By: Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer - Wednesday, March 14, 2007

A Rocklin, California mother, whose son is behind bars for a drug-related robbery spree, will share her story at a forum in Auburn on methamphetamine abuse.

Christy Crandell's son, Ryan, was three weeks past his 18th birthday when he and two friends robbed a bookstore, a gas station and three other businesses in the Truckee area. Hours before the March 2003 spree, he had left the family home, telling his parents that he was on drugs again.

A gun was involved in two of the robberies, leaving Ryan with a 13-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery. His two friends were juveniles.

Four years later, Ryan is serving his sentence at Folsom State Prison. Crandell has written and self-published a book about her experiences, established a Web site -- www.stopteendrugaddiction.com -- and is talking to people whenever they will listen.

So far, she thinks they are.

Two-hundred people showed up last month in Lincoln for a forum. Crandell said she's willing to tell her story to 200 people or one person at a time.

"I was naïve and I know a lot of parents who are in the same boat," Crandell said. "In retrospect, it was easy to see. There were a lot of signs but they mimicked normal adolescent angst."

Crandell, a stay-at-home mother, said she made the mistake of not considering that drug problems were a possibility in her moody teenage son. Ryan had become a multiple drug abuser, taking meth as well as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription medications.

"He took anything he could get his hands on," Crandell said.

"I hope parents will be informed and pay attention," Crandell said. "I was in the dark on what teen culture looks like. Today, I would have more information."