You are not alone

To begin ending the opioid epidemic, we must end the stigma. Society has put such shame on the addict and the family of the addict that additional barriers are added in between those suffering and the road to recovery. It is important to us that you know that you are not alone, and you are not judged.

To those living with substance use issues, you are worthy, you are loved, and you are capable, and you are not alone.

To the families living with loving someone living with substance use issues, you are doing the best you can. There is no wrong or right, and and you are not alone. You have nothing to be embarrassed about, and you are not alone.

Loving a juvenile dealing with substance use issues is another level of difficult. Are they just experimenting like a "normal" teen? How do you know when its an actual problem? What can you do as a parent? All of these questions and insecurities are normal, and they are questions that we all ask ourselves when dealing with any teen. An issue is that in todays world, none of really matters. Weather you have a teen that is expiramenting at high school parties, or a teen that is willing to take one pill to fit in with the crowd, it could be the last thing they ever get to do. Fentanyl has taken away the ability for our youth to learn and grow. One expirment, or one fitting in with the crowd can mean death. Our children deserve to learn the same ways that we did. Jaiden had experienced his first relapse after treatment. This should have been a learning experience for him, but it wasn't.

A person cannot recover if they are not alive.

We must start fighting to ensure that we begin saving our youth. These are a few things that we believe will start making the needed changes:

• Education about addiction- communities, youth, families

• Harm reduction and education- NALOXONE for everyone!

• Social support- reducing the stigma and judgment- it could be you

• Support with kindness. Addicts are people, and their families need support.

• Mental health and healthy families

• Policy change to fix broken social systems- The War on Drugs and mental health

Remember, we are all one situation away from being in their shoes.

Please reach out for a list of resources including Noloxone distributors and mental health profesionals.