On Tuesday, May 22, Andrew Akin, a 23-year-old Methamphetamine user, from Tulsa, OK, who says he has been addicted to the drug for the past 10 years, speaks out about his experience on the Steve Wilkos Show seen locally on TV 41.
Andrew Akin says he was 13 years-old when he learned how to cook Meth. He says he got his habit from his father who taught him how to do it. On the show, Andrew says he operated a drug lab out of his house until one day he was raided during one of the biggest drug busts in the state
Akin, is now engaged to his girlfriend Alyssa and they say they’re both addicts struggling to stay clean so that they can raise their nine month-old daughter.
“Steve I’ve been doing drugs now for almost 10 years,” says Andrew Akin. “I started when I was 11, smoking pot, and by the time I was 13 my dad had introduced me to Meth.”
Akin says his drug use also began behavioral issues. “By the time I was 12, I was completely out of control and my dad sent me away to a boys home,” he says.
Akin says at the age of 16 he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C from sharing needles. “I used one of my dad’s dirty needles for the first time not knowing that he had Hepatitis C,” says Akin.
Akin describes his drug relationship with his father. “Everyday before school he’d give me enough,” says Akin. “Within a couple months we were selling pretty large qualities of it.”
Akin says he and his father had a meth lab in their home so, “I could learn the proper way to cook meth.” He continues, “There were plenty of times when we held people hostage for owing us money or chemicals. I can remember driving up to people’s car windows and pulling guns.”
During a period of detox, Akin says he met his girlfriend. “She grew up in a very good home and would have never been involved with this. We have not been able to stop since.”
Akin describes how his life has turned out. “I have no motivation I just want to be a better father and I’m begging you for help today.”
Wilkos begins to question Richard Akin, Andrew Akin’s father, also of Tulsa, OK.
“I’m a monster,” says Richard Akin. “He was my only child. I was a single parent. I tried to make up everything to see him happy.”
Richard Akin says his son wasn’t always into the drugs, until he gave his son meth. He called him his “best customer.” “It only took one time,” says Richard Akin and says he was hooked.
Richard Akin says he got his son, Andrew Akin involved into the drug business because “He was underage, and he wouldn’t go to jail like I would. It was quick thinking.”
“You put this on your son,” says Wilkos. “You wouldn’t go to jail.” “That’s a meth addict for you,” says Richard Akin as he taps his head with his finger.
“How long were you running a meth lab for?” asks Wilkos.
“On and off for a couple of years,” says Richard Akin. “We would cook meth in my office; we would cook it at the house. And we got busted.”
“It was a big operation,” interjects Wilkos. “How did you teach your 13-year-old son how to cook Meth?
“It was a sad story,” says Richard Akin. “I traded a 50 inch TV that I purchased to show him how to cook it properly.”
Wilkos begins to talk about the drug raid.
“You got raided in one of the biggest drug raids ever in your state,” says Wilkos.
Richard Akin describes what happened. “We were all inside, we hear a knock at the door,” “Everybody panics. The police are here. I run out the back door and they had guns on me. I went right down in the backyard. Andrew and the other people stayed in the house.”
“Your son says you gave him enough meth for school, during school, and after school,” says Wilkos. “When you watch that, what do you think? And I’ll say this for your son, when your own father is giving you meth, you have no chance.”
Richard Akin says he spent four years in prison.
Regarding his son, Andrew: “He went to juvenile detention,” says Richard Akin. “Six months after I was convicted they sent him to rehab. He did very well, I was so proud of him.”
“And long story short, he’s still addicted,” says Wilkos. “At 13 years-old your son was using meth, selling meth, was a drug dealer. And we all know how dangerous it is being a drug dealer right?”
Wilkos says Richard Akin made his son beat up drug addicts for him and held hostages in their house. “And this was another sick thing,” replies Richard Akin. “I thought he was my partner.”
“Do you have any remorse for this?” asks Wilkos. Through tears, Richard Akin says, “Yeah I do.”
Wilkos asks Richard Akin what his relationship with his son is like now. “I’m enabling him,” replies Richard Akin who says he’s been clean since 2004.
“Have you ever apologized to your son?” asks Wilkos. “No,” says Richard Akin. “I want to apologize. I want him to get help. I feel bad.”
Andrew Akin says he needs to cut his dad off from enabling him.
“That’s why I’m so sick,” says Andrew Akin. “I come to you. You gave me money last night so I could get heroin, so I could make it to the show today.”
“Did you use heroin last night?” asks Wilkos. “I did use heroin,” replies Andrew Akin.
“He’s been detoxing, “says Richard Akin. “He’s been over my house, flopping like a fish. He was really hurting and he said he needed money, so I gave it to him.
“You’ve been an addict for 10 years now and you’re 23-years-old,” says Wilkos. “Do you blame him?” “Absolutely,” replies Andrew Akin who begins to reminisce about his childhood. “I had the best dad. He’s the only person in my life who had never missed a single sporting event.”
“What did it feel like being 13-years-old, doing meth, cooking meth, carrying a gun, beating addicts up?” asks Wilkos. “What were you going through at that time?” “There were scary times, but I thought I was the king,” says Andrew Akin. “I thought I ran everything around there. I think that’s one thing that got me addicted. I was addicted to the power.”
“Now you and your fiancée called my show,” says Wilkos. “Why?” Andrew Akin responds: “I’m not fit to be a parent right now. “I know I could be a good father. I have it in me I just need a push in the right direction and so does she.”
“This is a story that we’ve never done before,” says Wilkos. “You got a father who gets his son hooked on meth and starts running a meth lab. This is really a tragic story, but the good thing is you’re standing on my stage. By standing on my stage you have a chance.”
Wilkos says that if Akin and his girlfriend don’t get off drugs they won’t be good parents.
“You called my show and you guys wanted help,” says Wilkos. “We’re here to give you help, we’re here to give you a chance.”
Debra Joyce Gallegos, of Murrieta, CA, from an organization called “A Better Tomorrow,” comes to the stage to speak to Akin and his girlfriend.
“We’ve had a lot of addicts come on the show. We’ve had a lot of addicts go to A Better Tomorrow,” says Wilkos. “Some quit and they go back to where they came from, but we’ve had people who have had the most amazing recoveries and totally turned their life around.”
“You’re not only doing this for yourself, but your doing this for your baby,” says Wilkos.
This episode of the Steve Wilkos Show may be seen Tuesday, May 22 on KMYT TV-41 (an affiliate of KOKI Fox23) at 3:00 p.m.