Burrillville gathers together to fight addiction
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
Some recovering drug addicts came together with state leaders to highlight the crisis of drug addiction in Rhode Island.
The roundtable was held at Burrillville High School, and around 100 people attended.
The small town in the northern part of the state has already experienced six overdose deaths this year. Three recovering addicts returned to their old high school today to share their stories and draw more attention to the problem.
“I picked up drugs at nine years old. By 11 I was smoking pot every day. By 13 I tried free base. By 15 I was smoking crack. By 16–17 I was doing ecstasy,” John, a recovering addict recalled.
There were powerful words from three recovering addicts who all went to Burrillville high school and returned today to speak to their community about the growing and continuing problem of drug and alcohol addiction.
“At 12 at night at a keg party at the power lines on route 7 when the beer is all gone. I couldn’t stop,” John said.
Each person with his or her own story of addiction and like snowflakes, no two stories are the same. United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is co-sponsor of the national comprehensive addiction and recovery act.
He says the stigma behind addiction is shrinking and that he is always moved by the stories he hears.
“Ithink we are getting better about that. We are at this turning point where now people are starting to see, if you have this disease and you can walk that path back to recovery, that is something to celebrate, that is something to be proud of, that’s a great thing,” he said.
Jessica, John and Justin are hoping their stories can help others.
“I am lucky to be alive. I am. I am very lucky to be alive so I have to pay it forward. That’s my duty. That’s how I feel,” Jessica said.
