Guest Post: Change Takes Courage- You Are Worth It.

Today I have a very special guest post by the ladies at The Hope Dealer Project.

You are gazing in the mirror and this time you actually "see" yourself, you know what I mean....when you feel like you've had a sudden wake-up call as to the choices you've been making are not the best ones for the life you want to live. Only you know that answer. Our purpose is to help you know yourself & trust yourself.

So, you realize as you see yourself that life in all of its beautiful & messy glory is not adding up to be the life that your soul so deeply longs for then…you're in for a quest...we ask that you dare to Hope!

If you've been the person who looks around and thinks "Is this it? Is this all

The Hope Dealer Project

Locally we have two ladies in our community who do so much for others- for families in our community of active users, for anyone using and abusing who is ready to get the help they need and for those like us- the family of someone using and abusing heroin and other drugs.

They do not get the recognition that they so deserve.

Not only do they go above and beyond helping families and active users in the community but together they co-chair our local Nar Anon group and make it possible for us to meet each Sunday.
So, today I am highlighting and featuring a small local non profit organization called,

The Hope Dealer Project

"This group was born to bring hope, strength and healing to addicts and family members. 

Once a parent becomes aware that their beautiful child is an addict... hopefully, we will learn the truth about the impending situation sooner rather than later. Here are some truths that I have learned: 

Parents are enablers. We enable in ways we do not recognize such as handing out cash for "gas" or "food" when in fact, this money is inadvertently used for "drugs" T

his is something you will learn when dealing with an addict.  They are the best story tellers ever! They can make us believe outlandish stories which we would not believe from someone else, but these are our children, our husbands, our wives. They are people we love, how can we not believe them? 

We learn to do things differently in order to support them without enabling them. It's definitely not easy and it hurts!  But it can be done. We did not cause the addiction. We cannot control the addiction and we cannot cure the addiction. All we can do is educate ourselves, get support for ourselves and learn ways to BREATHE as we make it through each day loving our addicts. 

When we begin the terrible journey of turmoil and horrific consequences that the life of an addict involves, we are forced to learn and try to understand. It is only then that we are able to empathize with the addict while making sure that we take the time to "save ourselves"  

One thing is for sure, life as we knew it will never be the same, but with God's grace we can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

As parents, we will do ANYTHING to take away the pain and smooth the road for our loved ones, but we must be aware of certain truths because even as we struggle against the truth, we find that we're we are powerless.  By accepting the truth, we can begin to help the addict by helping ourselves. Feel free to reach out."

Message us Today!
Don't Be Alone!
Sending you much love and understanding.

To get more information call The Hope Dealer Project at 844-383-4673

You can find them on Facebook at The Hope Dealer Project

© 2016 The Hope Dealer Project

Guest Post: The People For A Better Berkeley County

Community Awareness is one very important solution for fighting this heroin epidemic here in Martinsburg and Berkeley County. Community Anti Drug Coalitions are very important. Today I have the honor of bringing you a special guest interview with Steven Grant who heads a local group here in Berkeley County, The People For A Better Berkeley County.

I first heard about this group last week when they gathered and assembled in protest to say,

A Meetup: The Gateway To The Heroin Highway

Mr. James Boyd a local advocate against this heroin epidemic here in Martinsburg, West Virginia will be hosting an event here in Martinsburg on Saturday September 17th at 2:30 PM. This event will take place on the overpass to I-81 at the King St. Bridge. This bridge overlooks what has been dubbed as the Heroin Highway here in Berkeley County and Martinsburg, West Virginia.

James is requesting that all who can attend please come out and show support.

James says:

Guest Post: Addiction and Relationships

Today I have a special guest post by one of our local counselors here in Martinsburg, WV, Debbie Maiorano. For several weeks I have noticed some key words being searched on my blog relating to heroin, relationships, addiction and intimacy. I reached out to Debbie asking if she could help me as I am not a professional in that area of expertise and she agreed to a guest post.

Cindy asked if I would be interested in writing something on addictions and relationships. Well sure, I’d be honored!  

When I started to think about where to start and what to say I was overwhelmed at all the different aspects that could be addressed. But over the years of working with

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

Never Forget Them: Tiffany's Story

Today is a posting of Gone, But Never Forgotten. This is Tiffany's Story through the eyes of her mother, Kathy. She writes:

My world turned upside down in 2011, when my 20 yr old daughter admitted to being addicted to heroin. She was in college and had planned to work in the medical field. For fear that her dream and goal in life would be shattered, she asked me to help her, but not to tell anyone. 
She explained to me that she had experimented with heroin in 2010, but was able to stop on her own.  Not everyone is that lucky. She became pregnant with my granddaughter, and tried to do everything just right. She ate healthy, went to all her doctor appointments, and so on. She had a hard delivery and we had quite a scare with the baby. 

When they were released from the hospital, I picked them up and took them home to start their new life.  In the next few weeks, she asked me to help her with the baby, as she was nervous being a