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The Ricky Joe Stem, Jr. Memorial
Inhalant Abuse "Huffing" Awareness
Remember R.I.C.K.Y
R.emember I.nhalants C.an K.ill Y.ou
Education ... it molds our children's lives and shapes their future.
Inhalant Awareness Education ... it saves our children's lives so they will have a future.
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Ricky Joe Stem, Jr. - OUR SON
Ricky was 16 yrs. old, a loving son, with a wonderful sense of humor. He was a Christian since he was 7, he loved the Lord, he was a good kid, active in our church youth group, and loved and supported by family and friends. He had an outgoing personality he had an absolute passion for baseball. He was named all-state pitcher for his Christian highschool baseball team. He had a wonderful future full of promise. But, Ricky made a very bad choice, a terrible error in judgement, a senseless act, one which cost him his life. He didn't realize the deadly and dangerous consequences of inhalants and he inhaled/huffed freon from our home air-conditioning unit. He died instantly from "Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome". Ricky was from a loving home and yes as his parents we were actively involved in every part of his life. We enjoyed a close and loving relationship as a family. Maybe Ricky doesn't seem to quite fit the stereotype for those you thought might experiment with inhalants. If he doesn't ...it's because there is no stereotype for those who try inhalants. Inhalant Abuse has no socioeconomic boundries. Young people from every walk of life experiment with inhalants.
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Huffing - The Silent Epidemic - Ricky's Killer
Approximately 441,000 kids age 12-17 use inhalants each month and one in every 5, eighth grader has experimented with inhalants. We hear our same story from countless other parents ... another mama cries... a good kid, a loving home, I didn't know to warn him. Over 700 deaths have been reported just in the last 6 years from inhalant abuse, sometimes called - huffing, sniffing or bagging. Inhalants are not drugs. Most products used to huff are legal common everyday household products, with good uses, if used as intended but, become poison when inhaled. They are in your homes, in your own cabinets. Some of the products young people use to huff to get high include: hair spray, air-freshner, gasoline, paint thinner, freon, areosol whipped creme, butane, propane, key board cleaning fluid, vegetable cooking spray, helium, and many more. When inhaled they can and do KILL, if not immediate death products are as dangerous and addictive as cocaine. Why is it called the Silent Epidemic - Kids know of this fad - but many parents are in the dark about this fad. Sadly enough, what kids don't know is the dangers of inhalants or of their deadly consequences.
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Learn About Inhalants -Before It's Too Late!
Inhalants/huffing comes disguised to our kids as HARMLESS FUN."HARMLESS" FUN KILLED OUR SON. You can die the 1st, the 10th, or the 100th time you huff. Many kids that may not ever try an illegal drug are experimenting with huffing. Kids don't see them as dangerous - they are in their own homes. They don't have to buy them illegally. But, they are deadly... If not death - huffing causes brain, liver, kidney, nerve damage, bone marrow damage, and more irreversible damage to all parts of the body.
We talked openly with Ricky about the dangerous consequences of drugs and alcohol but we never warned him about the dangers of inhalants, why? We had never heard of huffing before his death. No parent has the luxury of saying, my child would never try huffing. Our lives have changed forever. We only hope by sharing our story we can help prevent another senseless death. Parents, warn your kids & share our story with them. Help spread this word of warning, YOU MAY HELP SAVE A LIFE just by passing this site on to others. Just Remember R.I.C.K.Y. Remember Inhalants Can Kill You.
Ricky is so loved and missed by family and friends--missed but never, ever forgotten. The love and wonderful memories with him are forever instilled in our hearts and minds forever. Our daily strength comes from God & knowing that someday when our work on this earth is finished- one by one - we will be reunited with him -- our separation from Ricky is temporary...he got home first. We're thankful for the comfort and healing God provides. We're claiming Phil.4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Love you, Daddy, Mama, Sister (Ricky Sr., Diane, Stephanie and Family)
Please take a moment and Sign/View
The Ricky Joe Stem Memorial Guestbook located below.
See links below for more information on inhalants & more on our story on the Antidrug Website & Intelihealth site below.
Also view the Steve Wright Memorial Site below.
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http://www.aol.com
NIPC (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition) Harvey Weiss, Exec. Dir. Site Below:
White House Drug Policy and Inhalants Facts Sheet - Site Below:
Intelihealth Website Article featuring our story - Site Below: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/408/23683/267295.html?d=dmtContent
AntiDrug. com Click on site below , scroll to the bottom, to Past Guests Columns:
National Radio Campaign- Diane's Interview-Go to top right of site once you click site below:
National Press Club - Diane's Presentation 15, 2001-Washington, D.C. for the kick-off of the National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week. Click on the link below to hear/view broadcast. Diane is the last speaker, you may fast forward toward the end for Diane's presentation. The entire conference is informative & provides vital information on the dangers of inhalants & efforts to raise awareness nationwide.http://overhill.health.org/asf1/1LiveArchive/01-0315CSATInhalants-56.asx
Good Morning America - Diane Sawyer Interview with Diane Stem/News 2, Nashville interview with Stems before leaving for New Yourk on 3/02 for the GMA Show Click below:
http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?s=679535
Drug Free America - Inhalant Prevention Tips For Parents - Site below:
Drug Free America - Family Memorial Wall -Site Below:
The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information/SAMHSASite Below
Ricky accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior when he was 7 years old. Ricky resides in Heaven today--a mansion already prepared for him. We only have the promise of this moment, we don't have the promise of tomorrow. The lifeway.com site below will help you discover how you too can experience God's love, forgiveness, & the promise of eternal life. We Praise the Lord for providing peace & strength for His children, through all life's circumstances. Click site to see what you must do to have eternal life. Death comes to all - be prepared - http://www.lifeway.com/christian.asp
The Steve Wright Memorial Site - http://agapeindia.com/steve/ - A kid well loved and well remembered.
The Ricky Joe Stem Jr. Memorial GUESTBOOK BELOW:
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