“It doesn’t matter where they graduate high school from; it does matter if they’re alive. • Investigate the type of rehab that is best for your child. • Support children: encourage them and don’t yell at them. Seek support from people who know what you’re experiencing. Learn how to set healthy boundaries for the addict. • Parents should also get help for themselves through organizations like Al-Anon, Families Anonymous or a house of worship, where Angie went for assistance.“Families are in chaos as much as the children with the addiction and have to take care of themselves to be able to take care of them,”she adds. •There’s a shame, stigma and silence about addiction; it’s important not to struggle in isolation. Find people who will rally around you in your time of need. FOLLOWING ARE RESOURCES, SOME OF WHICH ANGIE SAYS SHE WISHES THAT THEY HAD KNOWN ABOUT DURING THE FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE WITH BRANDON. SERENITY HIGH SCHOOL, MCKINNEY, TX (469) 302-7830 One of America’s longest-tenured recovery high schools; part of the MISD THE 24 HOUR CLUB, DALLAS, TX (214) 823-3200 Safe, sober transitional living facility THE GRANT HALIBURTON FOUNDATION (972) 744-9790 Works to strengthen the network of mental health resources for children, teens and young adults; promote better mental health; and prevent suicide AL-ANON al-anon.org Support for those who worry about someone with a drinking problem FAMILIES ANONYMOUS familiesanonymous.org For families and friends of those individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioral issues SHATTERPROOF shatterproof.org A national nonprofit organization to end the devastation addiction causes families Brandon and twin sister, Blair, age 5, at an Aggie football game. This was one of the last pictures taken of Brandon and twin sister, Blair, together. Four months later, on November 3, 2015, at the age of 24, Brandon was found dead at the apartment of an acquaintance, the victim of a heroin overdose. Angie says Brandon was truly happy for his twin sister on the day of her wedding, and she is so grateful that he was there to share the celebration. L to R: Angie’s husband, David Rogers, Angie, daughter, Blair Rogers McCurdy, Alex McCurdy, and Brandon Rogers aka “Bubba.”