COPPELL FAMILY DEALS HEAD-ON WITH TEENAGE DRUG ABUSE

Through a Web site they created to share their story, Mark and Stephanie Kennon are asking the Coppell community to rally to help their 14-year-old daughter, Cassandra, fight drug addiction.

The Kennons moved to Coppell last summer from Illinois, and shortly after, Cassie, then 13, was drawn into the world of drugs.  Later, Cassie was recommended and placed into a long-term treatment facility because her behaviors and drug use classify her as a "high risk" user/addict.  She says she has never met a drug she didn't like, which shocks her parents.

"Words like that coming from any 14-year-old are shocking," they said.  "Her drug use includes a variety of drugs, including those administered by needle.  It's just not our daughter."

The movie "Thirteen" hit home with them because it was almost like watching a documentary of their home life over the past year.

The couple spent some time recently relocating their daughter from Shoreline in the Corpus Christie area to a place called the Phoenix House in Austin.

"She is doing a little better and is beginning to accept the help and tale responsibility...a huge step in the right direction," Mark Kennon said after the trip.

On their Web site, the couple introduces their daughter like this: "Once upon a time there was a girl named Cassie, short for Cassandra.  She had bright blue eyes and long strawberry blond hair.  She was well liked, pretty, a smart student, part of a church youth group and motivated for a bright future.

"One day she befriended a dark manipulative thing called Get High.  She visited with Get High every chance she could.  Get High introduced her to Addicted without her even knowing it.  Now she spends her days coping with the life-long disease called Drug Addiction.  The beautiful Cassie is away from her family and learning about Rehabilitation and Recovery."

The Kennons have tried every possible avenue for help: this has included family, local police, the school system, other parents, professional counselors, church groups, joining ToughLove and many prayers.

Recently, though, they have been facing an obstacle that they refuse to let get them down: Funds and insurance have been depleted.  Instead, Cassie has been placed in a long-term recovery program regardless of the cost to their family.

"Her life and future are that important to us," the Kennons said.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy states that although recent trends in youth drug use have shown the first significant downturn in usage levels, they remain at high levels.  It has been shown that the earlier drug use is initiated, the more likely a person is to develop drug problems later in life.

Youth substance abuse can lead to many other problems, including the development of delinquent behavior, anti-social attitudes, and health-related issues.  These problems not only affect the child, but can also influence the child's family, community, and ultimately society.

According to the 2003 Monitoring the Future Survey, illicit drug use by teens has declined since 2001.  Past month use of any illicit drug decreased from 11.7 percent during 2001 to 9.7 percent during 2003 for 8th graders.  Additionally, 10th grade reported use of any illicit drug decreased from 22.7 percent during 2001 to 19.5 percent during 2003.

Twelfth-graders reporting past month use of any illicit drug decreased from 25.7 percent during 2001 to 24.1 percent during 2001.  These decreases were also seen in lifetime reported use.  During 2001, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders reporting 26.8 percent, 45.6 percent, and 53.9 percent, respectively, for lifetime illicit drug use.  During 2003, lifetime illicit drug use decreased to 22.8 percent, 41.4 percent, and 51.1 percent for eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders, respectively.

Mark Kennon thinks that Coppell's affluence, coupled with working parents and kids left alone with their allowances, contributes to the problem.  In many suburban areas, often teenagers are drawn to the excitement of the world of drugs because of the lack of entertainment resources nearby.

However, he knows he can't pinpoint exactly what made his daughter delve into drugs.  His concerns outweigh his nervousness to approach the subject, but he still doesn't have the solution.

"I don't know what the answer is, but it definitely concerns us," Mark Kennon said.  It has even led the family to thoughts of moving again.  "However, drugs can be found anywhere.  We know we need to develop strength in our kids to resist these temptations and to really see what a life with drugs can potentially do to harm their futures."

Treating youth for substance abuse can be complicated, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Improvement Protocol ( TIP ) Series 32, "Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders." The normal factors that must be considered when admitting an individual to substance abuse treatment include determining the severity of the substance use, cultural background, and presence of coexisting disorders.  In addition, treatment programs dealing with youth must consider the individual's age, level of maturity, and the family and peer environment of the youth.

In most situations, the teenager abusing drugs fights against their parents.  According to the Kennons, Cassie fought back with anger and denial, purposely putting herself on the road toward self-destruction.  She even self-mutilated in her efforts to thwart rehabilitation, the Kennons said.

Adolescent treatment admissions ( admissions between the ages of 12 to 17 ) to treatment facilities in the U.S.  increased 33 percent between 1992 ( 95,000 admissions ) and 2001 ( 141,403 admissions ).  Marijuana admissions grew from 23.1 percent in 1992 to 62.2 percent during 2001.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2001, 70.3 percent of adolescent admissions were male, but this proportion was heavily influenced by marijuana admissions, where 76.1 percent were male.  The male to female ratio was closer for other substances.  About half ( 51.6 percent ) of adolescent admissions to treatment in 2001 were referred by the criminal justice system.  Approximately 17 percent were self or individual referrals, and 11.8 percent were referred through schools.

The Kennons have received a variety of helpful resources and would be open to sharing information with other concerned parents who may be concerned about their high school and junior high school aged kids, Stephanie said.

"Parental denial feeds and encourages drug addiction for impressionable minds," she said.  "As parents we must band together to help our children and each other.  I think drug use is more abundant than most parents are willing to admit.  It takes a lot of investigation and tenacious dedication to help our kids make the best choices.

"We are hopeful that we have led Cassie onto the path of a successful future by getting her 'clean' and learning appropriate social skills, emotional growth and coping abilities while in a long-term recovery program."

Portions of this story came from two Web sites: http://www.geocities.com/helpcassie2004/praying_for_answers.html and http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/juveniles/index.html.