PITTSTON — Dozens of people filled the John P. Cosgrove Community Room at the Pittston Library Wednesday night to learn about the prevalence of substance abuse in Wyoming Valley and to explore possible solutions.
Among those participating were parents seeking answers for adult children prone to relapse, local officials and staff members of eight organizations focused on the problem of addiction.
The Substance Abuse Awareness Forum was the brainchild of Luzerne County Council member Matt Vough and Dupont councilman Bob Price, who realized years ago that substance abuse is a problem in their communities.
Both men think a robust dialogue about the topic will result in a better understanding of the problem, reducing stigma and providing a way to explore solutions.
Darlene Magalinski, president of Recovery Communities of Luzerne County and in recovery herself, said she was encouraged that a county council member is interested in helping those struggling with substance abuse.
“We’ve never had a county council member focused on recovery before,” she said.
But something else that very much impressed Magdalinski — sitting beside Vough on a panel that provided information and took questions at the event was his father Luzerne County President Judge Michael T. Vough.
Magdalinski said it reflected the importance of passing down a commitment to community and for families to address issues together.
“I bet years ago, they had some discussions over the dinner table,” she said.
Magdalinski was also impressed with Judge Vough’s presentation when he admitted that sometimes decisions are difficult.
At times, when he sends defendants to jail, Vough believes he is saving their lives for at least one more day, .
He also made a distinction between sentencing drug dealers and drug users.
Drug dealers are making money at the expense of others, he said, and deserve heavy duty sentences.
Drug users, he said, are often committing crimes because they are so addicted they just need one more fix. The criminal justice system can serve as a means of encouraging those addicted to drugs to get into treatment.
Probation and parole, he said, can provide opportunity to ensure those mandated to treatment comply with its terms.
Personal stories
Many of those who spoke from the podium at the event also shared personal stories.
Nancy Shaul, of the Huntington Creek Recovery Center, had been sober for several years when she learned she had severe liver damage.
Several doctors told her there was no hope and, at one point, she believed she would die.
But at an AA meeting one night, someone reminded her to pray for God’s will.
So, she started praying for God’s will, again and again.
But it seemed like things had gone from bad to worse and one Friday morning, she told her husband, “It’s time.”
Shaul said just hours after accepting that she would die, a donor became available and, within a week, she had a new liver and was out of the hospital.
Even though it was not directly disclosed to her, she eventually found out her liver had been donated by a 14-year-old name Will.
Shaul felt she truly had been blessed by “God’s Will” and had made her way through that difficult period by clinging to her sobriety.
She emphasized the importance of fellowship and spirituality in maintaining sobriety, which she has done for over 12 years.
Carol Coolbaugh, founder of GRASP – Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing, said after her son Erik died from an overdose, she had trouble finding support.
Other parents who lost children to various diseases didn’t understand what it is like to lose a child who might have also struggled with strained family relationships and the court systems.
Finding other parents who understood the somewhat unique challenges of losing a child to an overdose provided Coolbaugh with a reason to go on and a vehicle for helping others.
Coolbaugh is now involved with a number of organizations that assist those who struggle with substance abuse and their families.
She is also an advocate of dispensing Narcan to as many people as possible. The opioid-reversal drug, she said, saves lives. Coolbaugh had Narcan available at the event and provided a brief training to those who received a two-dose package.
Multiple modes of treatment
Mary Butera, of Clean Slate, spoke about her own road to recovery and her current job as a support specialist at Clean Slate.
The organization offers medically assisted treatment which includes suboxone and vivitrol.
Butera said, in addition to providing these medications which make long-term success possible for those struggling with recovery, the agency also puts clients in contact with other resources.
Those new to recovery have multiple needs and Butera said she is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure they have what they need — whether that be food or items for a newborn.
“I’m willing to beg,” she said, laughing.
From twelve-step organizations that support abstinence from all mood-altering substances to agencies that provide medical assisted treatment, including methadone and suboxone, the goal seemed to be supporting those struggling with addictions in leading productive lives filled with quality relationships.
Price and Vough plan to continue their efforts to educate people about substance abuse and reduce the stigma associated with it.
“We’re already planning the next forum,” Price said.
