Cleaning Up The Posts and Corrections

I have been going back over posts here and cleaning them up. It is amazing the errors we can make in grammar, spelling, and punctuation with tears in our eyes. I vow those errors were not made in vain. They were made from all the emotions I went through while typing them. They were made from words that poured from a mothers broken heart.

I apologize if any of these corrected postings are appearing in your email box. I am not spamming I am making much-needed corrections and polishing up posts. I cannot figure out what happened that changed their original post date. 

A Reality of Heroin, Addiction and It's Abuse Is

Last night I found a piece of a post I had started working on back in January and have added to it. It's official I guess. I'm back with this piece.

It was announced recently that heroin and opioid abuse is now the #1 leading cause of death in the United States for persons age 50 and under. This epidemic has surpassed heart disease, diabetes and cancer as the leading cause of death in this country.

The reality is that heroin and it's abuse is preventable and is treatable.

IF everyone can get on the same page.

We are learning that aside from all of the new information that it is affecting every company.  Companies are realizing just how much this has affected their workplace where drug-related injuries have skyrocketed and caused companies billions of dollars in workers compensation.  Companies are experiencing the trend that overdosing on the job seems to be the norm these days.

 It disrupts the daily workflow which can also cost companies a lot of money.

Last week I posted that I am once again working on a few pieces for this blog. I have been contacted by quite a few people. I hadn't realized how much some missed reading here.

While I am working on a few posts coming soon, I thought I would share that we on this side of loving someone with this addiction have always said that addiction to heroin and opioid addiction doesn't discriminate.

Heroin doesn't care if you are rich or poor, it affects both the same.

Heroin does not care if you were prom king or queen, very popular at school, or football jock, or the quiet shy person in school who had few friends.

Heroin doesn't care about your job. It doesn't care if you are a construction worker, banker, CEO police officer, politician or pastor.

Heroin doesn't care that you attend church every Sunday.

Heroin does not care how you vote at the polls. It is neither democrat or republican or any other political party one may be affiliated with.

Heroin does heroin care which gender or race you are.

Heroin is killing everyone and destroying lives. It is tearing at the very threads of the American family and the values of every family in this country alike; rich or poor and young and old.

Sometimes when asked where I stand my response is simple,

I stand on shaky ground where heroin and addiction are concerned. 

If you want to be a part of my blog I certainly welcome all. If you don't wish to, I understand that as well.

© 2018 Gossip Girl

Top 10 Blog Reads of 2016

Here is a listing of the Top 10 most read blog reads for 2016. Readers really responded to the Guest Posts. I want to do more of these in 2017. If you have a story to tell, email me and I'll fit your story in.

Readers also really responded to the human nature stories about

New Years Blogging and Resolutions

Congratulations on

your Recovery

Lately, I've had a few moments when I'm not working to think back over 2016. 2016 gave us words like...

HOPE, healing, recovery, community, new friends.

Boy, what a year 2016 was. I have so much to be thankful for in 2016. The new friends we met. Our sons new life in recovery.

2016 started out with our son relapsed in his addiction to heroin and opiates. As the months clicked by his addiction reaching some times of unknown filled with stress and

Blog Update For the Week

Hi readers to this blog! I'm sorry I haven't been online for a few days. Some of you have sent a few emails to me. I know I normally set something to publish everyday even if it is just the Live Happy Challenges.

My job took a little more of my time away from my blog unexpectedly this week. It's peak season where I work- the busiest time of the year! Over the next month and a few weeks people are gonna be getting in the spirit and getting their 'Santy Claus' groove on ordering their purchases online.

There are only two challenges left in the section on Living Happy in our Careers. The next section of challenges is about Living Happy Dealing With Finances. Personally I'm not real happy on the days the bills come, so I'm hoping this section of challenges has some good info to share.

Our son is still clean and not using today. He is out and about in the community helping groups like the WV Chapter of Bikers Against Heroin make a difference in this town.

He is helping other addicts in need. He is talking to friends and loved ones of addicts helping them understand this addiction.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago that he even speaks another language I am unfamiliar hearing. His message of hope in this addiction, getting clean, recovery and staying clean is like hearing him speak a foreign language!

He is also going to be giving me his story in the near future!

Thank you guys for your continued prayers and for your support reading my blog! I really appreciate the emails of support for this blog. You are amazing!

Problems With Blogger

This post is no doubt going to come off as a venting or a whiny post. I am both-  angry and whiny right now- at Blogger- the program I use to create this blog.

The other day I noticed that all of my links were missing from my side bar. I thought at first maybe it was on my end so I cleared my browser. Nope that wasn't it. WTH!!!

I asked what happened in the help forum and after reading the email from Blogger, the email disappeared as well. Apparently they are working on a gadget. My question is what will happen to all of those links that I spent hundreds of hours on? Will they come back when the problem is solved. Another blogger says that it is highly unlikely. You have got to be kidding me.

Most of those links were put there in the first place to clear up space in my favorites folder so none have been saved. Yes I said some bad words, screamed threw a temper tantrum at the hours and hours of hard work that is lost.

