As a parent of a graduate of KIDS of El Paso County, and as a teacher, I support the KIDS drug treatment program. Our daughter entered KIDS in June 1986 at the age of 21. My husband and I feared for her life. She was suicidal, out of touch with reality and had had several serious automobile accidents due to drunken driving. She had attended several colleges as a talented pianist, but could not stay in any for long. She dropped out of the last college to live with her druggie boyfriend. Her father and I were desperate. We could see our daughter dying. When she first entered the KIDS program, she was a reluctant participant; however she remained voluntarily until October 1987 when she completed the program. KIDS is not an easy program. It is hard for parents and siblings. But it is worth all of the time and effort when one can see what a valuable, loving, productive person a once drug dependent kid can become. In addition to our daughter's becoming drug-free, our older son, once chemically dependent, is attending AA in another state. Our younger son, who started drugs, is now drug-free. I have had students from other drug treatment centers as well as students from KIDS. Students from KIDS have learned a life style that gives them a better chance to live a healthy and drug-free life. El Paso needs KIDS of El Paso County. Other families deserve the same kind of help.
