A story of hope, meaning and purpose

So many today are losing hope and they make bad choices and they dig a hole so deep they give up.  Given that, I wanted to share a story about this young woman's journey, her name is Brandi and I pray that her life's journey gives others hope.  It started when she was only 13 when she started using drugs.  So, imagine struggling with a Substance Use Disorder at 13…  Yes, I said 13.

How does someone that young get addicted to drugs?  Well, let's step back and ask the question of why a 13-year-old needs or wants to use drugs?  Unfortunately, in today's environment many 13-year-olds are using drugs for various reasons.  Those reasons may include abuse, neglect, or trauma, we don’t get to see what teens go through these days, we only get to see the devastating results.  The lives of those born in the last 25 years are much more complicated than the previous generations.  Can you imagine what the next generation will go through? What about those born is the last 10, what will they struggle with when they turn 13?  It's a new world, especially with social media and having the internet in the palm of their hand they will be exposed to much more. The drugs they may encounter are very different and more addicting than they were even 10 years ago.  One thing is certain; these teens will experience life differently than the previous generation. They will be traumatized by different things, and when you are exposed to trauma, whether you are 13 or 21 you will deal with it much differently than the person next to you, so they must be treated differently, we can’t use a cookie cutter approach. 

But let's get back to Brandi, as I mentioned before, she started using at age 13 and struggled with her addiction for several years and had several run-ins with law enforcement.  This is how she ended up in Mental Health Court (MHC) in 2015, standing in front of Judge Mitchell.  

• To be eligible to participate in the Mental Health Court (MHC) program, you must:

• Have the capacity to manage the structure of MHC: You must be able to read, write, and understand information given to you. 

• To be eligible to participate in the Mental Health Court (MHC) program, you must:

• Have the capacity to manage the structure of MHC: You must be able to read, write, and understand information given to you. 

• You must have a current mental health diagnosis. Bipolar Disorder, Severe Depression, and Schizophrenia are eligible diagnoses. Other diagnosed conditions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

• Have a criminal history and be identified as having a mental illness for which other treatment attempts have been unsuccessful.

• As a Mental Health Court (MHC) participant, you will be required to abide by the following rules:

• Attend all ordered treatment sessions. This includes individual and group counseling, educational sessions, and other treatment as directed. Unexcused missed treatments sessions will result in a sanction.

• Be on time. If you are late for a treatment, you may not be allowed to participate and will be considered non-compliant. Contact your counselor if there is a possibility that you may be late.

• Attend all court sessions as directed by the MHC probation officer.

• Abstain from the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. 

• Submit to urinalysis and/or breath test as requested. 

There are four phases to the program, and it takes about 15 months to graduate, so as you can see it is not a 28-day program that many attend. Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health take time to treat and heal because you have to treat the whole person not just the Substance Use Disorder.  Under the guidance of this program, they are surrounded by multiple resources to address and treat the whole person. Brandi said this program provided her with the support and guidance to get her life back a graduate the program and have hope again.

In early October I decided to host a teen addiction program at the KROC Center in Coeur d’Alene

Idaho.  The format was to have one teen addict on the panel and three other panelists.  The other three consisted of Lori Otter, the First Lady of Idaho who founded the Idaho Meth Project, Cory Crownheart, Executive Director of Idaho Drug-Free Youth, and Greg Orlando, the Program Director of Idaho Youth Ranch.

So now let me tell you how I met Brandi.  I made some calls to counselors I knew in the area and Brandi was recommended to me as she had recently graduated from Mental Health Court.  Brandi and I met for the first time an hour before the start of the conference.  She said she was very nervous because she had never spoken before a crowd.  I assured her she would be fine and I took her up on the stage so she could get a feel for it.  It was then she said, “I think I am going to throw up”.  I laughed and continued to walk her through the program, and she began to calm down.

So, what happened next was Amazing and was a blessing from God.  As the panelist talked and interacted Brandi’s nerves settled and she began to tell her story, including her mistakes and then her journey to recovery and everyone was on the edge of their seat as Brandi came to life.  

About 45 minutes in I asked the audience if they had any questions and we fielded a few questions, then the parents of a 15-year-old stood up and told us all about their daughter who had recently overdosed on Hydrocodone and Vodka, this happened in the bathroom at her high school at 10:00 AM.  She was found unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where she recovered. The good news is she is now married and has a child of her own. Brandi was able to talk to the family and told them what to expect and to make sure she gets the right help and just love her through this, don’t shame her or blame her.

During the time when Brandi was talking about her journey, she talked about her dream to become a teacher and she saif she messed that up and now wasn’t able to get any grants.  So….  What I didn’t know until the next day, Lori Otter pulled her aside and said if she was serious about college she would pay for her first year.  And she did…  

I had contacted the local newspaper and a reporter from the Coeur d'Alene Press attended to event and the next day Brandi made the front page above the fold… Above the fold is a big deal in the newspaper business.

So where is Brand now?   She completed her bachelor's at Lewis-Clarke State College in 2021 and then completed her Masters in 2023!  She is now married and has two wonderful boys, and they bought a home. Brandi is currently a Substance Use Disorder Specialist for Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.  Oh - and I would be remiss Brandi said 😀 and the Packers Rule!

So, when you think there is no hope, remember Bandi’s story.  She now has Hope, Meaning and Purpose.