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Kate’s story: The cost of addiction and the collateral damage By KATE LAMPHERE Earlier this year, I attended the National Opiate and Prescription Drug Conference. I was inspired by Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, U.S. Surgeon General, who shared his personal story of how addiction touched his family, resulting in a family member being incarcerated due to involvement with opiates. What made such a strong impression on me was how he shared his personal story from such a loving and compassionate place, deep from within, and with such bravery in the hope that those listening would hear his message, relate and connect. His story awakened in me a desire to share a story from my family in the hope it will help others find help through recovery. As the division director of Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services at HCRS, that presentation moved me to action and inspired me to share a story about the cost of addiction and, more importantly, what can and must become a more common path for families seeking help. Like so many others, our family member struggled with drug use in his adolescent years. There were many choices along his journey. The end result was an addiction to heroin and, ultimately, incarceration. While he always had the love and support of his family, which is critically important, he was unable to overcome his battle with addiction. In 2005, my mother called and shared the news he was in jail. There was a sense of some relief in her voice. She hoped that maybe he would get the help he needed. Maybe this would be the opportunity to break the cycle. At least she knew he was not on the street and was safe. Two days later, she called again, completely devastated. He died while he was in jail, likely due to withdrawal complications. One has to wonder: How many times is a message unwittingly sent that society no longer cares for our most vulnerable? I hope that is untrue. I imagine that we can and should be a community that is compassionate and supportive of all people who struggle with addiction. Stigma is something that a person experiences in response to discrimination and oppression that someone else puts on them. As a caring community, we need to create space where people feel welcome and encouraged to ask for help and find the services they need when they need them. I’m sharing my story in the hopes it will inspire others to also share. We need open dialogue. Story telling is a powerful way to help reduce stigma and increase connection — and will result in compassion and support for those in need. I encourage the public to attend the “Help for Recovery” event being held at Riverside Gymnasium on Sept. 13 from 6 to 8 pm. This event is sponsored by Turning Point Recovery Center, HCRS, Springfield Medical Care Systems, and Springfield Rotary Club. Please come listen to the personal stories of your neighbors, and learn how you can find Help for Recovery for family and friends in need. For more information, please contact Mike Johnson at Turning Point Recovery Center, 802-885-4668 or email spfldturningpoint@gmail.com. Kate Lamphere is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW)at Health Care and Rehabilitation Services in Springfield, Vermont.
Kate I hope you are reading this. I too had a family member addicted to heroin, now in recovery. We no longer live in the area, but these are my observations:
ReplyDelete1. families (parents of minors particularly) need resources and the power to get the addicted family member somewhere quickly to begin breaking the cycle. I was told if the teenager ran away from home, the police would return them once, they wouldn't even respond to a second call. I learned that if admitted to an inpatient treatment facility, a minor child has the right and ability in the State of Vermont to discharge themselves at any time they want. The parent has no say. And the process to get into outpatient counseling takes at a minimum one month. Flashes of "I want/need help" are short lived when in the throws of addiction. These time frames and circumstances cater to the addiction not the recovery. You hear that the most effective treatment comes from the addict who has made the realization that change is needed. But family needs a chance to help them succeed too.
2. Access to drug testing is non-existent. Again as a parent suspicious of drug use in the face of denial, can not take their minor child anywhere to get a UA in the moment. I understand the ER doesn't want to try to hold down a belligerent person and try to get proof positive of drug use. But users lie and they are really good at lying. They also have enough friends and enablers to get clean pee if they know there is a test coming. There needs to be a resource for safe, forced, spur of the moment testing to put everyone on notice that there is indeed a problem (trust me, family members may deny there is a problem at first too. Acceptance on all sides is needed). And exactly what substances are being abused.
I'm sure there are more. But those are the top thoughts that come to mind right now.