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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Opinion 4 WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 1998 Guest Editorial A real life nightmare Editors note- - Methamphet-amin- e can ruin lives. The SUN has featured articles recently about the signs and symptoms of the drug. The following is a real life account of the devastation that can come in its wake. It is a letter from a young woman currently serving time in the Arizona State Prison on charges of methamphetamine possession and manufacturing. It was written as a warning to a young teenage girl who the author was worried was heading down the same treacherous path she traveled several years ago. I will be 25 years old tommorrow. I have two children, Nichole 8, and Aric 22 months old. Someone recently asked me what was the main factor in my being here. I honestly cant say there was just one factor. It was a lot of things combined, including pure stupidity! I volunteered to write you and tell you my story. Basically in hopes youll read it and take into consideration that every action has an adverse reaction. The charges that were brought against me were: Manufacturing methamphet-amines- ; Possession of chemicals and equipment to manufacture; Two counts of sales; Promoting prison contraband; ' Assisting a criminal street gang; Illegal conduct control of enterprise: Possession of marijuana; Possession of methamphet-amines. When I was 15 1 got pregnant with my daughter. I dropped out of school and became a mommy at 16. At the time it sounded like a great idea. I look back now and wish I would have done things differently. Dont get me wrong; 1 loved both my kids with ali my heart, but I should have waited and finished school so I could provide better for my children. When I was growing up, I would sneak out late at night and steal my parent's car. I wouldnt sneak back in until the sun was up. The times I did get caught, I was grounded for months. That still didnt stop me. I was dating guys four or five years older than I was, so I felt I should have the privileges they did. I thought wrong. When I was 13 years old, I ran away from home. I was caught and taken back home. A couple of months later I ran away again. This time I went to Las Vegas with my 18 year-ol- d boyfriend. He beat me so badly that I ended up in the hospital. My parents drove out to pick me up and I went home. Of course, that was after my dad nearly killed the guy who beat me up. Then dont you know, when I was 14 years old, I ran away again with the same guy. This time we stole a car and went to Ohio. The car broke down in Texas, so ve hitchhiked the rest of the way. We could have been killed. How naive I was! I was gone for two months and of course Danny still would beat me up, but that was not my downfall for my return trip home again. I was babysitting for this guy for money. He raped me one day. Again, I ended up in the hospital, and then in jail for three weeks. Talk about scared. I was one of two white people in the whole place. These girls wanted to kill us white girls. Then the state of Ohio bought me a bus ticket back to Phoenix and sent me on a 4 1 2 day bus ride with no money or food. There was a very nice man also traveling with me and he bought my food! When we stopped in Phoenix, my mom gave the guy money for making I was looking at a 25 year sentence if convicted of all of these charges. When I was arrested April 10, 1996, 1 was pregnant with my son. I gave birth to him while I was in jail in June. My mom took custody of him until I bonded out in July. I got a good job and supported both my children and my mother. Then I started using again, and had a dirty urinalysis, which of course, put me back in jail until my sentencing date of March 6, 1997. I was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for one count of sales and seven years intense sure I ate. When I got pregnant with my probation for manufacturing. All little were of my other charges girl, I moved out of my dropped per my plea agreement. parents house with the father. I e worked two Thank God! jobs until I months was was eight I dont think any of this pregnant and due to the way I was raised but had to quit. months WhenNicolewas mostly due to the way I chose to live. I felt totally invincible. No old, her father beat her while I one could touch me. Well, guess was at work. He beat her so what? I was sadly mistaken. badly I almost lost her to the When I was 13 years old I state, even though I could prove swore I would never even try I wasnt home during the time it methamphetamines because I happened. Needless to say, I moved out and back to my knew I would be hooked. full-tim- 1-- . 12 parents house at midnight that night. . However, being In this disgusting place, I have to deal yvith That was when I decided to try some major unpleasantness. methamphetamines. Nine There are a lot of homosexuals. months later, I met a guy named Scott. We stayed together for 2 years and he is the father my daughter knows. We both quit doing drugs for two years and then tried to work and pay the bills, and his jealousy got the better of us. And we started drugs again. We had a very nasty break up and rarely saw each other. When he wanted to see Nichole, it was at my parents house while I was 3-1- (And they dont bother to hide it.) There are a lot of women who will just pick a fight for no reason. The guards treat you like anything except human. You work your butt off for an average of 25 cents an hour. We had SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS AA Deadlines AAA FRIDAY 1 PM See GUESTED, Page 5 gone. I started making and using a lot of meth. I met this guy who was 18 years older than I was and we got busted together. We are both doing time. He is also the father of my son and has been clean over two years. I am coming up on my first year clean. Here I am in prison, with seven months left to stay in this hell. I was so scared when I first was sentenced, but now I think this was the best thing for me. If I wasnt here, then I would have surely ended up dead. I thank the Lord everyday for this second chance. There are a lot of people who dont get a second chance. Since I have been here, I have received my G.E.D. and completed two college classes. This is a huge accomplishment for me and helps me realize that Im not as stupid as Ive always thought. CGLOftCOtlNTItrS. HOMETOWN. NEWSPAPER The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every Wednesday at 26 N. Main St., Kanab, Utah 84741 . The SUNews serves Kane County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Address communications to 26 N. Main St., Kanab, Utah 84741 , or telephone Fax Advertising rates available upon request. Second Class postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 50c per copy. 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