By Betty Gandee

We all have that one friend, family member, or know of someone who suffers from drug addiction in our community.

It is a sad thing to sit and watch as this epidemic continues to tear families apart, and turn people we were once close to into people we don’t recognize anymore. There are a few individuals in Clay that are trying to combat this epidemic and take back the community.

Cheryl White co-held a drug awareness meeting at Bethel church in Ovapa on May 11, where she says the presenter made some good points. The poppy flower was first used, that then turned into the use of Opium, Heroine, Morphine, and Fentanyl.  These were considered the natural killers. Big Pharma came in and started to manufacture the drugs we see today with the same chemicals found in the natural killers. The chemicals in these drugs are highly addictive as it provides a “shortcut” to the brains nucleus accumbens (pleasure center).

Some ways to help spread the word for help was brought up.  Door to door canvassing to connect with these families was an option.  Mrs. White brought up some ideas of her own, she believes that if Clay County had a recovery center that a big difference could be made, and more addicts would stay clean. “I prefer to fight Big Pharma, get money to pay our jail bill and a new prosecutor so we can get these problems off our streets and addicts into the care they need.  As well as getting counseling for the families and children.”

One community member, Savannah Moore, says that her motivation to get and stay clean was to better her and her children’s lives. Savannah and Josh Varney have recently started an Addicts Anonymous meeting. “Josh and I are both recovering addicts who really want to help others and give back to the community.” They want to invite anyone that would like to come to these meetings, even if they are not currently in a recovery program. Stressing that it’s all anonymous and that it could be the first step in the right direction for a sober, happy life.  Meetings are every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Clay County Lions Club.