Heroin: The Death of Marin Riggs

Drug use in teenagers

Marin Riggs seemed like a typical teenager in the suburbs of Ohio.  She was fond of sports and had lots of friends and plans for her future. She had a close family.  She was strikingly beautiful but surprisingly she suffered from self-esteem issues.  She may have been bullied at school.  At just 18, while still in high school, she was introduced to heroin.

Marin’s family noticed a change in her.  After her graduation from high school, her mood changed.  She found a new group of friends.  But most noticeable was some unusual behavior:  spoons began to disappear in the kitchen.  Not just a few, many.  She was using it for heroin.  She used her father’s credit card for hundreds of dollars in gasoline that she traded for heroin. Money began disappearing. Marin stole money from her father’s wallet.

Marin’s family learned about her heroin addiction when she had to take a drug test.  She was in a car accident.  Her parents tried everything they could to help her.  Rehab, AA meetings, and lots of support.  She was sober for 6 months but then relapsed. She overdosed and almost died.  Medics gave her naloxone.

As much as Marin’s family watched over her and tried to help her, they couldn’t save her. The next time Marin overdosed, it was too late.  She died and her brother found her on the bathroom floor.

Marin’s parents found her journal.  She had written a letter to heroin. Here is an excerpt:

Dear Heroin,

Before I met you I was full of life.  At least from what I thought.  Then I met you and it was like love at first sight.  I would steal and cheat for you. But our relationship went to hell when the first and last time you really almost took me away forever.  You had me for 7 minutes.  I won this battle and I will never have to suffer again!

Sincerely,

Your worst enemy, Marin Riggs

But Marin’s mother says she still went back to heroin because of the grip it had on her.  Marin’s parents, Heidi and TJ Riggs suffer every day and they miss their daughter terribly.  They have become advocates for drug prevention and they have shared their story to help others.

Drug use in teenagers is a big problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following:

Parents can help by talking to their teen’s pediatrician about screening for substance use. Substance use by teens can have a big impact on their health and well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a guide for implementing substance use screening in pediatric practices to help pediatricians address substance use concerns. The AAP recommends screening for substance use in children, starting at 9 years of age.

Substance use can do the following:

• Affect the growth and development of teens, especially brain development.
• Occur more frequently with other risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex and dangerous driving.
• Contribute to the development of adult health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders.

Finally, the earlier teens start using substances, the greater their chances of continuing to use substances and developing substance use problems later in life.