LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Saying "no" isn’t always enough to prevent children from using drugs and alcohol. But one local organization is stepping up to protect families and children at risk.
The Morton Center, which provides treatment for substance abuse, now includes support for families with children at risk of developing substance use disorders.
This expansion is part of a growing effort to address the increasing number of adolescents experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
Kacie Cleveland knows firsthand the dangers of drug use at a young age.
She began experimenting with drugs as a preteen, starting with marijuana. Cleveland says peer pressure played a major role in her decision to start using drugs, especially as her parents worked long hours and there were few extracurricular activities to keep her engaged.
Her path eventually led to a low point: a prison sentence.
“Rock bottom was when I was sentenced to prison and had to go for three years,” Cleveland said.
Now clean and in recovery, Cleveland reflects on how early intervention could have made a difference in her life.
“If there was intervention at a young age, I most definitely could have gotten my life back on track,” she said. “My life probably would have been a lot different.”
Priscilla McIntosh, president and CEO of the Morton Center, sees the increasing trend of children as young as 11-years old experimenting with drugs and alcohol.
She said many children begin testing the waters with alcohol, marijuana, and even prescription drugs.
"We had parents calling in asking for help after finding alcohol or marijuana at home," McIntosh said.
The danger, McIntosh added, is not just limited to illegal substances.
Prescription drugs, particularly those that are not prescribed to the user, can be deadly. In some cases, these drugs are laced with fentanyl, increasing the risk of overdose.
“They may think they’re getting Adderall or another prescription, but it could be something deadly,” McIntosh said.
Now, Cleveland is turning her life around.
She is back in school, working toward a master’s degree at Spalding University. As a peer mentor, Cleveland now helps others who are struggling with addiction by sharing her story and encouraging them to seek help.
“I just share what I’ve been through and tell them it’s possible to get help. You don’t have to live like that anymore,” Cleveland said.
The Morton Center continues to offer support for families and individuals affected by substance abuse.
For information about the Morton Center’s services, click here.
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- New addiction treatment center opens in Louisville
- Donors help The Morton Center provide treatment to families at no cost
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