I am unsure how long the repairs will take on that particular gadget in the meantime I will once again be searching for and trying to remember all of those links I had posted.

The Week In Blog: Update

We have about another week left of the Live Happy Challenges Taking The Path To Happy Healthy. The information in the challenges have been great!

I just returned to work in the past couple of weeks. I forgot about all the walking I do daily in my job. I will make a mental note to self to prepare myself for a marathon or maybe I should be out chasing the pokemon.

The week has been great. I am learning new things at work and meeting new people and new friendships. I am still trying to figure out a way to do all the things I need to do yet stay connected with my blog.

This week all of the guest posts are still leading in the most read stories here. I am really excited about that. I want to keep bringing readers the information you are seeking. Many thanks to those who have written a guest interview or post! Many thanks to you guys still reading here. You are amazing! Thank you!

In case you are wondering I am still seeking guest post stories. I would love to share your story here.

Blog Update For This Week

It's been a pretty good week. On Wednesday we went out to the Panda Express to support Dee and the WV Chapter of Bikers Against Heroin on the day of remembering and commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day. Several familiar faces were there as well. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd also came out for this event.

We had a great talk about our children addicted to this powerful drug and about our town and the solutions that are needed here. It is always a pleasure meeting up with Mr. and Mrs. Boyd.

I forgot to take the picture of the flyer on my phone. I hope they included our meal in with their total!

The last couple of weeks have been great! Last week started off with a guest post by local licensed

Guest Blogging Spots

I am seeking the stories from those just like yourself to fill some guest blogging spots.

Has this heroin epidemic affected you personally?

Do you have an addiction story to tell?

Are you recovered? Would you like to share your story?

Have you lost someone you love to addiction?

Are you the parents of someone affected by heroin addiction?

Are you helping in the community? Helping those with addiction problems find recovery?

Are you making your voice known? Are you bringing more awareness to this growing epidemic?

Are you a group or organization hosting an event?

Has this heroin epidemic affected you personally? Do you have a story to tell?

I would love to put your story on my blog.

This requires nothing but telling your story. There are no set word limits. Email your story to me at:

j3llybeanz@gmail.com

Thank You

pic courtesy of Google Images

Blog Update For The Month

So today I thought I would give a blog update. Just in a month the numbers of readers who are reading or researching information here or those just finding this blog through the links have risen.

Still today the keyword used bringing readers is the word, Recovery. Recovery in Martinsburg, WV and Recovery in Berkeley County are also two other keywords typed into google that is bringing people to this blog.

Currently it is getting approximately twenty five subscribers.

The next section of the Live Happy Challenges are about Strong Happy Families. I am really excited about this section of exercises. I'm excited. Although my own children are grown with children of their own I hope they can find some useful information to use in their own experiences with raising their children.

I am trying to organize a bit better in the hopes of having some guest blogging.

I continue to search for the stories of those Gone, But Never Forget Them and to memorialize them so that we forever Speak Their Names.

I continue to seek stories from those in recovery as well as those who continue to recover and battle their addiction.

I've sent some requests out and hopefully soon can bring you these local stories.

I welcome all stories for guest blogging. If you wish to submit please email me at j3llybeanz@gmail.com.

Many thanks to those reading here.

Blog Update For The Past Couple Weeks

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that my blog had taken a jump in the stats- the number of those visiting and reading here.

I decided to investigate is a little further on the keywords being searched. Using the keywords I can see what people are interested in reading or info they are seeking so I can find that info and put links here or write a few stories about what they people are searching for.

Guess what I found? I found that the most entered keyword that people are searching for in Martinsburg, WV and Berkeley County is:

You Are Here

I noticed yesterday that the stats for my blog kind of jumped up a little. If you are new or finding this blog for the first time, and you love someone who loves drugs more you are in the right place.

For those who live locally here in the Panhandle of West Virginia, I have links to resources on the sidebar as well as you can find information at the top to Recovery Groups, Treatment Resources, and to our local Nar-Anon Group.

At the bottom of the blog are links to read other helpful pages, local information on our heroin epidemic here in Berkeley County/Martinsburg, WV and also some videos.

A few weeks ago our Nar-Anon Group gave a Just For Today Challenge. What can I do to find just a little peace, if only just for today?

I am integrating my Just For Today Challenge along with another challenge with the 365 Ways To Live Happy. If you're interested you can read the daily challenges at,

Just For Today

If you do nothing else today, give yourself permission to smile!

Along the way, I share my personal stories about loving a son who uses and abuses heroin. Writing it is my way of letting go of some tears, some anger and all the other emotions associated with having a child who is addicted.

The word 'heroin' became part of our family vocabulary eleven years ago. Not by our choice, but by the choice that one of our children made. For so many years I didn't have the courage to speak out about it. I chose to stay alone because of the stigma of society and those cruel stings.

We just in the last two months was able to accept that our lives had become so unmanageable and say the words, we are powerless over our son's addiction. We did not cause this, we cannot control this, and we sure as heck cannot cure this.

