[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1689-E1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE NATIONAL OPIOID EPIDEMIC
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HON. ANN M. KUSTER
of new hampshire
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to include in the Record
today the personal stories of families from across the country that
have been affected by the opioid and heroin epidemic. In the U.S. we
lose 129 lives per day to opioid and heroin overdose. In my home state
of New Hampshire I have learned so many heartbreaking stories of great
people and families who have suffered from the effects of substance use
disorder.
Earlier this year, my colleagues and I were joined by many of these
courageous families who came to Washington to share their stories with
Members of Congress and push for action that will prevent overdoses and
save lives. Since then, we passed both the Comprehensive Addiction and
Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act to provide much needed
funding and critical policy changes to fight this epidemic.
The advocacy of these families truly is so important to leading to
change in Washington and I am proud to preserve their stories.
John Richard Page--Gloucester, Massachusetts
John Richard Page was a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy who
loved playing in the woods and catching any critter that
crossed his path. He was a ball of energy: curious,
adventurous and fast! The kids in the neighborhood called him
``Scrawny Johnny,'' because by the day's end he'd burnt off
every calorie consumed--and some. He could be reckless, too.
One time he bolted across the street without looking and got
bumped by a car. He landed under the bumper just inches from
the tires. Another time John was stuck in a tree hanging
upside down from one boot.
As the teenage years rolled in, John started to get in some
trouble. It seemed like he was always at the wrong place at
the wrong time. He tended to take things to the limit, if he
did something he did it all the way. John and his sister
fought all of the time at this point.
When John and his sister stopped showing up at school, a
Child In Need of Services (CHINS) action was filed and my
mother was told that because she couldn't control her kids
they should be placed elsewhere. John's sister was almost 15
and ended up living in three different foster homes. John,
who was only twelve, was placed in Juvenile Detention Centers
around Boston. John quickly learned how to manipulate the
system; if he got tired of being there or afraid of a
particular social situation, he would act out--say he heard
voices or was suicidal--and they would transfer him to a
mental hospital and put him on medication. The swing between
hospital and detention center went on for about five years.
When John returned home, little by little his family
learned what had happened during his time away. John got in
fights that were so severe that he had to have various MRI's
to ensure that he didn't have a brain injury. He was abused
by the staff. He was treated like a guinea pig at the mental
hospital and put on a variety of powerful medications. John's
experience changed him forever. He came back furious,
distrustful, and reliant upon substances for emotional
relief.
Despite being very bright, John never received his GED and
had trouble getting work. He could fix any vehicle or cell
phone. He could build with wood but preferred intricate
projects that focused on small detail with a lot of parts.
His sister thinks that's what John's mind felt like--a mix of
gears, buttons, wires, sensors, nuts & bolts constantly being
reassembled. He was also a talented artist.
John found peace while camping in the White Mountains in
Lincoln, NH. He also found peace alone in his apartment with
heroin. His sister tried everything she could to help him get
better. At one point in time, when John was being treated
with suboxone, his sister would drive 40 minutes to pick him
up and take him to all of his doctor appointments. Sometimes
John's girlfriend came along and when she did she always sat
up front and answered questions that were directed towards
John. When John's sister asked him why he sat in the back, he
said, ``Heidi, I just didn't want you to see me this way.''
John made some attempts to get better. Once he tried to
check himself into detox but was turned away because he
didn't test positive for heroin. This meant John was
injecting pure fentanyl. John and his girlfriend tried to
detox together by coming to stay with his sister and her boys
after Christmas 2015. She left after one day, but John stayed
for 11 days. John wasn't too sick. His sister bought him an
assortment of comfort medications and looked up a slew of at-
home detox ideas. They went tanning. John got a haircut.
John's sister did his laundry and bought him a new outfit.
Over the course of those days, John apologized often and
spent a lot of time hanging out with his nephews. John's
sister took tons of pictures during his stay--she was running
on hope.
During that time, John found out that his girlfriend of
2\1/2\ years didn't leave just because she wasn't ready to
get better, but also because she was seeing someone else--the
father of his youngest nephew. John was devastated, although
he wouldn't admit it. His sister took him to a court
appointment and then to a doctor's appointment. After those
appointments, John wanted to go home. His sister thought
John's decision was the wrong decision but she couldn't
physically restrain him.
John's sister talked to him on the phone the night John
went home as well as the next night. The following night,
John made plans to see his ex-girlfriend. John's ex-
girlfriend called John's sister at midnight but wasn't making
any sense. John's sister hung up and dialed 911, where she
was transferred to the Marblehead police department who took
her information and told her told she would get a call back.
