Lucifer boy asked me if he could give a survey to his astronomy class. It was a survey that he had drafted for his psychology research methods project about illicit drug use. So, I ended lecture a few minutes early today and allowed him to administer the survey. Although the class was aware that it was optional, everyone stayed and participated. The questions on the survey were about specific drugs, level of impairment felt while under the influence, and perceived long-term effects.

A student asked Lucifer boy what he knew about these drugs. His response was, "I've lost about six of my friends to this crap." And then the stories began - those who've tried a little, the woman whose son is in rehab right now, those who've lost days... it seemed like everyone had a story. Here's mine.

My brother is a drug addict - there's been jail-time, rehab, years of being clean, months when he's been missing. He has struggled, lost everything, rebuilt, lost everything again... He's in his 40s and is living with our widowed mother, keeping her entertained with his bizarre sense of humor. He isn't stupid - he's addicted, involved in an unending battle. He has recently completed a long-term monitoring program that actually involved counseling (for a change), has a full-time job, and seems to be doing well at the moment.

My brother's problems have influenced my choices. I've never tried drugs. I do not drink alcohol. Even when prescribed painkillers after minor surgeries, I discontinued use within 24 hours. I've seen the pattern of addiction and have decided that it will not happen to me. As importantly, I do not want to put my loved ones through the kind of pain I've observed. I've often wondered if my brother ever really understood the torment my parents felt.

Now he gets to find out. My youngest niece, his youngest daughter, is using. Her car has been impounded, her computer has been pawned, she's been kicked out of her apartment she shared with her sister. You really think that she would have learned, from all she's witnessed, that she couldn't dabble in this stuff. I guess she thought she was stronger than addiction, and now she's finding out that she was wrong.

You know, I never wanted my brother to feel what my parents felt.