The mother instinct in me wants to control this and fix this and make my child all better again. The reality was accepting I cannot do any of that. Throwing in the towel to admit,

We Are Powerless

Was one of the hardest things to let go of but we had to, just to take back a portion of our lives.

Little by little, we are getting some happiness back into our lives. If you've been here on this side of the addiction you already know the 'insanity' of loving someone using and abusing drugs. Oh, we knew what it was for a lot of years now. We've even called it by its name, heroin. Yet we stayed on that rollercoaster of insanity without letting go and holding onto anger and grudges.

It took a lot of courage to let go spiritually and allow that a higher power could

Restore Some of The Sanity

Back in our lives.

Allowing that to happen meant giving up more control that our child's addiction had over us. But I'm here now. I know that the Higher Power that I trust in all of this will either catch me when I fall or teach me how to fly.

Grab yourself a comfy seat and take off your shoes...

© 2016 Gossip Girl

If You Are Reading This Blog...

If you are reading this blog for the first time please read the About This Blog. I am the mother of an adult son addicted to heroin. My posts here are often candid, and as I've been told brutal. I cannot really share my stories though without sharing the pain all of the ups and downs and roller coaster feelings. I sometimes feel as if I've been run over by a rodeo clown in this. I share it all. Writing is my outlet to just let it all loose and get it all out where my son's heroin addiction is concerned.

Anyone who is going through this knows there are many feelings and emotions dealing with someone we love who is addicted to heroin.

I cannot sugar coat any of my own feelings or emotions and often it shows in my postings.

I want others to know

You Are Not Alone!

Another reason for this blog is that I want to help others just like you. Whether you are struggling with an addiction right now or whether you love someone addicted to heroin.
I wanted this page in order to keep links of resources here in Martinsburg. If you look to your right on the sidebar you will see the archive of many other stories. I have even categorized them in easy to find tabs.

If you wish to get updates, please sign up for the email updates. I apologize that sometimes this page updates about two times per day.

I have a list of community events. If you know of one that isn't listed, please let me know so that I may add it.

You can find a list of local resources. Please look through them. In dealing with my son's addiction I know all too often the resources are out there, but hard to find. If you know of a link not mentioned, please let me know so that I can add it.

We held a

Community Memorial and Vigil

A few weeks ago. It was a success! Many people coming together sharing resources and stories. This was a quiet kind of silent protest to try to gain others attention to the impact that this heroin epidemic is having on many of us. Sometimes we have to show them. We came together and many of us laid candles, pictures, and memorials at the site of the proposed treatment center, only to have them taken within twenty-four hours and removed.

How thoughtless of someone to do that

I think in doing that it has opened up another part of me that I thought rested. It was after that I started the petition. It also led to a post about questions I have. I know many of you probably read that and do not agree. I deal with some pretty pissed off feelings here that go way back many years ago and from my own experience.

I want to share others personal stories of triumphs and struggles. If you are struggling with addiction, if you are free of these chains- I want to share these. Many others stories give others hope. You can remain anonymous if you would like. I respect that.

We have a petition against our city and county council for a much-needed treatment center here in Martinsburg. They know we have an epidemic, they proposed this treatment center many months ago and yet remain stagnant. If you want to read our petition you can find it here:

Petition For The Treatment Center Here in Martinsburg

If you agree, please help us by signing the petition and sharing it.

For giggles, I often tell people that...Blogging is much cheaper than weekly visits to...

"Today is gonna be a changing day"

Oh yes, it is Dr. Phil! Yes, it is!!!! Because I often know before the day is over that someone will have crapped in my Cheerios!!! The End...

What Is This Blog About....

You may be wondering what this blog is about. It is about our community here in Martinsburg and Berkeley County in West Virginia. It is about the growing heroin epidemic here in our community.

The heroin epidemic has been growing in numbers for many years now. It has already taken too many lives. Too many families are suffering watching their loved ones struggle with heroin addiction.

How this came into existence:

Now is the time to wake this county up to the effects that heroin is having on our community. They have heard the cries, the plea's and yet the proposed site of the Rehab and Treatment Center still set there an empty building. It is a time that we show them how much our community needs this. It is time to put faces and names to everyone who has been or is affected by this poison in our community. You are welcome to bring flowers, candles anything you wish to memorialize your loved ones or friends. Maybe if they can see by showing them a public display of our memorials, our cries and plea's to get this Rehab Center here maybe then they will stop the fighting about it, and start making a difference to those of us dealing with this, those who have lost a loved one to heroin, those who are using, those who struggle with this disease each and every day from the effects of heroin. This is a blight on the entire community, not just to those suffering because of a poison called- Heroin.

Martinsburg is the county seat of Berkeley County. We have the highest number of heroin overdoses in the State of West Virginia. We also have the highest number per capita in the state. Those numbers are nothing to be proud of.

In the future, I would love to share your stories here. From triumphs and lows, your loved ones. Stories of success and families with a loved one struggling.

Please be patient. This blog is still early and under construction.

© 2016 Gossip Girl