Brett's favorite day of the year, by far, was Christmas. As you can see from his pictures he couldn't have been happier. As I looked through our many photo albums I was struck by the same thing over and over again-you will not find a picture of Brett where he wasn't smiling. The kid just loved life. He loved his family and friends fiercely and thought every day should "bring a new adventure", which was kind of our motto. Of course we all know his later "adventures" in life led to his demise. 5 years later and Christmas is no easier for any of us. And again salvia is all over the news due to Miley Cyrus' video of her smoking a bong of salvia. Brett's name is showing up everywhere on the internet, which actually I am thankful for. I have led a quiet fight these last couple of years but I never give up. This brings salvia and it's dangers to the forefront again, somewhere it definitely needs to be. I read more stories that I was unaware of. The most poignant one was the girl who smoked it and she woke up in the hospital. She had jumped from a 3rd story building and had no memory of it. Her jaw was fractured and she had lost most of her teeth. It was a devastating picture and it agains brings to light the fact that salvia needs to be regulated.
And for those that are following the Miley story please be aware that salvia is ILLEGAL in CA for those under 21. I worked long and hard with Assemblyman Adams in CA to get this law passed. I took the time to fly to Sacramento to testify, to show Brett's pictures, to tell his life story of achievements, and to make sure everyone knew that, without any doubt at all, that salvia caused Brett's death.
Please remember Brett on this Christmas Day and keep him always in your loving prayers as we do. Peace to all and to my sweet angel up above.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Canada Bans Salvia
About time! Maybe if they had regulated Salvia 5 years ago Brett would not have started experimenting with salvia that he purchased from Canada.
Also, Nevada legislators need to get listen to their constituents in their state. They have a serious Salvia problem there if I'm to believe the telephone call that Brett's dad received this past Thursday night. A concerned father of an 8th grade student called from Nevada inquiring how he could get "Brett's Law" passed in his state. According to the story he told there have been, over the last 2 weeks, 11 attempted suicides and 4 deaths related to salvia usage. If this is true my heart goes out to these parents. Losing a child for the most wrong of reasons is something they will never, ever get over. We can learn to accept death by illness or accident but death by a legal drug will haunt those of us who have lost our loved ones forever.
Also, Nevada legislators need to get listen to their constituents in their state. They have a serious Salvia problem there if I'm to believe the telephone call that Brett's dad received this past Thursday night. A concerned father of an 8th grade student called from Nevada inquiring how he could get "Brett's Law" passed in his state. According to the story he told there have been, over the last 2 weeks, 11 attempted suicides and 4 deaths related to salvia usage. If this is true my heart goes out to these parents. Losing a child for the most wrong of reasons is something they will never, ever get over. We can learn to accept death by illness or accident but death by a legal drug will haunt those of us who have lost our loved ones forever.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Brett Would be 22 Today
Brett would have been 22 today. His birthday was always full of much celebration and "shenanigans". Never a dull moment when Brett was around. His family and friends miss his incredible sense of humor, and none more than me. Love you Brett.
And to make a sad day even sadder this awful salvia related story just came in:
Teen high on salvia injured in fall over cliff
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A 17-year-old boy who said he was high on drugs tumbled over a cliff in an O'Hara park this afternoon and suffered a head injury, a county dispatch supervisor said.
The boy called 911 at 3:35 p.m. to report he had fallen over a cliff at Meadow Park and told the call taker that he was on salvia, a potent hallucinogen that's legal in Pennsylvania.
He suffered a head laceration and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital.
And to make a sad day even sadder this awful salvia related story just came in:
Teen high on salvia injured in fall over cliff
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A 17-year-old boy who said he was high on drugs tumbled over a cliff in an O'Hara park this afternoon and suffered a head injury, a county dispatch supervisor said.
The boy called 911 at 3:35 p.m. to report he had fallen over a cliff at Meadow Park and told the call taker that he was on salvia, a potent hallucinogen that's legal in Pennsylvania.
He suffered a head laceration and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
New Minn. state law bans hallucinogenic drug
Another one for the books. I believe we're up to state number 23!! Brett is smiling today!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Another Salvia Suicide Attempt
An advocate for Salvia regulation sent me this story below from Colorado. Sadly it mirrors Brett's own experience very closely. The huge difference is this boys' life was saved while Bretts' was not. My heart goes out to this mom and I think how very fortunate she is to be able to hold and hug her son today.
