Warning: Some readers may find parts of this post to be triggering. I was raised Mormon. For the most part, I was a decent kid. I went to church every Sunday and participated in weekly activities with the other Mormon youth.
But then, in , I got pregnant. I was 17 years old and a senior year in high school, just weeks away from graduation. Before I got pregnant, a male friend gave me a ride to an all-night high school party. He offered me a few caffeine pills, promising they would give me enough energy to stay up all night and have fun.
I took them without a second thought. I had no idea they were actually Klonopin, a drug used to treat seizures and panic disorders. Klonopin is also commonly used as a date rape drug. Apparently, I spent the night walking and talking before leaving the party, which took place at the high school. The party was chaperoned by teachers and parent volunteers. It was supposed to be a safe space for the soon-to-be graduates.
So what happened? I completely blacked out. Somehow, I managed to get home. The next day, I woke up in my bed, but I knew something was wrong. I was afraid of getting in trouble, so I stayed quiet.
Weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. I was supposed to attend BYU, a Mormon-owned university, in the fall. Ironically, he was one of the few people my parents trusted me to be alone with. Eventually, I had to tell my parents. Plus, I had major morning sickness and it was getting more difficult to explain the constant puking.
