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Kelsea's Law
Hi, I am so sorry for your loss. I am now 22 yrs old, but when I was 15 I first found out what Methadone was....my doctor prescribed me Methadone for pain for a chronic nerve disease I have. After the Vikodin and Morphine and Oxycontin and Lydocaine patches had stopped working for my pain, my doctor prescribed me Methadone. Before that, I had no clue what it was...and I was in foster care, so I didn't even have a caring gaurdian fighting for me in my corner to help me realize that I shouldn't have been taking the methadone. I was on Methadone for about 2 months in high school (like I said, precribed by my doc) and was SO completely out of it from the medicine...I don't remember those two months...at all! I do remember one day I was so sick of not being aware of my surroundings from the Methadone that I had refused to take it...I couldn't get a doctors appt for another 3 weeks so I decided I would take myself off the Methadone alone since my doctor seemed not to care either way....Let me tell you, although the Methadone didn't kill me (fortunately), the withdrawls from that almost did!!! I ended up in the ER because for a whole 7-10 days after stopping the medicine I was throwing up--couldn't even keep water down--had begun to experience terrible trembles and shakes throughout my body, couldn't sleep, could barely function and would be in and out of my mind at times.....I was scared to DEATH!!! The hospital had no clue what to do for me except hydrate me and catheterize me and observe. More recently, I did an internship at a Methadone clinic and the nurses and doctors were ASTONISHED about my story of me being on Methadone at 15....I mean, this clinic I worked at dispensed Methadone from the clinic--didn't even let ppl take them home unless strict requirements were met. I STRONGLY feel that NO CHILD should be given (prescribed or not) Methadone under ANY circumstances.....When I was taking Methadone in high school, I would sit in class and not even know what was going on around me or even in my own head....teachers later told me that other kids in my class would sit behind me and throw pencils and erasers and stuff at my head--like it was a game--and I didn't even move!!! No child or person should be subjected to this--ever! Methadone should NOT be given to someone for PAIN and especially NOT to children/minors. This woman who did this to your child should have to face a LOT more time for her crime....people need to know that giving ANY prescription/non-perscription medicine to a minor without proper directions is NOT OKAY! The laws need to be changed and Kelsea's Law is definitely one that I will full-heartedly support! Thank you for sharing your story with all of us--your daughter will live on and her purpose is here, now! I am praying for you and your family and that this law gets passed! Take care, and I am deeply sorry for your loss! ~Lacey— July 27, 2008 12:47 a.m.