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Facing addiction

Public invited to share impact of drug epidemic

JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Ginger O'Connor, 65, of Marietta, places a photo of her two nephews who passed away due to drug overdoses on the Honor and Recovery Wall at Marietta Municipal Court Tuesday. Andrew Morin, left, 27, died on Aug. 25, 2015, and Tyler Morin, 24, was found dead of an accidental overdose Aug. 10.

Anxiety increases every time the phone rings for the families of those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Many are simply waiting for the call that their loved one has overdosed.

“I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone,” said Lori Roser, 44, of Marietta. “People don’t realize what addiction does to the whole family. My nieces and nephew are being raised without their mom because of heroin.”

Similar stories explaining the toll of addiction were posted along the lobby of the Marietta Municipal Court building Tuesday in the hopes of beating the stigma of mental illness and addiction and starting a conversation long overdue. Posters, photos, newspaper clippings and memorabilia honored those who have lost their battles with addiction and celebrated those in recovery. The public is invited to continue to add to the wall this week.

“This illustrates the problem our county and many others have,” said Judge Janet Dyar Welch. “I hope this wall gives some pause to the families, users and the general public who come by.”

Among the stories shared along the Honor and Recovery Wall, is the one of two nephews of one local resident.

“They were boys I would have loved to have as my own, they were so polite and kind and came from a good home,” said Ginger O’Connor, 65, of Marietta. “But Andrew and Tyler both overdosed within a year of each other, and now my sister-in-law is barely moving.”

O’Connor’s brother, Irvin “Skip” Hobba, 63, of Florida, allowed his sister to add his stepsons’ photos to the wall.  Andrew Morin, 27, passed away with a needle in his arm on Aug. 25, 2015, and Tyler Morin, 24, was found dead of an accidental overdose Aug. 10.

“For the last six years we were just waiting for the phone call that they had overdosed,” he said. “My wife has basically lost half of her life to their addiction. Her sons were her world.”

Anxiety is common for the families of those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Brandon Hoffert, 31, of Marietta, said his parents spent years expecting every call to announce his death.

“That’s where I was heading,” he said. “I first started doing drugs when I was 12, I smoked weed. Then I started heroin when I was 21. By 25 I was using it a lot more and stealing stuff to sell so I could get high.”

Hoffert said it took several arrests and the death of more than a few friends to open his eyes to his self-destructive lifestyle.

“It’s an everyday battle for me. I always think about using-especially when I get stressed out, but then I remember how it messed up my life,” he said. “I’m trying to build a life for myself. I want a job and my own place, my own car and a family.”

Hoffert said he has been sober for two years, a feat he attributes to the aid of a suboxone clinic.

“My life has gotten a lot better, and things between me and my parents now have changed,” he said. “I want them to be proud of me and where I’m headed.”

As a part of his recovery, Hoffert attends the Thinking for a Change group meetings, put on by the Washington County Probation Office.

“He always has a smile on his face,” said Sarah Wright, a case manager with the probation office. “In our group, we talk about how we can’t change the past, but can change what happens next time. It’s a cognitive behavioral change group.”

“Now, even though I still have a lot of friends that use, when they start doing stuff I know I shouldn’t, I choose to leave,” said Hoffert. “It’s not cool to be strung out on heroin anymore. I don’t want to be that person anymore.”

Wright said the probation office tries to focus on helping the men and women who pass through their programs to get back on their feet and headed in a healthier direction.

“Most of the people we see have a drug addiction one way or another,” she said. “We try to lean towards treatment so they can get their lives back on track.”

Cathy Harper, coordinator of The Right Path for Washington County, said she hopes the wall encourages the community to talk about addiction and mental illness freely.

“Addiction is a chronic disease recognized by the American Medical Association, it’s not a moral failing,” she said. “We need to get talking about this and figure out a way to stop it.”

Harper and O’Connor are encouraging the public to turn out for the heroin discussion panel Bill Bauer, professor at Marietta College, is hosting on Oct. 27. O’Connor will be a part of the panel along with Dave Zide of Reliance Treatment Centers and RJ Vied, a recovering addict. For tickets email Bauer at bauerm@marietta.edu.

If you go

– What: Heroin Impact Panel Discussion

– When: 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 27.

– Where: Marietta College.

– For tickets or more information email Dr. Bill Bauer at bauerm@marietta.edu

 

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