Call In Radio Program on Drug Addicted Children
If hearing another’s personal experience with drugs is the best way to understand the true nature of drug addiction and if making connections with others who are struggling with drug addiction will help us become stronger in our recovery, then one Laguna Beach, California, mom is doing everything she can to help both sides of addiction.
Drug Addiction and Radio
Leyla Fatima is a single mother of two sons, both of whom struggled for almost 10 years with drug and alcohol addictions. With time spent in emergency rooms, drug rehabs and jail visitation as a result, Fatima decided to launch a radio show to talk about her experiences and reach out to other parents who are going through the same thing.
Fatima says, “Watching our kids self-destruct is one of the most horrible, difficult things we can go through as parents. Society often places blame on us for our kids’ problems, which also makes us feel further disconnected from the world.
“I was a present, engaged and good mother. This is a disease — it’s no one’s fault.”
Connecting with Parents of Drug Addicted Children
Her positive view of getting through the drug addiction of family members is spread through “Parenting the Addict Child,” her radio show which first aired on cable Internet a year ago and has since been picked up for national syndication by Intravision. Starting February 1, it will air from 12 noon to 2 PM on Sundays on KLSX 97.1 FM.
Fatima says, “I really want to create change so that we [as a society] come to a place where addiction is accepted and is not associated with failure or shame. Parents should not be ashamed of their children, but should feel open to talk about it, share their stories and educate one another in order to help their children.”
Sharing Offers a Gift to Both Sides
It’s a relief to vent and share whether we’re struggling with our drug addiction or someone else’s. It’s also comforting to know that we’re not alone in what we’re dealing with and listening to someone else’s story provides that support. “These parents are a gift, and they have no idea what they give me,” Fatima says.
According to Ashley Breeding at the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, “Fatima encourages her listeners with words of compassion and humor, and lends advice to mostly parents of young and adult addicts based on her own experiences. Her message to listeners is that they must redefine “love” as parents and deal with addiction as a disease. She encourages them to support their children’s fight against these addictions while maintaining their own independence.”
Fatima says, “It is important to laugh through it and still find pleasure in life despite our grievances. What else can we do?”
Tags: Drug Addiction Treatment, family drug addiction, teen drug addiction
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