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Connor Argueta

Alice Lopez-Hauté

English 2010

1/21/2021

Flash Memoir
As we grow and learn, we will expeirence all sorts of unique scenarios and issues to get
through. That is how we learn and grow as human beings. We go through experiences and you
change as a person. Every little occurance or event you go though has shaped you into how you
are this very moment. It’s fascinating just how different those can be amongst all people. We
will all experience life differently and can never know just how much others have seen. Looking
back on your own hardships, it is easy to find problems you see in today’s world and you just
have to ask youself, why do some of these issues exist? And naturally, as people, we look for
ways to solve those problems.

Growing up, it was always sad watching my family go through struggles and not able to
do much. I particularly remember as I would see an uncle who dealt with addictions, except at
the time, I couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. I had heard of what drugs were
from shows and what not, but I couldn’t yet understand just how damaging of an effect they
can have on a person. I hadn’t thought differently of him or anything, but I couldn’t understand
as to how or why these things could ever happen. It’s weird seeing these kinds of tragic events
unfold as a child for the first time, as you haven’t yet adapted to these kinds of problems.

One morning, I had woke up from a ‘sleepover’ with my siblings in our basement. We
would just hang out as we watched movies, played videos games, played with toys/legos, etc.
We had stayed up a little late and had woke up later than usual in the day. Never being a heavy
sleeper myself, I found myself awake before my siblings had gotten up. I never bothered
waiting for them or waking them, I would just leave and go do my own thing. My first thought
was just food cause of course it is. I walk up stairs but I notice it, it’s much quieter than usual. I
didn’t hear my dog running around, my parents watching the morning news, nothing. Not a
sound. As I come up and turn the corner, I see my parents just sitting there, just embracing
each other. This is where I would learn that my Uncle had overdosed just last night and had
passed away. It was odd hearing that, I had a family member pass before, but not like this.
Since then, I have always felt sad on that fact at how soon he was taken.

I never had gotten to know him very well due to his issues. The whole event hit me hard,
and has made me think ever since how tragic it is. It does sadly seem like common knowledge
that Utah has high numbers of those that become addicted/over use opiods. You start to look
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at stats and you see how big of a social issue this is for the state of Utah. In fact, Utah has
ranked top 10 in the nation for overdose deaths over the last 10 years. Between 2013-2015,
Utah ranked 7th in the U.S. for drug poisoning deaths… It is tragic how high those numbers get
and consistently stay. There is clearly an issue with how many people we have that will develop
these addictions. We as citizens of this state need to look on better ways to combat this. Give
better outlets to those suffering, change the laws of drug use so it is not just incarcerating but
giving them no rehabilitation. I feel like a large part why these don’t change is because of the
negative view we give drug users, we don’t see them as regular people, they get looked on like
they are horrible and just crazy people you shouldn’t ever be around. Of course, not everyone
thinks like this, but we still treat them like this. We need to do a better job at offering those
suffering help and give those who have gone to prison a chance to rebuild themselves and get
them clean. If we don’t try to help those currently effected and prevent those from who soon
could be, we will never escape this epidemic our state sees.

“Opioid Overdoses.” Prescription Drug Overdoses | Utah Violence & Injury Prevention
Program, health.utah.gov/vipp/topics/prescription-drug-overdoses/.
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Letter of Goals and Choices

This project has really shown me more of just how bad the drug problem in Utah has been
over the years. Ever since my memory I wrote on, I have looked at this issue from a vastly
different point of view. Even if I were just a kid at the time, I was able to see those struggling as
victims and those who could use a helping hand to help fight their disease. Reading into those
who are in this line of work and how they are helping has made me more appreciative of the
work they do and happy at how many of those they are able to help. However, it has also showed
me light of just how far these issues go and how much more work needs to be done. It makes me
look at those in my life who either are struggling or may have someone they know who is
struggling. There is too the fact that I may have those around me who struggle but I don’t even
know because it isn’t so open. You don’t have to show clear struggles to be dealing with
addiction. Plenty of people may be going day to day and most of those may never even get the
help they need.