By Megan Miller, Editor
CLAY – Clay residents gathered on July 12 at Faith UMC to share facts, challenges and find resources for drug addiction.
Lt. Mays and Sgt. Pennington with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department spoke about how to reach out to sheriff’s departments for tips and assistance with drug addiction.
“It’s in every school,” Lt. Mays said. “Anyone who says it’s not in every school is lying to you.”
A panel of parents of addiction shared stories of the loss of their children to death or prison as a result of their addictions, and three former addicts shared their struggles, suffering, loss and finally recovery process.
“Addicts only have three outs: arrest, death or recovery,” Joe Hobby, parent and event organizer said.
There was a question and answer session, and the speakers also took time to speak to attendees at the booths set up at the event.
The speakers said the first signs of drug use are lying, losing money, distancing themselves and laziness, and they pointed out this often begins when the user is a teenager.
A panel of recovery ministries and organizations including Teen Challenge, Lovelady Center, the Foundry and Celebrate Recovery offered ways to help addicted people. The event closed with the Dannon Project and Lifeline talking about how to move on after an addicted person has been incarcerated, or lost their child to DHR.