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I M E D I P E N O I R E THE OHIO H
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Colton Logan 1991-2017
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LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR I’m dedicating this project to my brother Colton Logan. I lost my brother in a fatal overdose in September of 2017. You never will truly understand the disease of addiction until you watch someone be consumed by it. Colton fought his own addiction for seven years. My brother was wise beyond his years and had creativity flowing through his fingertips. Colton was a son, a brother, a musician, an artist, and a writer.
His fight is over, but I’m not ready to give up. I’m fueled by my passion to change the public opinion on addicts. A person dealing with drug addiction is still human and does not deserve to be treated like anything less. We’re losing an entire generation at an alarming rate; it’s a time for change.
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WHY OHIO The Columbus Dispatch takes a dive into how Ohio arrived at this claim to fame. The article begins with the grim statistic "one in 9 heroin deaths across the U.S. happened in Ohio,”(Columbus Dispatch). Because of the number of deaths occurring in such a small time period, morgues had to build extensions just to accommodate the number of bodies. Last year, Ohio had more fatal drug overdoses than any other state as well the highest number of prescription opioid overdose deaths. (FOX) Ohio is begging to take steps to fight the staggering statistics. Officials filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical industry over the epidemic. The epidemic is getting worse every day, and the state is finding it harder to have enough resources to combat it.
But why Ohio? According to WKYC “the problem may have started with prescription pills, Ohio's crisscrossing interstates and turnpike make it an easy home base for drug cartels to set up shop,” (WKYC). Cartels in Ohio are no longer masking their role, recruiting local youth into the trade with tempts of easy money. Drug dealers are now passing out free samples to entice new clients, a twisted form of selfpromotion. Matters are getting worse. As heroin is being cut with fentanyl, mass amounts of deaths continue. The opioid epidemic is finally getting the attention of the media and even the government, which has declared it a national emergency.
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WHAT IS HEROIN " A derivative of morphine, heroin is a very powerful painkiller. Its painkilling properties stem from the fact that it mimics endorphins, the natural painkilling substances produced by the body. As heroin binds rapidly with endorphin receptors, the painkilling effect is extended and magnified, and produces a pleasurable sensation called a 'rush'." -Heroin.net
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS Upon use heroin causes a rush followed by sensings of contentment and relaxation. In the brain enzymes convert heroin into morphine that binds opioid receptors in the brain. Heroin increase in body's dopamine levels up to 10x normal level. As the high begins to wear off users commonly begin to face depression.
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“repeated heroin use often results in addiction - a chronic relapsing disease that goes beyond physical dependence" - National Institute of Drug Abuse After long term usage a toll is taken on the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe of the brain (areas that are associated with long-term memory, decision-making, complex thought and controlling social behavior). Constant use will cause the brain to slow it's production of endorphins. Over time the brain's white matter begins to deteriorate. Users will face impaired emotional processing as well as impaired memory.While the brain takes a majority of the impact from the drugs, other alements such as infection, hepatitis C can result from drug usuage.
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A WOMEN WHO MADE IT THROUGH Interview wtih April Erion
Addicts Non-Profit, which often puts April’s life and past in the spotlight.
October 1, 2017
As she struggled to deal with her addiction, April’s relationship with her family consequently suffered. She recalled for me a time when her older brother told her that he did not feel like he had a sister when she was using. His comment has stuck with her since, making her realize how much she had hurt those around her. I then asked about how Addiction has greatly altered April's other relationships in her life have life. Everyone in her immediate family changed because of addiction. has struggled with their own addiction April paused for a minute before at one point. While April struggled with responding, “Friends are hard, heroin addiction for six years, the rest everyone I know uses or has already of her family was sober. April’s mother, passed away.” In this past year, April who's been sober for almost a decade, has been through a lot of changes Lori Erion, now heads the Families of in her friend circle, removing the II was lucky enough to get to speak with April Erion about her recovery from addiction. April is in her mid 20’s and has been in recovery for over a year now. She works part-time, attends recovery support meetings, and loves spending time with her two dogs and cat.
