Without a prepared text, Tylertown’s Amanda Saizan spoke from the heart about how drugs hurt her family.
As the featured speaker of Pike County Juvenile Drug Court graduation, Saizan told the three graduates how crack cocaine took her husband captive and continues to have him in its strong grasp.
She told the trio that a strong belief in God is the best way to turn a deaf ear to peer pressure and drug abuse.
Saizan said her husband worked as a crane operator. During two trips while working out of town, he was involved with crack and couldn’t be located for days at a time.
“The first time it happened, our baby was 3 months old,” she said. “... The phone rang late at night, and I was told he couldn’t be located. For four days I thought he was dead. That was when my nightmare began. He was found in a hotel room on crack.”
Saizan said the discovery hit her hard.
“I felt like I was dead,” Saizan said. “That took a toll on me. My mind was spinning. I watched him as he went through the shakes, throwing up and foam coming out of his mouth. It was just awful.”
Saizan said the same thing happened six months later on a trip to Meridian. Her husband and the occupant of the hotel room next door got together to smoke crack.
“He came up missing again for four days. I told him he messed up again and he put the blame on me,” she said. “God has taught me you can’t point the finger at anybody on Judgement Day. I want to make it clear to you that you don’t have to waste your time trying to please everybody.”
Saizan said Satan has the power to make people make bad decisions.
“We’re still trying to work things out,” Saizan said. “My husband has been on the streets before and knows he’s not saved. Satan puts the cloud over you. He’s blinding you.”
For difficult times, Saizan suggested the graduates turn to the Bible and read Mark 4:7. To keep temptation away, Saizan suggested I Corinthians 10:13.
Saizan, 36, said her husband is living in Texas, while she and her baby are in Tylertown.
The drug court graduates included a 16-year-old girl named Reagan from McComb, 17-year-old David from Osyka and 15-year-old Jeremy from McComb.
“You might not see the importance of this right now,” Saizan told the graduates. “But when you get my age it might be too late.”
Saizan concluded her remarks by reading a short poem about crack’s deadly addictive power.
The graduates completed a six-month program and all received certificates from Judge John Price.
“We’re awarding certificates this year instead of plaques, but that doesn’t make you any less a graduate,” Price told the group.
The graduates then gave remarks on how the program changed their lives.
“The program helped me become drug-free and helped me choose the right path,” Jeremy said.
“Drug court helped me realize I don’t need drugs and they’re no good,” Reagan said.
“The program taught me valuable lessons that I can use,” David said.
Price is in his 16th year as Juvenile Drug Court judge.
He said Pike County’s drug court funds have taken a hit.
“Our grant was $266,000 last year. It went from $266,000 last year to $115,000 this year,” he said. “That gave us a chance to assess things. We’re hoping this next year the Legislature will see fit to restore some of the funds we lost.
“The problem is more and more people are asking for funds and we get less and less.”
Price lauded the success of the young graduates.
“These three are outstanding people who wanted to succeed,” Price said. “Our program is going to march on. I get paid to help raise your children. I feel so good when it’s successful,” Price said. “When they’ll get 22 or 23, they’ll come back and tell me they’ve gone off and doing something good.
“My job is to keep you smiling and happy — and alive,” he said.
