The Des Moines Register, Tuesday, April 21, 1998, Page 10A

FURTHER REFLECTIONS

A destroyer without pity

    This letter is to introduce you to a figure that has become familiar to my family.
    He first met our daughter at a social event where there was music, dancing and partying.  She liked him right away.  Liked is a weak term - loved and adored are better descriptions.  She knew we wouldn't approve, so she only saw him on weekends for a while.  Then she started sneaking out to meet hirn on weeknights now and then.  Pretty soon she was seeing him every day and even sneaking him into our home.
    Finally he had such control over her that she quit her job, stole money and possessions from her family and gave up everything to be totally alone with him.   When all her money was gone and she realized what she had done, she came home and introduced this new friend to our family.
    We were not impressed by his charms.  We were, in fact, sickened and appalled.  We threw him out, forbade our daughter to see him again and sent her to a safe place away from his influence.  But we underestimated his hold on our daughter, and twice he lured her away - twice we brought her back to safe places.
    It's been 60-plus days since she last was with him, but we know that each day is a struggle for her to stay away from him.
    So this letter is not just an introduction but a warning.  This is not someone you want your family to meet.  In fact, you need to do all you can to keep him away from your home, your schools and your neighborhood.
    He will steal away your family.  He has no pity - he is a destroyer.  He will appear innocent at first, but he is a deadly deceiver.  If he gets his hands on a member of your family, he will never let go.  He will teach them to lie, to steal, to manipulate, to use violence.  He will ask them to sacrifice family, friends, jobs, possessions and health and they will leap to do it.  He will use them to bring in more victims.
    He will change your child into a person you won't recognize.  He will take and take and take.  He gives also - he gives heartache, brain disorders, heart attacks, insanity and sometimes death.  Once he creates a bond with a family member, only death severs it.  Forever that person is drawn, as if by a siren's call, to the promise of good times.  Forever that person must be on guard constantly to protect herself against his pull.
    So as a way of introduction - let me say flee.  Don't try to get up close and personal.  His reputation, if anything, is understated.  Throw up a barricade, bring out all your defense.  Protect yourself and pray that this is the closest you ever get to meeting methamphetamine.

- Kathy Fetters
Des Moines.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS are thoughts submitted by Register readers.

The Des Moines Register
Tuesday, April 21, 1998, Page 10A
letters@news.dmreg.com