To Parents: From our founder Scot Breithaupt Sr.

As a fellow parent and guilt ridden son, and a recovering addict; I have a multi-faceted perspective to share with you. I hope I can be of some help to you in this day and age of “They’re just kids blowing off steam”… Please don’t be fooled or put your head in the sand. Addiction has no social, economical, race of academic barriers; it viciously attacks anyone and everyone…

Scared? You should be! Starting with alcohol, cigarettes, then pot, PCP, Oxicodon, Smack/Heroin, Cocaine, or Meth… Their all stepping stones to death, hell on Earth; Addiction. It will rob you of your children, their ambition, their dreams, their joy in life… Their Future… Their life and yours too! I am living proof of the lonely. Fear-filled, insane roller coaster of life in drugs. Use my failures to see addiction for what it is.

Open your eyes, open your mind to reality Mom and Dad. Kids are exposed to drugs and alcohol in the home, TV, electronic games, the Internet, at Schol, and through peers from such impressionable ages as 4 to 6 year olds and beyond. I am writing you this from a jail cell, where I hear of horror stories that literally bring me to tears. Our society is dieing from the inside, our future bleek.

Open your mouths to talk to your kids, but more importantly listen to your kids! Drugs, alcohol, gangs, AIDS, and Chaos are rampant today. Listen as they talk, listen to what they do for fun, who they “hang with”. And ask daily, “What’s going on with you today?” Every day is an opportunity to be the parent they need you to be! "Over 40% of High School kids drink regulary, 50% have used drugs in some form, 1 in 12 have used extasy!

When there’s a problem at home or school don’t tell them they are bad, dumb, or lazy. Do tell them they are good, bright, creative, and winners! Find their positive aspects and praise their accomplishments. Motivate; build them up! Open communications without consequences! They will hide the truth if they get punished for saying it! Set “boundaries and clear consequences” for bad behavior, but also set “rewards for accomplishments and good behavior”, up front.

It’s 2008, not 1965; negative influences have multiplied since I was a child. Mass media, laxed censorship and our “Drive to Provide” has eroded the morals and goals of our society. Your kids need your leadership and guidance daily. If you’re like me, and didn’t have such “guiding or motivating or nurturing” parents or role models, get yourself help. Get Educated! There’s “Price Parenting” at most schools, organizations and foundations available for free! You only fail, if you fail to try!

I failed my children and family by hiding my fears and painful past. I didn’t get help, I self medicated and hurt them all.

Lack of “family” and “boredom” lead to drugs, alcohol, and gang involvement... take time for your kids, teach them parenting skills and family first, it will benefit you and society for generations to come. Create rituals for family activities. Structured meal times, house cleaning and recreation too. It all promotes unity and self-worth. Please see the “Alternatives and Fun Stuff” icon to get ideas to enjoy with your kids and family; Every day is a gift, I threw away too many.

I deeply regret choosing to “Run and Numb,” missing so much of “life” with my kids! It’s a blessing that they’ve avoided addiction; learning from my failures. Don’t live in fear, get involved as a parent, seek help when you need it. Give help when your kids need it. Be part of the solution, be proactive, as a person and parent; the rewards are lifelong.

Drop me a line anytime, my failures can be your rewards! We’ll find addiction solutions together and live in freedom eternally!

God Bless,
Scot A Breithaupt Sr, Founder

scot@faasthelp.com