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people in her life that do not help her keep on track. Her relationship with her family has become even stronger, and now her brother has become one of her closest friends. Her mother has been there supporting her through it all. April told me, “My mom’s really made an effort to understand and that makes all the difference. I always aspired to have what she has, [her recovery] and now I finally do.”
When her head did begin to clear, everything started to click for her. That’s when she began taking the steps to turn her life around. She explained,
I began to ask questions about April’s own recovery. She told me, “It’s a little bit of religion but a lot of it is my personal feeling that there’s a higher power that won’t put me through anything I can’t handle.” While she doesn’t follow a particular religion, April uses her faith in a higher power to help keep her clean and relieve stress. During her time in prison, she was forced into sobriety. She said, “I could never stay sober long enough on my own for my head to clear.”
Later in the interview, I asked her what she wished the public understood about addiction. She responded, “People who are addicted don’t want to be addicted. Nobody wants to live like that.” While April has a hard time talking about the dark times in her life, she continues to share her story because she’s passionate about finding a way to make the community look at addicts like they’re people.
“It clicked one day and I didn’t want to use anymore . . . It is work though; you have to be a different person . . . The one thing you have to change is everything.”
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“At the end of the day we’re all humans, and there’s no excuse for dehumanizing somebody who's sick and needs help. That’s a person.”
April is standing up for herself and everyone who is facing their own struggles. She is making active efforts to shed light on Ohio’s problem and get the public to begin focusing on the solution. I finished up the interview by asking how I could use my project to make an impact. She responded by saying
that if I got just one person to see this heroin epidemic differently, that’ll make a difference. April believes that it will take people like me to make other people relate to what’s happening in our society. It’ll take a community effort to make a difference in this epidemic.
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Due to social stigmas, a great portion of our society is quick to assume that addicts simply lack self-control. New studies are proving that addiction is, in fact, a disease of the brain and body. The American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have also stated that addiction can be defined as a disease. “Like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental, and biological factors. Genetic risk factors account for about half of the likelihood that an individual will develop addiction.” (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) Usage of brain-altering drugs over a period of time causes
chemical changes in the brain. The reward system, motivation, and memory systems are changed, in turn making a person need drugs just to feel normal. Even after a person stops using a substance, the changes in the brain can remain. “About 25-50% of people with a substance use problem appear to have a severe, chronic disorder. For them, addiction is a progressive, relapsing disease that requires intensive treatments and continuing aftercare, monitoring and family or peer support to manage their recovery.” (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) With long-term treatment and care, even the most chronic forms of addiction can become manageable.
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THE SIGNS What to look out for if you think someone you know may be struggling. It is possible to try catch someone in the early stages of heroin use. One of the major signs you can look for is a behavioral change. Someone who is using may begin to lose focus and interest in their responsibilities, such as school or work. Someone who is using may start to disregard their hygiene and appearance. Additionally, they may begin to withdraw from social connections and chose to spend more time alone. The user’s eating habits may change, beginning to eat less or even not at all. Sleeping habits are often the tell tale, users may nod off and spend much more time asleep.
It is extremely hard for someone who's abusing drugs to ask for help and may even deny it if you try to ask them about it. The best thing you can do is try to communicate with the person who is struggling. Work with the person and search for available treatment. The earlier you act the better, but no matter how deep in use the person may be, there is still always hope. The process will take a great deal of time and patience. There is a great deal of resources to help you and your loved one get through this.
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Physical Tells Labored breathing Constricted Pupils Vomiting Long Sleeve Shirts Marks on Arms
Behavioral Poor Hygiene Impulsive Defensive Slurred speech
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LOVE ME UNTIL
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I AM ME AGAIN This Is Home / 19
HOUSE OF HOPE October 10, 2017 Stephanie Hobbs, Program Coordinator of Residential Services + How did you start working within the recovery field? I started in the social work field in 1993; however, got side sidetracked with addiction. I wanted to work with substance abuse issues because I was a recipient and I wanted to help.
