Why “Heroin Heroine”?
Because this is what I want my daughter to be.
The slayer of the internal dragon of addiction.
Because this is what my daughter already is.
A courageous warrior who fights a daily battle for survival.
Because these two words married together make no sense.
And that is exactly what this disease is: nonsensical.
Who am I?
The mother of a young addict – attempting to help with the slaying of the dragon.
Heroin Heroine 
I just read your Cognoscenti essay about your daughter and her addiction struggles. Beautifully written and quite moving, and it led me to your blog, where I have sampled a few more of your musings about managing life with a child struggling with addiction. My wife are in that same boat (or, rather, canoe bobbing alongside the ocean-going container ship that is addiction); our son’s abused substance is cannabis, which as you no doubt know won’t kill him, but it can, and has, significantly altered who he is. Thanks for your Cognoscenti essay, and for sharing your ongoing thoughts on your blog. Much appreciated!
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Ah David – you are the first to reach out to me after the Cog essay. And “it has significantly altered who he is” …. resonates. Hang in there – and a canoe alongside is where you should be (not in the crazy boat with him). Sigh.
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hi – I’m another parent of a child with cannabis addiction that came across your Cog essay and then your blog. Thank you for sharing your story so clearly and beautifully. It is a hard club to be in but a blessing to be real with others who get it.
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Thank you, Nora.
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