Remember The Victims
Could I have done more to help my father?
Adam tells the story of his father’s descent from a kind and considerate parent to an unpredictable, violent monster, culminating in a shocking moment of danger.
It’s tough being the child of a drug abuser. You would never know what to expect.
One moment I’m at home with my family, the next I'm visiting my dad in rehab. I was close to my dad when I was a kid. But as I grew older, he turned from a patient and fatherly soul to someone who was a nasty, violent person. He was always triggered by the most mundane things so I just tried to avoid him.
One day, he tasked me to do some chores which I left for later. He flew into a rage and threatened me with a samurai sword. I thought he was going to kill me.
That’s what made me leave. Later on I learnt about his arrest and time in rehab. I know it's not my fault, but I can't help feeling guilty. Could I have done better in helping him stay sober?
But, what can a child really do or say to save their parents from addiction?