About the Author
June Ariano-Jakes is the mother of five adult children and the grandmother of four. Born and raised in a small northwestern Ontario town, she and her family relocated to British Columbia, Canada in the summer of 1988. For the next 23 years she worked by day as a Licensed Childcare Provider.
June Ariano-Jakes
Throughout that period, June spent literally thousands of nights poring over material in the search for answers to help her son battle what would become a twenty-year heroin and cocaine addiction.
Addiction: A Mother’s Story is June’s account of addiction through a mother’s eyes. The book portrays the progression of Nathan’s addiction as the chapters unfold, how his addiction progressed to devastating and life altering circumstances and how it affected Nathan, his family and his mother.
“There are so many books written by professionals, but there isn’t a whole lot written by parents (of addicts),” June told the Surrey Leader newspaper. Listen to June talk with the Columbia Center about her experience.
Listen to June be interviewed by Bill Good Jr., on CKNW. The interview is 25 minutes long. Bill Good Jr. Interview January 30 2012
Speaking Engagements
June is available to participate in panel discussions on the effects of drug addiction within a family. She is also available for speaking engagements at churches, youth groups, parents’ and women’s groups, recovery houses, and recovery meetings. She would be honored and privileged to be invited to your group or organization.
To contact June, please e-mail her at june@addictionamothersstory.com or juneaj@shaw.ca
I just wanted to let you know that I heard your interview on the Bill Good show this morning and all I can say is – WOW – you are an amazing person with a beautiful spirit and I wish you and your son all the love and happiness and health that you and he deserve. I have 4 beautiful children and could not imagine what it would have been like to deal with that. Much love to you and your family xoxoxo
Thank you so very much Michele for your very kind and thoughtful words. I means more than you know to have received your note. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. Take good care.
Very sincerely and with much appreciation,
June
I was only able to hear some of your interview with Bill Good at the CKNW radio talk show but the parts I heard truly hit my heart and described much of the situation I have been living with.
I would appreciate access to your blog site and more information. My son is 38 and the story is similar. I will be looking for your book.
Thank you
Louise
Thank you very much for your note Louise – sadly we have many “soul-sister” – mothers who like ourselves have adult children battling the horrific disease of addiction. I am truly, truly sorry for your heartbreak. I hope you will have the opportunity to read Addiction: A Mother’s Story. The journey we are on with our addicted loved ones is devastating. Our sons, yours and mine are just a year apart in age. Take care Louise and I hope you will log into my blog on a regular basis. We need to share with others who understand our journey.
Very sincerely,
June
Thank you so much for sharing your story, you are an amazing woman…I have a friend going through pretty much the same as you have been through. Have you any suggestions as to how I could be of help?. I am so afraid of offending her and losing her friendship. I listened to your radio interview, I was so moved and wished I had heard it many years ago…..Thank you from the bottom of my heart…..
Thank you so much for taking the time to write. What a wonderful, caring person you are – your friend is very lucky to have someone in her life that cares so much and treasures her friendship as you do. I believe the most important thing you can do is to be there when she needs to talk and a shoulder to lean on. If she goes to Nar-Anon or Al-Anon meetings perhaps you can ask her if she would like you to go with her. Encourage her to get out and go for a walk with you. Something to just take her out of the “heaviness” for awhile.
I know you would love to be able to help fix things so your friend wouldn’t be in so much pain. Unfortunately you can’t. But, you can be there when she needs to confide in someone she knows cares.
You may question if that is enough. Let me tell you, it very much is. So often when our loved one is struggling with addiction, we don’t know where to turn or who would be a “safe” person to confide in. Just let her know that you are there if she ever wants to talk. She will appreciate your kindness and the fact that you are not being judgmental in any way, only supportive.
Take good care and thank you so much for writing.
Very sincerely,
June