“This addiction is unlike any we’ve seen before, because
it is the only addiction that can begin with legitimate
medical treatment. It is present in every corner of our
country. It cuts across socioeconomic, educational, and
geographic lines. Anyone who thinks they don’t have an
opiate problem in their community in Vermont is kidding
themselves. There is no silver bullet cure, and the margin
of error is very small. Get clean or die. Not die in 20 years;
Risk death every time you use. In very short order, an
opiate addict loses everything.
When we talk about the opiate epidemic, people are over-
whelmed. They think about what a major crisis this is -
and they wonder, ‘What can we do?’
In my experience, the best approach is to work
together locally; at the grass-roots level. We
have to work together to help people in our
community get connected to services and
treatment that can help them on their
journeys toward sobriety.
If you are a parent or grandparent of
someone who is addicted, it’s important
that you know you are not alone and
that there are people who you can talk to.
There are other people going through the
same problems. There are people in
the community that share your struggles
and that can help connect you and
your family to the treatment
that you all may need.
I grew up in Manchester, Vermont, and
I personally understand how the impact of
addiction can really create
issues for families for
generations. My father was
a severe alcoholic for
30 years. I grew up in a
house with the serenity
prayer hanging in every
room, and it was part
46 VERMONT magazine