I can't believe we still have people out there that think marijuana is a 'harmless' drug.
It's the same people that peddle pot that would be only too happy to sell your teen child enough heroin or meth or cocaine to kill a full grown African elephant.

Marijuana is a drug period. People should not be putting others lives in danger under the influence of it. Period. Gateway drug is an over buzzed and invented term. Life is a gateway, you either step through the realm of stupidity or higher understanding. Everything in moderation, including Cheeseburgers which by my estimates have the highest mortality rate and cost humanity the most that is unless you do not buy it as a gateway food.

Sad story for certain. I'm glad the kids lived through it but they are old enough to face the consequences of their own actions now. As a former teen offender of many criminal acts, I am glad I lived through everything I did, but to blame my parents for what I did is rediculous. I did what I wanted because I could. Kids are masters of disguise, and I could fool even the best of them, police, probation, and psychiatric professionals included. It's too bad this situation happened, and I feel bad for the kids. It goes to show that these things happen in rural America, and not just urban centers.

Hey Skiddz--Would it hurt you that much to say that better parenting would prevent many, but not all, of these tragedies? If even one grieving "exception" reads your diatribes, & has their pain intensified by it--then your approach has gone too far.

Skiddz

It could be bad parenting in this case but bad parenting isn't always the reason.
.
Personally, I had great parents but still did stupid, risking and potentially deadly things. Great parents doesn't equal wiping a*s until your child is 30.

Nutty--what do you mean you have never heard of any other cases before or after? Cases are in the paper all the time for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. That does not automatically mean that it is alcohol.

wow this is amazing, i sure hope these three boys get some help and by the sounds of their parents get removed from their homes. They are too young to die from this killer of a drug, and they are also young enough to turn this around right now before it really destroys them

It is off the south end of Parkview and goes to the west for only a couple of blocks.

Where is Woodcrest Dr ? Behind the Pig ?

Skiddz- It appears that your parents had some serious issues as well.

My child knows these boys. There is no parenting here at all. The one boy's own father died from a cocaine overdose in fact. It is entirely possible and probable that they are getting the drugs from the parents. These kids do not even attempt to hide the fact that they are doing drugs and dealing drugs. This is not a product of peer pressure.

THC or Pot cant kill? Anyone remember a few years ago when a young kid (milton I think) turned his car into the path of an oncoming elderly lady and killed her? He admitted to the cops that he was high on pot. So if the drug itself can't kill you, the high from it can effect you enough to impair you and that can be deadly (just like alcohol).

When is Rock county and/or Southern WI going to acknowledge the rampant drug problems that plague this area? This has been a problem for 30 or more years. In the past it was marijuana, now it is heroin-what is next-God only knows. Fire the politicians for ignoring this problem. In addition, the parents need to actually be a parent.

Parenting.

Grew up outside of Milton... went to MHS about 20 years ago. It was quite a bit smaller then.

I'd like to fool myself and believe that I still remember what it was like being 14. Still, I cannot even fathom this even crossing my mind, then or now. I don't even think I knew what it was back then.

When I was 14, I knew one girl who was 15 and kept a bottle of whiskey under her bed. She had an older sister and a brother my age who had no idea... so she had both her parents and her siblings fooled. I'd wager that there were others who had everyone else fooled.

I knew the four or five regular smokers at the high school and smoking was no gateway drug for them for anything harder. It was not unusual for seniors to have some beer at a party (but not at every party), particularly the semester before graduation. And I think a very few people smoked a little weed, particularly if they had an older sibling at college who was doing the same. Heroin? Off the radar in Milton in 1989, that's for sure.

Interestingly, of my friends who fell the hardest in their 20s, it was the clean cut ones who had done nothing in high school and who hid their problems until it was too late. But, to my knowledge, all of their drug habits began in college or later. Some very, very quickly joined that world in just a few months out of a clean cut high school; others it took years. Those who became users quickly, there was no gateway, that is for sure. They wanted to try anything and everything. For those for whom it took years, the gateway argument might hold a little more water; I think for people like this it comes down to believing that they can control it, can quit anytime and so are hiding it not from just everyone else but themselves too.

I couldn't picture where this street was searched for an online map... the first result was this...
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2009/feb...

Looks like a serious problem on a very short street, let alone the community at large.

