Substance abuse was a completely foreign disease to our family, save for news reports and the like.  So, when stabbed in the gut with the news of my son’s drug use, I was not only devastated, but also freightened beyond belief and clueless as to where to go, what to do.

My son arived at Penn Foundation on a friday.  On the sunday after his admission, I attended my first Family Education Class.  I’ll carry to my grave to comfort and reassurance showered upon me by Alan when I walked through the door that day sobbing.  I sobbed for the next three Sundays during class, but felt supported in a way I could never have imagined.

I’ve since attended probably 10 or so Family Education Classes, and in contrast to that first week of uncontrolled crying, I found myself hysterically laughing my way through our class last week.  To have come so far as to actually find moments of joy amidst so much insanity is shocking to me and speaks to the power of the education and camaraderie Family Ed provides.