Substance Abuse: A Cautionary Tale

David Magee spoke in chapel about a subject he knows all too well: the pain and destruction caused by substance abuse and mental health issues but also the joy of recovery. An accidental overdose killed his older son and nearly took his second son. His daughter struggled with an eating disorder, and Magee battled alcohol and prescription drug addiction.
He has turned his family’s pain and recovery into vehicles of hope. He is the bestselling author of the award-winning Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss and other books including his latest, A Little Crazy: A Memoir of Finding Purpose and Joy Amid the Madness. He hosts a new podcast by the same name, A Little Crazy with David Magee. He is also a creator of The William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education and the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at Ole Miss, named after his late son.

During his compelling chapel talk, Magee warned about the dangers of marijuana use. “Street marijuana potency has soared four-fold in the last 25 years,” he said, noting that there has been a sharp rise in young people being treated in emergency rooms for cannabis-related issues.

Marijuana use can lead to the abuse of other street drugs, he said. “Forty-four percent of teens have at least one friend who abuses painkillers. All those pills have fentanyl in them.”

Saying substance abuse stems from the desire to self-medicate, he told the boys, “Your generation has battled anxiety and depression in record numbers. Learn how to process feelings appropriately.”

He offered tips to improve mental health and avoid substance abuse:

  • Value sleep like the air you breathe.
  • Activity, like a walk or run, sends invigorating blood to your brain and body.
  • Remember, you are not alone; mental health challenges are common.
  • Ask for help. More counseling earlier and often makes a difference.
  • Find ways to serve.
  • Be intentional about social media (own it, so it doesn’t own you).
  • Believe in something greater than yourself (faith).
  • DELAY, DELAY, DELAY (the use of any substance as your brains are still developing).
MUS and Hutchison parents are invited to a free parent workshop with Mr. David Magee, Wednesday, March 5, 5:30 p.m., in the Wiener Theatre of Hutchison School.
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