Rally Against Heroin Features Passionate Speakers

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Published on October 3 2015 6:10 pm
Last Updated on October 5 2015 8:25 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(A BALLOON RELEASE CONCLUDED THE RALLY AGAINST HEROIN IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO'VE DIED DUE TO DRUGS)

The weather was cloudy, cold and windy for Saturday's Rally Against Heroin in downtown Effingham, but one recovering heroin addict said that's how she felt every day until she got off the drugs and began her road to recovery.

That person is Ashley Ohlund, one of several persons battling back from drug abuse who spoke at the event held on the lawn of the old Courthouse. The close to two-hour event, though, featured an interesting mix of speakers. Those recovering spoke along with members of the law enforcement community, those involved in providing treatment, and Effingham Mayor Jeff Bloemker. Local attorney Scott Ealy served as Master of Ceremonies.

Ohlund noted the rally was four years to the day that she was released from prison for using drugs. She admitted, though, that she continued battling drug use until earlier this year when she said she decided drugs were no longer going to run her life.

Michael Coleman was another powerful speaker. Coleman said he "died twice" due to overdoses, but was brought back. He said, "I was a heathen, and drugs were my god." Coleman credited New Life Men's Center in Heartville as his path to wholeness and God as his savior.

Tom Anderson believes addiction in a person begins with factors from an early age. Anderson spoke about having a family, having a good job, but throwing it all away chasing a high from drugs. He's been clean for five years. Anderson used the analogy of a $20 bill. He asked who wanted the bill he displayed, all crisp and clean. Almost everyone raised their hand. He then crumpled the bill and asked again. Still, all hands raised. He then threw the bill on the floor and stomped on it with a foot, grinding it in the gazebo stage on the Courthouse lawn. He again asked, and again everyone wanted the $20. Anderson then showed that no matter how beaten down and trampled, the $20 still had value. He said it's the same with any life, even one plagued by drug addiction.

(EFFINGHAM MAYOR JEFF BLOEMKER SPOKE AT THE RALLY AGAINST HEROIN. ALSO ON STAGE IS EMCEE LOCAL ATTORNEY SCOTT EALY AND THE SPEAKERS. THE POSTER FEATURES PHOTOS OF MANY OF THOSE WHO'VE DIED IN THE COUNTY IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO DRUGS)

Mayor Bloemker, who is also Executive Director of Heartland Human Services, noted that many might say of the drug problem, "It's not my problem" or "I really don't care", but said when it comes to Effingham, "it IS my problem and I HAVE to care." The mayor said his substance abuse counselors at Heartland said effective detoxification is a key to successful treatment, but said there are financial barriers to getting into treatment centers, and said Effingham needs such a center. He said the counselors then get "toe-to-toe" with the abuser and combine a steady therapy of coping tools, relapse prevention skills, spiritual thinking, and healthy self-awareness. A problem Bloemker noted is that Heartland's budget just got cut by 20% by the State so the Center's reach will be shorter than in some time. He was quick to clarify that Governor Rauner, though, is not the problem, that he is trying to fix a financially broken state so everyone has to do without less until things get better fiscally.

The mayor also mentioned input from St. Sen. Kyle McCarter. The legislator has a unique viewpoint on the issue, since he lost a daughter to drug abuse less than 10 years ago. McCarter pushes peer-based preventive programs coupled with faith-based treatment. He said those messages are best delivered through social media.

Bloemker said it's of interest that a common theme regardless of what treatment they favor is faith-based spiritual counseling, and asked how religion and spirituality could be effectively brought into the fold of treatment?

Each of the recovering addicts who spoke also acknowledged the power of God and the support of peers as keys to their recovery.

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler was present to discuss the "safe harbor" rule now law in Illinois. Kibler said if someone is someplace where someone is believed to be overdosing, that person can call for help without fear of arrest and prosecution. He said the bottom line is that everyone is working together to save lives. Kibler called the first local forum on heroin use and abuse in 2013. He also said Drug Court and Problem Solving Court are providing to be useful tools in dealing with treatment for addicts who've been arrested.

Kibler also talked about making Narcan more readily available. It's a drug that arrests the overdose, but also makes it highly unlikely that an addict will want to abuse drugs in the near future.

Dr. Ted Fifer of Next Step Behavioral Care Clinic in Effingham and Rob Grupe of Heartland Human Services also spoke. Fifer cheered Narcan and hopes for it being more readily available. He said the program at Next Step involves medication-assisted therapy. Grupe spoke of his many years with Effingham County Drug Alert Council and Operation Snowball and those organizations' efforts to work with young people to avoid drug use and abuse.

(VANESSA MERRITT SERVED AS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF SATURDAY'S RALLY)

One of the chief organizers of the rally was Vanessa Merritt of PADD...People Against Drug Dealers. PADD is the group that has been seen at various locations around Effingham with signs and balloons protesting the spread of heroin in the area. She said she was pleased with the event. As to the future? Merritt said they will keep going with their fight.