Oh and by the way the kids where 14 and 15 if their parent didn't know their 14 or 15 year old is on herion???? I don't know how much that parent knows about being a parent. I mean all of you said it for me. They all used a gateway drug to get to heroin. So if the kid is 14 and went threw cigs, drinking, pot, coke, oxy, and finally heroin... Wow that takes some time don't you think to accomplish that type of drug use history? So how old where they when they started their first substance? And even at 14 I don't see how a parent couldn't tell their kid is on one of those. But then again, I will be called the idiot. Even tho I don't have the 14 year old doing heroin..or well did heroin

Cheleandlou your right, anyone can O.D. thats why I say make drinking Illegal cause it causes so many deaths along with cigs, and make THC legal to replace both of them for a drug to use as a escape. It is proven THC cannot kill anyone and it is immposible to O.D. from it. Thats why I am bring up pot so much and others bring it up so much SARAHB. Because we look at the public record and see how many DUI's their are each day and how many kids die each year from binge drinking at colleges or how many wifes get beat from drunk husbands. MAYBE if they were all eating pot cookies they wouldn't be getting lung cancer, liver disease, drunken fights, drunken crashes, messed up child births. And maybe just maybe we can all get along then. When everyone eats a gosh darn cookie and calms down. But no. I am wrong of corse. You would rather keep Beer legal so your husband can drink at the brewers game and possibly get in a car wreck on the way home, and have beer legal so young jonny can go off to uw madison to die from his vomet in the toilet from being so drunk the night before. All instead of letting pot be legal so when your husband drove home he would be calm and not get road rage and possbly flip the vehicle cause he is in a drunken rage. Then he would make it home be have a big smile on his face to see you. Or why have pot legal so jonny isn't getting into pot brownie eating contest where at the end of the night everyone just falls asleep happy and wakes up happy with no hang over... i have no idea what I am thinking.. I trully must be crazy.

Any one and I do mean any one has the potential to use drugs whether it be pot, prescription, coke, crack, heroin, alcohol, etc. No one is immune. And as long as parents are talking to their kids about the issue and warning them, knowing where their kids are, who they're hanging out with, etc. What more could a parent do? Even the kid with a 4.0 GPA that appears to be the 'perfect' kid could end up overdosing on drugs.

Why does every article re: drugs, drunken driving, overdoses, gangs, cigarettes, bars, etc., etc., have to turn into a debate about marijuana? (And, no I don't have to "just don't read it if you don't want to read about weed"!) I'm just asking the question because I can't believe that some people focus exclusively about marijuana ... that, by the way, is one of the criteria used to measure addiction.

Some people on here are just blowing air! You attack a person for their beliefs .I find it ironic that the attacks probably come from guilt from the guilty. By the way,the obama kids have a very high chance of getting on drugs,DC is one big drug town.

What is going on with the younger population?? Some kind of intervention is definitely needed. These kids are our future, which is terrifying!

I don't think Skiddz is an idiot; just has a different view than most. But like what usually happens, the one who is different gets attacked for being different. Carry on Skiddz, I know they won't break your spirit; you're old school cool and not afraid to say it. Remember, drugs are bad and there's nothing to be gained from doing them, but everything can be lost. Best of luck to y'all and your agendas, I've had enough of all you 'idiots'.

Would you rather have your kids smoke pot or snort the heroin? Would you rather see your kid high on pot or see them performing tricks in back alleys for their fix or passing out for hours in your own driveway for hours ? I rather have my kids smoking pot. The COPS need to lighten up on the pot dealers and hit the heroin dealers hard. Its time to legalize the pot.

2much, simply....bless you. Very well put. I apologize if my initial post provoked this. I was trying to be real and if I can help one parent save their child from any of this, it's worth everything my family has gone through. Again, thank you.

So, do we all agree...Skiddz is an idiot!! You bet we won't see Obama's kids becoming drug addicts?? What are they, 8 and 10? For their sake, I hope you are correct. However, just in case your psychic ability is as good as your common sense, where will you be just in case 1 of them turns to drugs? You can be in your kids face, up your kids behinds, hide around the corner, if they want to do it or try it...they will. Do you honestly think these parents turned a blind eye and are saying, "gee, should have had that drug conversation!!" Besides all your negative comments and your blame game, where the heck is your sympathy and support for the families that lost a loved one? Sometimes people like you who pretend to have a brain come on here and hide behind a computer and tell all how to be a parent, be a better citizen, blah, blah, blah but yet, what are you doing in this community to make a change for the better? If you are such an upstanding parent, I would love to read your book. Better yet, set up camp my friend. I am sure that there are a lot of us from Janesville that would love to come and shadow your parenting skills for the whole day. My suggestion, shush up and take care of your own. Respect those who have lost and now are left with a void. Then, go into your little one's room and thank the good Lord above for the precious gift you have received and may he/she never be taken from you. My prayers go out to all of you that your children and/or any family member make the right decisions when faced with any kind of addiction.

