Tuesday, June 18, 2013

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Preventing teen drug abuse
Posted: 04.27.2009 at 10:08 PM
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Lesley Golden shares her journey through drug abuse.  / FOx21 News
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- We hear that drug use is a big problem among teenagers, but it's easy to think, "That would never happen to my child."

That's why a special town hall meeting is being planned for Tuesday night for local teens and their parents.

At the meeting, teens will be telling their own true-life stories about their experiences with drug abuse. They'll also be talking about solutions.

FOX21 News had the opportunity to sit down with the guest speaker, Lesley Golden, as she shared her amazing story that every parent should hear.

Twenty-year-old Lesley Golden knows first-hand about the dangers of teen drug use.

She was just 14 the first time she tried methamphetamine, and in two months, she was doing it six or seven times a day.

High all the time, she even doesn't remember most days, and ended up in the hospital.

"I had used so much, they were scared I was going to have a heart attack," she said.

She was sent to detox, and then 48 hours later was using again.

The meth led to cocaine, heroin and ecstacy. And her need for drug money led to prostitution.

"I gave up on myself. I'd wake up, look in the mirror and not even know who I was. Most mornings I didn't even care if I woke up," Golden said.

She ended up in Seattle, where the worst was yet to come.

She saw her best friend die, and then, "I pissed off my drug dealer. He wrapped a belt around my neck and left me there. I woke up in the hospital and I didn't even know where I was," she said.

Golden was sent to a drug rehabilitation program in Michigan for four months and said that was the best thing she's ever done.

"I didn't know how to be me, and by going to rehab, I found me," she said.

She came home and has been clean ever since, although some days are still a struggle.

Now she's sharing her story to educate teenagers and their parents. She wants teens to know drug use is not like it's often portrayed in the movies.

"They need to know it's not glamourous, it's not fun. It's death, it's dangerous, it's darkness, and it hurts people," Golden said.

And she want parents to listen to her story and then listen to their kids.

"I want parents to realize by being a part of their childrens' lives they can save their lives," she said.

The "Intention Prevention" Town Hall Meeting will be held Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, 1600 North Union.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Click on the camera icon to view the story as it aired on FOX21 News.

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