Heres what happens when you dont teach your kids about addiction.

Addiction comes in many forms and I think most people forget that part. Some are addicted to shopping, some addicted to drugs, some are addicted to alcohol, ect. There are many forms of addiction and dealing with it can be overwhelming. If you're not aware of how easily you can fall into addiction it can happen in some cases unknowingly. Some are fortunate enough not to have an addictive personality. for those who don't have an addictive personality it seems to be very hard to comprehend. Growing up I wouldn't so much as take tylenol for a headache. My very first pill was a prenatal vitamin at age 19. I had a cesarean birth and still could not take the pain meds due to the fear of being too loopy to take care of my baby. While going through nursing school my back went out. I could not sit through class, I couldn't stand, walk, lay down, nothing seemed to ease the excruciating pain I was in. I went to the doctor and was instantly prescribed 120 vicodin, 120 tramadol, and a bunch of muscle relaxers.

The meds really helped get through the back pain. However back then we did not take any educational courses on addiction in school and being that I had never taken meds before I had no knowledge of addiction. After the pain in my back went away, I found myself deciding whether or not to take the meds before a shift at work. They gave me lots of energy, curbed my appetite, and even enhanced my mood. I started taking the meds for the wrong reason again not realizing where that road would take me. In no time I noticed when I didn't take them I felt horrible so I continued to take them. At this point taking them daily before a shift was becoming more and more necessary, or at least this is what I told myself Before I knew it I was addicted to the same meds that were prescribed to me to help. I blindly spiraled further into addiction.

I met someone who was also addicted to a serious injury at his previous job. We were together for six years and had a child together. When my daughter was two years old addiction took his life. I moved back to Ohio and I wanted to get help but couldn't seem to find it on my own. The addict in me made a million excuses. I had social workers come to see me and ask me about my problem, and I was honest with them. two seperate times I told the case workers I needed help. One gave me a bunch of info that didn't really help but she truly tried, the other did nothing. In fact I asked about a program I could sign up for to get help. She told me she did not recommend it and stated if I made one wrong move she would be obligated to take my children.

My addiction continued until I was finally charged with a felony possession and sent to jail. The Brown County court and Probation department made sure to hold me accountable for my actions. I felt as if they were horribly mean to me until I went through and successfully completed 2 inpatient rehabilitation programs. I'm thankful for all of it to this day. It turns out Brown County and the probation department were doing their jobs effectively. I joined the Adams County Drug Coalition but didn't stay in the meetings long. All it took was for me to hear one person say all addicts sell their children for drugs. I was in complete shock. At that time the coalition was very small. This person knew I was recovering from addiction. For him to make such an ignorant statement made me furious.

I am not proud of my past but I consider it a learning experience. I try to talk about my mistakes to anyone willing to listen often so that I don't forget where I came from and how I got to where I'm at today. It's easy to forget how fortunate we are. It's easy to forget to appreciate the small things in life that we are used to having every day.

My journey through the first stages of recovery taught me to be mindful of my surroundings and others. It taught me to look inward when I'm in a situation I'm not happy with or when I'm upset about something or with someone. What part do I have in this situation? How could I have handled things differently? What can I do to correct this situation if anything at all? Who am I blaming if I'm not holding myself accountable and why? Is it justified or am I simply shifting blame? I may have made my fair share of mistakes, but they do not define my character. My mistakes are my past and each day I mindfully and consciously put effort into being a better person. With that being said, I did neglect my home for a couple days before cps showed up but I did not take my babies for granted. I remembered to pay attention to their words, their body language and their moods. We communicated very well and we were honest with each other. Within reason on my part because there is always the exception of things kids don't need to know. Were supportive parents and encouraging parents. I cannot understand how any individual can walk right up into someone's home and decide they are not fit to care for their children. Although I committed my crime 8 years ago this is still held against me repeatedly and I expect it in most cases. For cps to show up out of the blue and steal my children when they were taken care of yet leave them with me when I told them I was not well just blows my mind. Back then it was only by the grace of GOD that my babies were not taken and I'm not proud of that at all. I begged for help and one of those social workers flat out denied me. This is the most infuriating part….. the same social worker who filed the false complaint and coerced my signature on the safety plan is the same one who denied me help in 2014.. Who and what gives anyone that right?. These people must have God complexes or something. Why on earth would anyone write a false testimony and HOW could you set your morals aside (if any) to do so? Coercing a parent into, as you put it, "voluntary" removal of their children with a smile on your face???

How could you possibly think you're helping the children, or acting in their best interest when you're causing more harm by cutting off all forms of communication seperating children placing them with strangers because you feel you know what's best?!?! Furthermore, no one has ever asked my children about their wishes. My children have never been permitted to give their testimonies. But you're fully confident that a woman who's never met or spoken to my children knows what's best for my children. They did not need to be saved from us, they need saving from you!