Dear Rabbit,

My precious daughter, were you too young, when you came to live with us, to remember why you couldn’t stay with your mom and dad? Seven years old is quite young, and you hadn’t lived with your parents for two years prior to coming to our family, so perhaps you don’t remember what it was like.

I hesitate to remind you, because I hate to reopen an old wound and cause you pain. However, I feel that I must, in an effort to save you before it is too late. You may think that I am being silly and overreacting; because you know, you can control how far you’ll go. You probably believe that you won’t get out of hand, or that you can stop any time you want to.

Actually, that is how many people begin substance abuse. They decide be cool and just do it with their friends, but then they get hooked. Then they start doing it all the time because they can’t just stop whenever they want to.

I didn’t warn you, the way I repeatedly warned your older sister. I guess I thought we got to you in time. You were our straight arrow, our pride, and joy. You are a light and a mentor to so many, who look up to you, and want to be just like you. We never imagined our Citation Award winner would choose this life style.

I warned your older sister every time she took a Tylenol, an Advil, or cough medicine, to be careful. You see there is a hereditary component to substance abuse and she was already a teenage when she came to us. I was so worried, albeit unnecessarily, that she would develop drug or alcohol addition. I guess she saw enough, and lived through enough to know, that wasn’t the kind of life she wanted for herself, or her children.

School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill states that

"Alcoholism has been shown to have a strong genetic influence through family, twin, and adoption studies."

They say that it is difficult to break the cycle of foster care, once it begins in a family, it seems to repeat generation after generation. I can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with the hereditary factor of substance abuse.

I’m sure you probably asked your doctor of pharmacist if it was safe for you with the medications you are taking. You may remember that Anna Nicole Smith recently died from accidentally mixing prescription drugs with over the counter medicines. You may also remember when a friend of mine died during her sleep after mixing alcohol and sleeping pills.

You are hurting so many of us by your actions, but we continue to pray for your future. Please turn back before you do more things that you will forever regret. You can stop the cycle from repeating in your family.

We love you always, mom, and dad.

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