Personal Narrative: Growing Up With Opiates

Growing up with an opiates addict for a brother was not ideal. No one could prepare you on how to deal with an addict, it’s something you learn from experience. Things with my brother weren’t always bad. Even though Eric and I share a seven-year gap, we still decided to play together. For the most part, we got along quite well. Growing up, we had what any other kid would want from a childhood; a nice neighborhood and parents who love unconditionally. Bad things happen to good people sometimes. When Eric began sneaking out at night, I would be woken up and to me, it was almost as if it were a game. What kid wouldn’t want to go explore in the middle of the night? At the age of ten I shouldn’t have been learning “code names” for drugs, I should …show more content…
To this day I don’t know what scared him into going into a rehabilitation center. At first I was apprehensive, because Eric had made these promises before. Luckily, Eric was able to do his treatment from home. He would go to the clinic every day so they could check up on his progress. There were some rough patches, drug addicts don’t just quit their addictions cold turkey. Eric’s treatment included methadone, which is like a replacement for opiates. As a family we had heard some negative reviews on the treatment, but for Eric it seemed to be working. Eric began to come around our house more and we were able to patch up our relationship. I finally got my brother …show more content…
There were times I feared for my brother’s life and deep down, for my own. As I get older I begin to understand the struggle my brother was going through. Eric was battling with his own demons and insecurities and unfortunately looked for alternate form to help cope. I do not blame my brother for the childhood experience he gave me. Because of it, I was able to grow into a stronger person. I would even go as far as saying the experience made me realize how much I really do love my brother. I would be lying if I said I wish this did not have to happen to our family, but we came out it still together. My mom does not have to worry as much anymore, although she will continue just because she’s a mother. Eric and I talk daily and our relationship is better than it has ever been. We were able to forgive each other for the years of harsh words we shared between each other. If any new person were to ask me if I had any siblings, I would proudly answer,