Darkness

essary if addiction problems are to be curtailed, says Pickerington City Councilman Jeff Fix, who had known Wayne for years prior to Tyler’s death.

“There’s no one answer that will, all of a sudden, make everyone aware that this is a very frightening thing … that can steal your children from you,” Fix says.

Awareness efforts include a 5K held in May, which is planned to be an annual event; participation in Tour de Cause, a Lancaster-based bike ride through all the covered bridges in Fairfield County that benefits the Recovery Center of Fairfield County; and a scholarship program for graduating Pickerington seniors. The organization also holds a weekly loved ones’ support group meeting at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Amber Park.

The Tyler’s Light website, www.tylers light.com, contains facts and figures, links to and information on local organizations that deal with drugs and addiction, and a series of videos that highlight the important issues and the mission of Tyler’s Light.

Lessons Learned

In the lead-up to and wake of Tyler’s death, the Campbells learned a great deal about opiate addictions and how they have grown in prevalence.

Opiates, the Campbells learned, are unlike any other drug, and are especially dangerous for young people – they can change the body’s physiological needs, making it nearly impossible to quit and establishing triggers that may quickly cause someone who’s gotten sober to relapse. Making things worse, some doctors may overprescribe pain medication, providing more opportunities for addiction to set in and lead to worse things.

“What we think is safe … that’s in our cabinets, that’s where a huge part of the problem lies,” Wayne says.

Perhaps more importantly, they learned the importance of recognizing the signs of addiction and speaking up when a problem becomes apparent – a lesson Tyler’s Light is working to impress upon everyone. Once the problem has been verified, the immediate next step is to seek professional, long-term help.

“If your friend has a problem, you don’t want to see them die,” Christy says.

Further tragedies since Tyler’s death have only strengthened the resolve of the Campbells and the organizers behind Tyler’s Light. In November, Chris Jacquemain, who had been the Zips’ quarterback for some of the time Tyler was playing, died of a heroin overdose at age 25. Here in Pickerington, 20-yearold Central graduate Marin Riggs died of a heroin overdose in January.

“A lot of times, you read something like that and say, ‘That’ll never happen to my family,’ but that’s not the case,” says Fix. “The Campbell family and the Riggs family, they’re all of us.”

Looking Ahead

Tyler’s Light has seen tremendous support from the Pickerington community, and the city has formed a community leadership group with Tyler’s Light and a host of other local and statewide organizations to craft a comprehensive strategic plan to deal with addiction.

It has also seen potential for even greater reach, Wayne says, potentially even serving as a model for local-level drug awareness programs in Ohio.

Losing Tyler, Wayne says, was “indescribable, almost paralyzing.” But he hopes Tyler’s death can still have meaning – if it can prevent more deaths from addiction.

Pickerington residents aim their cameras at their hometown

By Stephan Reed