Tonight, many parents will lie awake. These parents will be tossing and turning, pacing, crying, yelling and feeling powerless to the fear of never seeing their child again. Alcohol and substance abuse in young people are very real issues. They affect not only the individual trapped in the addiction, but also those family members that love and care for them. I remember the first day I entered the doors of the enthusiastic sobriety program that would transform my family’s lives (December 2014). I felt infuriated, frustrated, and most of all exhausted from trying to control my daughter’s life and choices for the past 8 years. From stalking her on “MySpace” (remember that one?) to blocking phone numbers on her cell phone account, my days and nights were spent watching and trying to prevent horrific negative consequences. Not only had mind-changing chemicals caused at least part of her life to become unmanageable (Step 1, admitting this fact), but my life had also become unmanageable in this co-dependent attempt to save and protect my first-born daughter. Over the next 3 years, not only did my daughter’s life change, but my life changed.
The journey was not an easy one; full of blame focused at my daughter and not enough focus on my own issues. I quickly learned that the 12 steps were not only for my daughter, but for me. I had just as much to learn about myself and relationships as she did. Therefore, I committed to parent meetings every Thursday nights and step meetings on Mondays. I committed to healing myself, regardless of my daughter’s outcome. I became deeply aware of how the Serenity Prayer needed to permeate all aspects of my life. “God grant me the serenity the ACCEPT the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.” 2 years after my daughter’s graduation from an enthusiastic sobriety program, my journey has led me here. Step 12 says that “We, having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, tried to carry our love and understanding to others, and to practice these principles in our daily lives.”
Amidst the fear and pain, there is hope. I have great joy to be writing this letter in the first newsletter produced by the Fingerprints Foundation. We are a group of parents whose lives have been transformed by an enthusiastic sobriety recovery program as we recovered alongside our loved ones. We desire to bring awareness and the possibility of treatment to those parents and young people affected by alcohol and substance abuse. We desire to free those parents and young people who are slaves to fear and addiction. Enthusiastic sobriety brings this freedom. We would like to invite you to partner with us in making a difference in the lives of those who so desperately need hope and support.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey A. Kuzmich