The Chronicles of Loving A Heroin Addict: Ask For Help

Ask For Help

Try going to some meetings for some support and help.

Take a look around this blog. I have provided links to a lot of information. Most of it is specific to this area especially meetings and treatment in West Virginia. Many of the links do offer other information not specific to any area.

Today the day for the letter A I want to remind you that you don't have to go through this alone.

If someone you love suffers from an addiction problem don't try to solve it all by yourself. Reach out to others, ask for help when you need it. Don't be afraid! Remember, you don't have to do this all on your own.
Maybe your addict is at that level where they are ready for help and they are reaching out for help and don't know where to turn. Make a list. Text it to them. Write it down for them to carry. Help is out there and waiting. All you have to do is ask.

I have made of list of some services @ Treatment/Recovery Resources to help get you started. I have included a lot of links on finding the right treatment program, what questions you need to and should ask when seeking a treatment center. I have included both medically assisted treatment as well as non medical assisted treatment. You will also find links on the sidebar of this blog.

If your addict has reached a level of their addiction and struggling with the mental health issues associated with addiction and making comments about suicide, please, please, please take their words seriously. This is the point that they have reached total desperation, and do not know what to do, nor where to turn. Their brain isn't functioning at that level.

Here in the panhandle reach out to the crisis team at East Ridge. They are there 24/7. The number to reach the crisis team is 855-807-1258

With that said, why is it that we have to wait for a crisis situation in order for someone to receive help?

Why does someone going to the new crisis unit at the hospital have to say they are suicidal in order to receive treatment?

Remember these numbers also. Call them. Reach out to them.

Help4WV 1-844-435-7498

Kevin Knowles, The Berkeley County Community Recovery Services Coordinator
His Office # 304-264-1923 or by Cell Phone: 304-676-7731

We have many groups locally who are there to help you and answer any questions

They are:

The HOPE Dealer Project You can contact them by visiting their Facebook Page, or by calling 844-383-4673

Dee Stotelmyer Pierce of The WV Chapter of Biker's Against Heroin

MPD Officer Andrew Garcia with Martinsburg Renew. You can reach out to him on Facebook at

Martinsburg Renew

Justin Ponton from Newness of Life in Huntington, WV has taken in and saved and helped many of our locals here in Berkeley County. The Newness of Life is extending their program to Berkeley County and will soon be opening, The Lazarus House. The Lazarus House opening today will be under the direction of Kevin Bowman. For more information contact:

Justin Ponton 304-972-9901
Kevin Bowman 304-412-0668

Mr. James Boyd advocates a message of #staystopped in our community. You can contact him on Facebook at, James Boyd.

For more resources locally, please visit Local Resources Fighting This Heroin Epidemic

This listing includes many locally who are joining in to help those suffering and the families who love them.

No comments:

What Are Our Issues In Berkeley County/Martinsburg WV? We have no clear solutions!!!!

Besides this heroin epidemic?
We really have no clear solutions to the problem or so it seems on this side of the addiction...

1- The high numbers of Overdose and Preventable Death Our numbers of OD's and OD causing death continue to rise.
Drug use and the disorders that go along with it are still going untreated.

Our town officials and the local media need to stop using the catch phrase, "Dispelling Rumors" when referring to this heroin epidemic here! What rumors? There is no place for the word rumors in the discussion about this heroin epidemic. The numbers we have is data and statistics!!!!

2-We have No Drug Treatment Here We need treatment on demand. When someone is suffering a heart attack or a stroke they go to the hospital. That person will get triaged in the ER, tests are run, they will go to the ICU for further medical care. They are under constant medical supervision 24/7 and will get the best of all medical care. When someone is suffering from heroin addiction and they go to the hospital they get Narcan, often laughed at and put down, called a junkie and later released back to the streets where the cycle of drug abuse continues. When a person is suffering from a heroin addiction they shouldn't have to say they are suicidal and going to kill themselves to get access to a treatment facility. It should be available to them when they need it!

Something is clearly wrong with that!

3-We continue Criminalizing Those Who Are Addicted
We have a judicial system in this country that continues handcuffs instead of help! The intent is that the spiraling addict will "get it together" without any treatment induces harm, it cost money, causes recidivism and is no way solving the real problem.

4-We have No Harm Reduction- No Needle Exchange

5-No Community Awareness but plenty of NIMBY: Not In My Backyard
Mentality

6. Drugged Driving: Drug Driving Is Becoming A Huge Problem in all of WV. The numbers are only increasing. Driving while intoxicated (Alcohol) used to be the biggest problem on the roadways. Now you don't know who may be on the roads under the influence of powerful drugs like heroin.

7. Not only does the "Heroin Highway" go through this town but, Martinsburg's (WV) new nickname is Little Baltimore

8. This epidemic affects everyone. We need more Awareness here. Community Awareness, Youth Awareness and Parent Awareness. We must make people face the reality that the prejudice and injustice in literally killing people and that is data proven!

9. STOP The Stigma relating to heroin abuse. If we had Community Awareness we wouldn't have the stigma here.

10. We need to end the discriminatory practice and policies that often discriminate people with substance abuse problems and those who abuse with a criminal record excluding them from finding suitable jobs, their rights and opportunities. Many of these policies even those who have recovered.

11. We need a Strategic Public Health Awareness Campaign here.

12. More Awareness Is Needed to the problem which involves everyone on the same page, at the same table and in the same room to come up with solutions.

13. We need more youth awareness in our community.

14. More Parental Awareness Needed

15. We need to STOP the silence about this heroin epidemic here. We need to SPEAK the truth about heroin and this epidemic and we need to START the conversation!

It Will Take The Entire Village

If you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem.

In the beginning of all of this- the heroin, the epidemic- many years ago they said cigarettes was non addictive. Then in the late 80's came OxyContin. We were told that too was non addictive. Now weed is being marketed as, non addictive. Haven't we learned yet that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? When will we ever learn?

Some Positive Initiatives Happening in our Community..

The Recovery Resource Center opened. It's located at 400 W. Stephen St in Martinsburg. Kevin Knowles is the Recovery Services Coordinator.

The #wvdayofhope

On Dec. 6, 2016 Martinsburg City Zoning Approved the Detox Center which will be located on Wilson St. in Martinsburg.

Important Upcoming Events

Mark You Calendars:

If your group has an event coming up, please let me know!

Update on Narcan Classes:

Classes will not be held every Friday now. They will now be held the first Friday of the month (starting May 6th) at the Martinsburg health department at 3:00. Whoever wants to attend needs to call the health department and sign up.

The third Friday of the month (starting May 20th) there will be on at 6:00 at Callahan Counseling Services 1020 Winchester Ave. There is no need to sign up for this one.

Callahan Counseling is located at 1020 Winchester Ave in Martinsburg, WV. This class starts at 6 PM. Visit Narcan Training of the Eastern Panhandle for more information

If interested in taking the Narcan Classes please sign up. Lately there has not been a lot of attendance. If this continues it is likely the local classes will stop.

Every Sunday Evening Nar-Anon meeting @ 6PM The group meets at Trinity UM Church on Martin St. in Martinsburg

Find a NA or Recovery Meeting Here in Martinsburg