People, get off Skiddz. His/her opinion is no less or no more important than yours. Seems like no one is responsible for anything anymore; things just happen. Stop the world, I want to get off.

Thanks Joker. SO if joker is right, where does that leave the cause of the problem? Nooo not the parents again. Heaven forbid the parent could raise a bad kid. ITS NEVER THE PARENTS faults.. ?????

Wow. I wonder if there is a drug problem in our schools and Rock County? The school officials and police say that there is not a drug problem in the schools or in the area, so I believe them.
We are so lucky to not have a drug or gang problem in Janesville! I hope this continues!

Skiddz, Do us all a favor and don't have kids of your own, we don't need any more of your environment hugging the perfect tree! I'm not wasting any more of my time commenting on your stupidity.

sk8-couldn't agree more.

Well, Skidz, you are wrong on that issue, too (that wealthy kids don't die, they get help cuz their parents can afford it). As just ONE example--widely covered by the press--look at the back surgeon in Madison, who lost his attractive, well-liked, mature teenager to an Oxy o.d. It's got a lot more to do with a genetic predisposition to addiction than anything else. Oh, and, thanks, Gazette; you are giving us the news we need--even if we don't want to hear it.

Gosh you guys are all right, its not the parents fault for the way their own kids are. Thats why you said its peer pressure or something else that causes them to go down the path to destruction. But then your so quick to take responsibility of your kids actions if they are good. Even tho they might be acting good for the same very reason others are acting bad. Peer pressure of the enviroment they are in. And then it comes back to who put them in that enviroment (parent).

So what about the parents that are never around because they are in the bars drinking or are drug abusers yet their children go to school everyday, make the honor roll, get jobs, make all the right decisions -I guess we better blame that on the parents

Okay Skiddz, I wasn't going to respond to your lack of compassion or even expect you to understand based on your holy attitude, but I tell you what.....my child didn't start doing this until he graduated from high school and moved out on his own. He never smoked cigarettes and we don't keep alcohol in our home. I don't claim to be the perfect parent that you obviously are. Unfortunatley, you're also a 'product of our environment' and it's YOUR PARENT'S FAULT for creating you and your attitude!

Skiddz- you're a joke, get a clue, I agree with pvanglader- you musn't have kids. AND if you do, I feel for them because with your comments, they musn't have a social life or ever leave the home. At any rate, I'm not sure why I'm wasting my time even responding to you, there goes 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Yeah I said that right bad parent. I bet you don't see Obama's kids becoming drug addicts gang bangers, but I bet I see most of the kids coming out of the 4th ward "trying" to be gangster and doing drugs... Product of your enviroment... And who is responsible for where that child experiences its enviroment and childhood. The parent is, and they are also the one that brought them in this world and put them in that enviroment and situation. SO WHOS FAULT IS IT AGAIN? not the kids.... PARENTS PARENTS PARENTS

Oh and I am sure I will get the mom that comes in and says well I don't live in the ward I live in a nice part of town and my son jonny does coke. Well miss, thats probaly because you are not around you kid enough to see him go from one thing to the next. I know to many parents that live on the east side that just say "as long as I don't see it and they arn't introuble I don't care" And then as someone said before. Before you know it they are doing herion and o.d.ing.
For some reason why does it always come back to the parent?

SKIDDZ -Not to get personal but do you have children? If so I bet they are perfect! You must be the perfect parent. If not it's probably a good thing because god forbid that they should possibly make a mistake in judgement- it would be all your fault as a parent subjecting them to such an environment. To blame the parents as a whole is the rudest unintelligent comment I have heard. You have no clue. I could go on and on but I'll just leave it at that.

Skiddz- "bad parent" ??? ever heard of peer-pressure?? I suppose you've always thought for yourself and never did what you're friends are doing.... never broke any rules, always obeyed the law....
I'm not defending the kids' actions, but good grief, take your energy and get out there and help those that need it instead of pointing a finger.

Your right completly that their are gateway drugs, and I BET YOU ANYTHING they didn't start with pot. They started with cigs that they got from you or a friend. THEN they went to pot. Or they tried a drink from your cabinet then they tried pot. My point was if you are going to have some illegal you need to make them all illegal. I don't see you fighting for that. And all in all it comes down to parenting. If you kid does drugs you didn't do something right to make them realize they are bad. ITS YOUR FAULT AS A PARENT. Your child is your product, and a product of the enviroment you subject them to.