This story is another example of salvias' ability to cause complete psychosis in a single use. Why does the DEA continue to allow this to be legal??? Almost 5 years after Bretts' death they are still studying it??? I alerted the DEA within a week of Brett's death because I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it had caused his death. So, here we are, 5 years later and they continue to "study". My guess is they aren't doing anything at all about it and saying they are "studying" it is an easy escape route from taking any kind of action. Can anyone tell me exactly what this agency spends its' time doing???
Here is the story from Colorado:
A warning tonight from a Southern Colorado mother about an herbal supplement that many teens are now smoking to get high. It's completely legal and as strong as LSD. Some say this herb is not just dangerous, it's deadly.
There are dozens of disturbing videos on You Tube showing teens getting high on Salvia. When smoked it causes powerful hallucinations. The drug seems to take effect almost immediately, causing the user to lose control.
"I had never seen him quite like that," said a Southern Colorado mom who only wants to be identified at Michelle. She says her 17 year-old son smoked Salvia. "He said that he doesn't want to smoke pot and this was alternative for him so he doesn't smoke pot," said Michelle.
One day later she says her son tried to kill himself. "He went to the bridge and he was going to jump." She says it happened on the bridge on Highway 24 outside of Peyton.
Authorities were able to pull him to safety. "He had one leg over and one leg on the otherside and then he swung his other leg over and he was leaning out over nothing," Michelle said.
He was taken to a treatment facility in Colorado Springs and the staff watched him closely for 72 hours. "Afterwards, he didn't even remember anything that had happened," Michelle said.
A terrifying experience for Michelle and her son and this isn't the first time something like this has happened...
The story continues to Brett's story and how Brett's Law was passed in Delaware 3 months after his death.
This story is another example of salvias' ability to cause complete psychosis in a single use. Why does the DEA continue to allow this to be legal??? Almost 5 years after Bretts' death they are still studying it??? I alerted the DEA within a week of Brett's death because I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it had caused his death. So, here we are, 5 years later and they continue to "study". My guess is they aren't doing anything at all about it and saying they are "studying" it is an easy escape route from taking any kind of action. Can anyone tell me exactly what this agency spends its' time doing???
Here is the story from Colorado:
A warning tonight from a Southern Colorado mother about an herbal supplement that many teens are now smoking to get high. It's completely legal and as strong as LSD. Some say this herb is not just dangerous, it's deadly.
There are dozens of disturbing videos on You Tube showing teens getting high on Salvia. When smoked it causes powerful hallucinations. The drug seems to take effect almost immediately, causing the user to lose control.
"I had never seen him quite like that," said a Southern Colorado mom who only wants to be identified at Michelle. She says her 17 year-old son smoked Salvia. "He said that he doesn't want to smoke pot and this was alternative for him so he doesn't smoke pot," said Michelle.
One day later she says her son tried to kill himself. "He went to the bridge and he was going to jump." She says it happened on the bridge on Highway 24 outside of Peyton.
Authorities were able to pull him to safety. "He had one leg over and one leg on the otherside and then he swung his other leg over and he was leaning out over nothing," Michelle said.
He was taken to a treatment facility in Colorado Springs and the staff watched him closely for 72 hours. "Afterwards, he didn't even remember anything that had happened," Michelle said.
A terrifying experience for Michelle and her son and this isn't the first time something like this has happened...
The story continues to Brett's story and how Brett's Law was passed in Delaware 3 months after his death.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Alabama Passes Salvia Regulation
I received a very heartening letter from the Alabama's Governor office to inform me that the Governor had signed into law their own version of "Bretts' Law".
I've lost tract but I believe we are up to 22 states now that have passed some type of salvia regulation. It still amazes me that it's taken 4 years to get this far but we're almost half way and have no intention of stopping. I thank God every day for all the supporters I hear from daily who always affirm how important this fight is.
And to Anna A. I know the anniversary of your husband's death from salvia is coming up soon. I will never forget your tragic story and how salvia destroyed the wonderful life you knew with your dear husband. I hope for you that healing and acceptance will be yours some day.
I've lost tract but I believe we are up to 22 states now that have passed some type of salvia regulation. It still amazes me that it's taken 4 years to get this far but we're almost half way and have no intention of stopping. I thank God every day for all the supporters I hear from daily who always affirm how important this fight is.
And to Anna A. I know the anniversary of your husband's death from salvia is coming up soon. I will never forget your tragic story and how salvia destroyed the wonderful life you knew with your dear husband. I hope for you that healing and acceptance will be yours some day.
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