Suicide by Drugs
by Kathy Gibson Boatman
Issue 140 - September 30, 2009

We watched the graduation caps and tassels fly up in the air and we applauded the graduate’s success with grins on our faces and a tremendous sense of relief. The tumultuous High School years came to a close with possession of that all-important document and foundation for adult life, the High School diploma.

Our son is a young man who has struggled to find his niche in life and I recall a conversation with my close girlfriends and fellow moms as we returned home from a mom’s getaway the summer after he graduated. I said, “Young men face numerous risks at this age, whether they chose to join the military and end up going to war or if they chose to stay home.” I continued, “At least when they join the military they have supervision, they answer to a drill sergeant and they have a curfew. At eighteen parents lose control, you can’t ground them anymore or tell them what to do, after-all they are supposed to be adults.” My friends and I laughed about the differences and similarities with teens and the terrible two’s.

That conversation came to mind the night my husband and I received the phone call from the emergency room of the local hospital to notify us our only son had been shot. As my husband drove to the trauma center and I fought back tears I recalled my prior statements and every mothers worst fear. I thought to myself, “My son didn’t have to go to Iraq or to war to get shot.” The risks he faced living in America were just as dangerous.

We arrived at the trauma center before the helicopter landed with our son and we checked in with the staff at the front desk. A short time later we were escorted into a small room with a doctor and a social worker. The memories of that conversation are as foggy as a cold winter morning after a good rainstorm. We learned that our son had been shot below the chin on the right side of his face and the bullet had exited on an angle through his mouth. He was being stabilized and prepped for surgery. We would be allowed to see him for just a minute before he was taken to the operating room.

The mental picture of my baby laying unconscious on the gurney is one I will never forget. His pale skin stood out in stark comparison to the bright red blood soaked bandages covering his face from the nose down. Below the bandages the bag, (to assist with breathing) lay on his chest. I grasped his hand and prayed for his health and the doctors who would put my baby back together again. He was rushed off to surgery and my husband and I held each other as the shock of the tragedy enveloped us.

We took our seats in the family waiting room as we tried to grasp the meaning of what we faced. I began to call our close friends and family members as the black night faded and the sun rose. No matter how hard I tried to break the news gently, the question invariably asked by all, “What happened?” and the resulting answer, “Dirk has been shot,” changed us all.

In time we learned that Dirk attempted suicide using a twelve-gauge shotgun. His struggle to find his niche in life had taken a downward spiral after he became a victim of American societies all too common affliction and the influence of drugs. My son joined the growing epidemic of youth and adults seeking gratification from a pill. He became a statistic in a growing epidemic affecting the lives of young adults in vast numbers across our country as suicide attempts increase in epidemic proportions.

Suicide follows closely behind traffic accidents in leading causes of death for the 15-24 year old age group. While the majority of parents educate their children on traffic risks, how many parents educate their young adults on the facts of suicide?

How many parents are aware of the warning signs? We were not aware of the facts prior to our family tragedy. Small signs and symptoms were evident. Things that many parents have witnessed with their teenagers and young adults can be warning signs or indicators of a serious problem. We missed or were not aware of the significance of the following factors: Mood swings, health problems (stomach ulcers, abnormal EKG’s, fatigue, etc.), irresponsible behavior, isolation from family/friends, financial difficulties, and drug usage.

Doesn’t suicide warrant as much attention and effort to educate parents and children as speeding and other traffic risks? For those who spot the signs, help is available through 1-800-SUICIDE.

Post this article to your Facebook profile