![](http://cdn.mamamia.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/casey_veal_fundraiser_zayden7-720x547.jpg)
Warning: This post contains distressing and occasionally graphic references to the murder of a child.
When Zayden Maxwell Kevin Veal-Whitting was born on July 29 2011, I looked down on my precious boy’s tiny little wrinkled feet and the lightest and fairest of hair. He was perfect.
Many nights I sat and stared at Zayden sleeping peacefully; I was just in awe I had created such beautiful, innocent soul. By the time he was 10 months old, Zayden was still small in stature, but his personality was boisterous. He loved to laugh, smile and play games. He could crawl like a turbo on knees and had almost conquered taking his first few strong steps. He constantly wanted to be with my older son, Xavier; from the moment my two boys met, their bond was nothing short of magical.
Zayden was also my shadow — crawling behind my feet or pulling himself up to see me. I couldn’t have imagined a better, more simple family life.
But this perfect image was shattered June 15th 2012, a day I will never forget; the day my nightmare began. That was the day the drug ‘ice’ (methamphetamine) entered my life, without my consent and without my knowledge.
![Casey Veals son Zayden](http://cdn.mamamia.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/casey_veal_fundraiser_zayden7-720x547.jpg)
Top Comments
Oh lovely Casey, I admire your strength and I wish you all the best for your and your beautiful family's future.
I like to see more discussions about relation of ADHD medication for children and later ICE use. A lot of experts see a correlation here. The whole mine field of mental health issues and drug use is definitely looked enough at. The call for harder punishment won't change a thing.
Actually, most scientific research shows higher rates of drug use by those with ADHD if they are NOT medicated with Ritalin or a similar substance, i.e. people self medicate, rather than use proper medical care, which is monitored and controlled.
Luc, I doubt that very much.
Further reading: http://speedupsitstill.com/...
Ive had a lot to do with people addicted to all kinds of drugs, but ice is by far the scariest. Somebody high on ice will say and do anything they need to do to get what they want. Good on Tony Abbot for cracking down. Something needs to be done immediately.
He hasn't cracked down on anything yet, it's purely a conversation at this stage. What needs to be noted in this conversation are the huge cutbacks to other services that are linked and vital to address the scourge that is Ice. The war on drugs has been an abysmal failure to date.
Best we wait and witness what the Govt achieves rather than pontificates.