SOUTHGATE, Mich. – Jennifer Garbovan's mother is using the death of her daughter to award and inspire other young women so they don't make the same deadly decisions.
Jennifer's parents, Sandy and George, aren't ready to clear out Jennifer's room even though she died a year and a half ago after a battle with drug addiction.
You could say Jennifer appeared to be the typical teenager. Sandy said she was a community theater kid.
"She was a singer," the mother said. "She was just a really fun, sweet girl and people were kind of drawn to her. I was so excited for what her future was going to hold."
Little did these parents know, that future was going to be cut short. Sandy recalls when she first realized there was trouble after her daughter went away to Michigan State University.
"One of her very good friends called and said, 'Mrs. Garbovan,' and she was crying, and I'll never forget it, and she said, 'I have to tell you that, um, Jennifer is ... she's been involved with taking heroin."
Sandy confronted her daughter. Jennifer admitted to the addiction, telling her mother it all started in high school with Adderall to stay awake and get through school.
Adderall Abuse in High School Seniors | HealthGrove
Sandy said Jennifer told her her addiction turned to Xanax, and then it was Vicodin, and it was all these prescription drugs which ultimately led to heroin.
Sandy and George put their daughter in rehab time and time again. However, once out of rehab, Jennifer would fall back into her addictive ways.
"Since Jennifer died a year and a half ago, I know five other kids who have overdosed, from my daughter's graduating class, and it's horrifying. It's just horrifying," said Sandy.
To help other teens to avoid becoming victims, Sandy set up an organization called "An Amazing Woman Foundation" to help pay for girls to take classes in the arts -- something Jennifer loved. Sandy feels if these young girls get confidence through the arts, perhaps that self worth will stop them from trying drugs.
"It's really important to me that she has some kind of a legacy because she didn't get a lot of time here on Earth. But that doesn't mean that she cant have an impact," said Sandy.
If you would like more information on this foundation, either to apply or donate, go to anamazingwomanfoundation.org.
Adverse Reactions Reported While Taking Adderall | HealthGrove
I sat down with Local 4's Dr. Frank McGeorge this week as I was working on this story to get his comments on the effects of Adderall and its popularity among young adults (watch here):
Adderall abuse: We're talking teenagers using drugs, and how it's a gateway to other drugs. We're taking your question!
Posted by WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit on Thursday, May 5, 2016