Last week, I got to cover my first drug bust for the paper. I’ll admit that I was really excited. I’ve always enjoyed watching cop shows and CSI, and as a child, I wanted to be a detective.

But the experience gave me a little more than I bargained for. It reminded me of how deeply I despise the drugs that ruin so many people’s lives and families.

While talking to the sheriff last week I asked question after question about drugs — the different types, how they affect the body. Some of the questions were pretty basic and probably sounded stupid to a man who deals with drug problems every single day.

He asked me if I knew much about drugs. I said no. And it’s true that I don’t know drug lingo or what most drugs look like. Until last week I had never even seen marijuana close up.

But although I may not know much about illegal narcotics, I certainly can tell you all about the effects drugs can have on the loved ones of someone who is fighting addiction.

I was homeschooled through most of my school years, so I wasn’t introduced to drugs early on like many children are. When I was a teenager my parents worked a lot with recovering addicts through church. I witnessed the joy they felt when people were able to go for months without touching alcohol or marijuana or cocaine. I also witnessed the sadness that would quickly descend when a person they were working with fell back into their old lifestyle.

But it wasn’t until I went to college and became close to someone who was recovering from addictions to cocaine and alcohol that I was deeply affected.

After several wrong turns in life, a dear friend of mine decide it was time for a change. The person gave up drugs and alcohol and tried to live a clean life. I shared in the triumphs and struggles of this person as their best friend. I was the one who called to check up on a Friday night when I hadn’t heard from the friend, bugged the friend to erase numbers of old buddies from the cell phone, avoided taking them to any hangouts where there might be alcohol.

I was sometimes the only person who knew when my friend would have a set back. I was the one who would cry into my pillow and pray for my friend. The pain at times was intense.

But this isn’t a sob story. My friend has made great strides, and I have faith that that person will live a successful and addiction-free life. Our lives have taken separate paths now, but we still keep in touch.

The pain I felt as a best friend to someone who struggled with addiction must have only been a small scratch on the surface of pain that a child feels when his or her parent does drugs or when someone’s spouse can’t give up a habit.

The pain is intense, but the healing can be equally powerful when someone comes clean. From the success that I’ve witnessed, I’m optimistic that people can overcome addictions. But they have to be willing to admit their problems, accept help and stay determined.

We’re quickly approaching the start of a new year, and for some of you out there, that may mean the start of a new life. If you struggle from addiction, whether it’s to pain killers or crack or marijuana, determine in your heart and mind that January will mark a clean start. If you have a loved one struggling, help them get help this coming year.

Better yet, why wait until January? Open up to your family members now. Tell them that for Christmas you want their support as you try to overcome addiction or encourage a loved one to get help.

I’m not here to give advice on how to overcome drugs. I’m just here to say that there’s never a better time than now. Give your loved ones the gift of coming clean this Christmas. Then watch as the healing starts.

Meghann Evans is a staff reporter with The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at mevans@mtairynews.com or at 719-1952.