On Dec. 27, 1996, I went to Anchorage for Christmas vacation. While I was over there a couple of my friends threw a huge party. Obviously alcohol and drugs were involved. When everybody was asleep Jay, Jeremy, and Sophie asked if I would like to try some heroin. I agreed and followed them into a small room. Since I really didn't know how to do it they showed me how. It looked scary and I started to chicken out. While I was starting to back out, Jay said, "Come on, hurry, try some." Sophie and Jeremy also pressured me to do it. I thought, well, I might as well try it, so I did. A couple of minutes later I felt the high, which made me sleepy. Without knowing it I fell asleep on the couch. When I got up the party house was empty. Sophie walked out of the bathroom, looking like she just woke up.

After I took a shower Sophie and I went out to the mall. While we were walking back we bumped into Jay and his buddies. We started talking and Sophie asked Jay if she could have some of his heroin. He gave her some and Sophie and I walked home. As soon as we got in she pulled the heroin out and had a couple of hits. She gave me the white, powdery substance and I had a hit too. "Come on Cheryl, you can do better than that!" Sophie said. So I had another hit, as much as I hated to. About half an hour later Sophie asked when was I going to come back home. I just then remembered I had to make my reservations with Reeve. I called Reeve and made my reservations. Just as I hung up, Jeremy walked in with Russell who is a big time drug dealer. "Guys wanna try something cool?" says Jeremy. "Like what? It better not be too dangerous," Sophie said. "It's not dangerous. Or I don't think so," Russell muttered. We agreed to do some and Jeremy pulled out what I thought was just the ordinary. But then Russ said that it was mixed with cocaine. We all had a large amount, and right then I knew I was addicted. Since it was late I thought I would rest before I came back home, so I went to bed.

In the morning I showered then woke up Sophie who was going to take me to the airport. Before we walked out the door I asked her if she had any more heroin. She ducked into her room and grabbed about half a pound of it. I stuck it in my bag and we drove out to the airport. While I was on the plane I was really dying for another hit. But I told myself I'd have to wait until I got home. As soon as I got home I went straight to my bedroom and had four hits. Afterward I went out to the kitchen and talked with my mom. She looked straight into my eyes and asked if I was high. I couldn't lie to her so I told her the truth. She was really mad at me and stormed into my room looking for the heroin. She found it and told me I'd better quit. After we had a good long talk I finally realized what I was doing, and I promised her I'd go cold turkey. And I did!

By: Cheryl Hunter