Maybe it’s a good thing that the children that were left behind were only age 8 months and 21 months old. They are young enough that they won’t remember being neglected for two or three days. They won’t remember that their parents lay dead either next to them or in the next room, while they no doubt cried for food and comfort. They won’t understand all that, and maybe they won’t even have to be told.
It’s a dangerous thing to mix alcohol and drugs. Our human bodies can only hold so much poison before our organs just give up and say, “Fine, ok, if you’re going to keep sending that crud down here, I’m quitting.” And that, minus the dialogue, is what happened to Diane C. Hulsey and Anthony Durante from Misquamicut, Rhode Island. They overdosed on the combined effects of drugs and alcohol and died in their home, near to their young children. If it hadn’t been for a relative who hadn’t heard from them for a few days, perhaps the children would have come to more harm as well. Instead they were turned over to the Division of Children, Youth and Families where they will hopefully be funneled into loving families where they can heal from the hurt of losing their parents.
The toxicology report showed acute intoxication from ethanol (alcohol) and fentanyl (a narcotic.) The Rhode Island police found evidence of drug use: a needle and Oxycontin, which is a synthetic opiate that has caused many overdose deaths in recent years.
It is interesting to note that the family had moved to Rhode Island from Philadelphia last November to stay with his family. Durante was perhaps trying to escape from his criminal record in Pennsylvania which was for selling marijuana and steroids.
There are so many couples in this country who long to have children and are unable. Here was a couple who were blessed with not one, but two children. They had a place to live, and decent jobs – he worked as a money counter at Foxwoods Resorts Casino and she worked at the Walmart in Westerly. They had each other, too.
It’s time that people have help to realize the benefits that they have, and move away from sadness and despair that turns them to drugs and alcohol. It’s time for people to help one another more, even if that help means a relative caring enough to smack someone up side the head and wake him up to take responsibility and take care of his own. It’s time to grow up, and stop running to substance abuse at every twinge of sadness.