+ Are you noticing any patterns of the people that come for help, especially with the heroin epidemic on the rise? There are more young, white, and suburban kids that are seeking treatment. It used to be a lot of older people that were addicted to other substances other than Heroin. There is a so much more death from overdoses. Also, people seem to have way more
overdoses and return to use instead of the OD being an intervention. Medically Assisted Therapy seems to be on the rise. It appears that more people are choosing MAT over abstinence based treatment.
+ What steps does the House of Hope take to help people? (I.e daily meetings, counselors, methadone treatment) HOH has a six month residential tx program, two outpatient programs, and 6 recovery houses for men. The residential program is an abstinence based program, meaning that it does not utilize opiate replacement therapy. The outpatient has MAT specific group, a women’s specific group, and a male specific group. Residential offers an AA and NA meeting to the public.
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+ Do you keep in touch with clients after they leave inpatient treatment?
+ What do you feel would be a good way to bring awareness to the heroin epidemic?
Residential has alumni meetings, a Halloween party, a Christmas party, and a picnic that alumni attend. Former clients drop in from time to time to “check in” and share their progress with staff at outpatient and residential. Staff does not have personal relationships with former clients unless the appropriate amount of ethical time has passed.
Unfortunately, it brings a lot of awareness to itself since it’s an epidemic. There are a lot of rallies, Narcan trainings, conferences, fund raisers, Online groups, obituaries, media pieces, government spotlights, and books like “Dreamland”. Other than putting a spotlight on people in recovery so people can see that addicts can be successful, positive members
+ What do you wish the public understood about addiction? It’s a disease. Once someone is addicted, they do not have a choice. People are not themselves. Their behaviors and actions are fueling the addiction. I wish the public could attend Talbot Hall’s addiction education group. Also, addiction is hard on the addict but also devastating to their family/support. I encourage them to attend Al-Anon
of society.
+If you could tell someone who is currently struggling with their addiction anything, what would you want them to know? There is hope. It is not easy, it will take work but a life without substances is worth it. Reach out, ask for help, chase your recovery like you chased your the high.
so they can get support and tools.
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"Regardless of whether any one of us thinks, knows or believes that addiction is a diease . . . people are still dying. I'd say it's time for a new debate wouldn't you? Better yet, how about a brand new conversation informed by the lives of those most closely connected to the issues?" -Greg Williams
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DO NOT BE ASHAMED. OWN YOUR STORY. LEARN TO LOVE. BEGIN TO FORGIVE.
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There is hope.
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A special thanks to Cari Zahn for editing the text for this piece and assisting in the process. to April Erion and Stephanie Hobbs for taking the time to allow me to interview them. To Lori Erion for inspiring me to tell my story and for creating FOA, a place where my family could go to find some peace. To my brother, for always believing in me and inspiring me.
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Sources www.centeronaddiction.org/what-addiction/ addiction-disease http://heroin.net/heroin-effects/heroin-effects-subpage-1/heroin-effects-on-the-brain/ https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/researchreports/heroin/what-are-long-term-effects-heroinuse http://www.dispatch.com/news/20161129/ohioleads-nation-in-overdose-deaths/1 http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/06/05/ohiodrug-overdose-deaths-in-one-county-already-toplast-years-total.html https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ohio_ state_route_system_map.svg https://www.pexels.com/photo/note-paper-papertear-ripped-268324/ https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/heroinaddiction/know-someone-heroin/#gref
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This Is Home presents a personal perspective on the Ohio heroin epidemic. I created this project in memory of my brother as a way to educate people on this issue that is taking lives daily. While this is no cure for addiction, there is a solution. I hope this magazine can offer you hope and a chance to educate yourself.
Written by Shelby Logan Edited by Cari Zahn
If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction, call 1-877-783-3097 for help.