Why some people have to complain about everything little thing is beyond me?!?!?

I for one thank the Gazette for informing us on the tragic things people let alone teens are doing with their lives.. Its great to be informed, Im glad they were released. I hope however that since they are all minors that their parents get them some well needed help

Joze, you are 100% right! They do think that they can quit whenever they want, but that's far from true. Hind-site, if we would have known that one of our children would become wrapped up into something so deadly, we would have done a better job of educating them when they were young. That's my purpose, educate your kids when they're young and don't be afraid to get in their business. I'm willing to bend over backwards to help others that are just beginning their battle. We've gone through some tough times and I don't think those difficulties are anywhere near over. Thanks for not pointing fingers.

Legalize pot people - and i don't even do it.....

Sk8, I agree with you up to the point where you state as a recreational drug marijuana leads to more hardcore drugs and experimentation with other highs. Addictive personalities are just that. The education on these hardcore drugs is prevalent but largely ignored by thrill seekers who think they are smart enough, strong enough or have the willpower to stop anytime they want to. The war on drugs could have easily been won long ago by simply showing a graphic documentary chronicling each illicit category and its catastrophic consequences and played in our children's grade schools.

This isn't a joke and shouldn't be taken lightly by any means. Unless you have had a child on the brink of complete destruction from using this drug, you won't understand the power this deadly drug has. The use of heroin in their teens and early 20's is increasing at a fast pace. Sadly,if you don't have enough money getting your kid any real long term treatment isn't even an option. We're losing children at alarming rates and rather than the community extending a hand to morally support families going through this living nightmare, we joke about pot and THC. These kids just don't wake up one morning and choose to become a heroin addict. It starts with recreational drugs, like pot. And when that doesn't give them the high their looking for, they turn to heroin. ounseling facilities the area are far from what is needed to get them off of heroin. They become so addicted and hooked on this drug that they eventually buy Narcon to reverse an overdose. They don't think 'if' they overdose, they think 'when'. As a parent, it is one of the scariest, heart-ripping things you'll ever have to go through. You never know if you will receive the call that your child has overdosed and died. These kids do such a good job of hiding this abuse that you aren't even aware of what they're doing until they overdose or commit some sort of crime related to the use of this drug. Please save the 'it's their choice to use this drug'; I've read it too many times in your almighty posts. Instead of pointing blame, maybe a better choice would be to ask how you can help or lend some some moral support to the families of these children. These kids aren't bad. They tried something out of curiosity and it snatched them away the very first time they tried it. They will fight a life-long battle of resisting temptation & staying clean. For those of you who need family support, seek it. This drug can rip a family apart. For those of you addicted, do whatever you have to in order to win this battle. And for those of you tempted to try it, don't! It was designed to make you feel good, just like other drugs and alcohol. If I have learned anything from this affecting my family, it's to educate the rest of our children on why you shouldn't try it and what it can do to you. This isn't a life-long battle for our child, it's a life-long battle for all of us. Pay attention to your kids, they're behavior, changes in their personality. Scan their entire arms, from shoulders down, between their toes and fingers. Ask them, get in their business, be nosey and look in their rooms, their vehicles, their coats and any other good hiding place. And most of all, talk to them....talk to them every day. Educate yourselves. They become very convincing liars and will tell everyone what they want to hear, because they think we will believe it because that's what we want to believe. It's a bad disease and I hope that all of you can be spared of what we have been through.

Skiddz- what's your point?? I think Gazette is simply reporting a story on a police call that involves a growing problem in our county.

OMG I THINK YOUR CAPS LOCK IS STUCK!

Just sayin'...

AS A MATTER OF FACT SKIDDZ I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU CAN OVERDOSE ON POT U MIGHT SMOKE URSELF STUPID OR SOBER BUT THATS ABOUT IT!! LOL IN CASE U DIDNT NOTICE HEROIN IS A VERY BAD RAPIDLY GROWING PROBLEM IN WISCONSIN ROCK COUNTY IS SEEING HIGHER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OVERDOSING AND SELLING THIS CRAP!! I WOULD RATHER HAVE POT LEGAL AND I DONT SMOKE IT!!

Why such hatred towards the gazette on that issue? Sounds like you need to move to California and take your problems with you.

Hey Janesville Gazette, why don't you cover all those storys where people are Overdosing on THC/pot? I have never seen you report on those. Or wait is that because THC can't harm you and nobody can O.D. on it? I guess thats a good reason why their hasn't been a story for you to report on.