On Wednesday, August 29 the Heroin Kills organization will host a symposium of various recovery experts and law enforcement to inform and advise the community. Details are below. I hope this event is so jam-packed that you can barely get in the door and here’s why: If your kid isn’t on dope he or she knows someone who is. This epidemic in Santa Clarita affects all of us, not just those who are currently using or recovering.
Addiction is so pervasive in our society today that it’s a guarantee you know someone who is affected by it. You may think since you don’t know anyone directly there is no benefit to you being educated on this issue but there is. At some point you are very likely to be in a position where someone you know turns to you for advice or help, asking who or where to turn to because they, or someone they and you know, needs help. And if they don’t get it they could very likely die.
“I want him to live on the street and eat garbage! Maybe then he’ll learn!”
This is what a family member said to me about her 19 year-old heroin addicted nephew. I cannot imagine the scenario where I would wish the humiliating experience of homelessness on another person. Is this considered a form of treatment? Would we recommend this for someone with OCD or bi-polar? Yet, the current mentality toward addicts is to throw them on the street or lock them into residential treatment before they’re ready and then we’re all surprised when they emerge months later, facing the same daily challenges of everyday life and relapse.
There are options people, lots of options. Please come to the Heroin Kills symposium, meet me and other dedicated families and recovery experts. Get informed. Get involved. Let’s be the village and raise our kids and intervene on this epidemic that has been ravaging our youth for almost five years now.
In May of this year I was privileged to give the keynote speech at the Families Anonymous World Convention and I will be making some of the points of that speech available at the symposium as well as preparing to offer a series of workshops, seminars and lectures on the subject of addiction, alcoholism and the science of changing any and all behavior.
“Heroin Kills… a year later” will be Wednesday, August 29 at the Santa Clarita Activities Center, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway in Santa Clarita, and begins at 6 p.m. with the Resource Fair. The program begins at 7 p.m.
Scott Spackey is a California Registered Addiction Specialist, Interventionist, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Life-Coach. For more information, please call 661-299-1966, email: Scott@Life-Mind.com and visit www.life-mind.com.