A minute later, Detective Brendan Finnegan called John's
sister and said six words that haunts her daily: ``I am sorry
for your loss.'' John's sister fell to the floor and couldn't
speak. Her 7 year old son was still awake. He shut off the
oven, grabbed two pot holders and ever so carefully took the
banana bread out of the oven. He placed it on top of the
stove and sat down next to her on the floor, holding my hand.
John's sister misses her brother every single day. On some
days she is angry, on others she is sad. John's mother is
forever broken. John's middle nephew lost his dad the same
way three years before ``Uncle Johnny's'' death. When the
nephew found out, he punched a hole in the bathroom wall,
sobbed uncontrollably, swore, kicked the trash barrel
until it broke and when he was exhausted just cried in his
mother's arms.
John's family has used this awful experience to help teach
and educate others about how serious this problem is. Their
family will never be OK. Losing a loved one has been the
hardest thing John's family has ever experienced. John was 33
years old when he passed away on January 29, 2016.
John M. Perkins, Jr.--Newark, Delaware
John's mother was thrilled when her first child was a boy.
She named him John after his father and grandfather. He was
an adorable, active baby who climbed out of his crib early
and managed to get into everything. That amazing store of
energy never left him; John always pushed to do a little bit
better, run faster, jump higher. He did well in school and
was the life of the party.
When John got to college, a series of stressful events lead
him to begin experimenting with drugs with friends at ``pill
parties'' (various kinds of drugs are tossed into a bowl and
taken at random). He began using opiate pain relievers like
Percocet and Oxycontin.
John and his mother had a close relationship and she was
shocked when she found out that he was addicted to drugs.
``He was smart and had his whole life ahead of him,'' she
said. ``I couldn't believe this was happening to us. I felt
scared and alone.'' Liz spent every waking minute trying to
get him help and educating herself about the disease of
addiction.
During a period of sobriety, John came home one night upset
because someone had hit his parked car. His mother tried to
calm him down, but he was inconsolable and went straight to
his room. When his mother heard his car pulling out of the
driveway minutes later, her stomach sank. The next morning
John said, ``Mom, I fucked up again.'' Despite being furious
and terrified, his mother held him and told him that she
loved him and that he would have to fight addiction for the
rest of his life. She was right there with him.
A few days later, John's mother got a call from John's
girlfriend who was in hysterics. She had come home from work
and found John unconscious on the bathroom floor. She called
911 and an ambulance had taken him to the hospital. Liz and
her husband rushed to the ER but it was too late to say
goodbye. John was on life support for 36 hours before being
pronounced dead on May 5, 2011. He was only 30 years old.
When Liz lost John, her life lost all of its meaning but
her other child and husband helped her to carry on. According
to Liz, losing a child to a drug overdose is made all the
more difficult because the sympathy that most parents receive
after going through such a loss is too often replaced with
judgement, accusations, and silence.
[[Page E1690]]
After losing John, Liz realized she couldn't keep quiet
about her experience. In writing John's obituary, his family
was open about his struggles with addiction. Liz and her
husband played a vital role in the passing of the Good
Samaritan Law in Delaware and continue to tell their story
and fight to end the epidemic. By sharing their experience,
they hope to bring substance abuse into the public
consciousness.
Mark Allen Perrin--Miami, Florida
Mark Allen Perrin was born in Miami, Florida and was raised
in Fort Lauderdale. When he was born, Mark was a beautiful,
curly headed blonde baby boy, with hazel green eyes.
Mark loved movies. He could tell you all of the actors by
name and could imitate their voices and characters. Mark grew
up to become quite a character himself. He had the wit of Jim
Carrey and Robin Williams combined. Mark was also a people
person and could draw anyone in; especially his friends who
would always flock to him.
Mark aspired to be a dancer and he had the moves for it as
well. His mother would always tell him he should be on stage,
but rather as an actor because he could cry on cue, was a
master manipulator, and he had the look for it--every girl
would do a double take when they crossed his path.
On January 19, 2016, Mark died from an accidental heroin
overdose. He was just released from jail five days prior
after being held for 44 days. Mark went into jail with two
oxycodone pills hidden in his boxers. Upon his release he
entered a sober house, and ingested those pills. His mother
received a call on his first night at the sober house,
telling her that she had to go pick Mark up because he tested
positive on his drug test. The next morning she picked Mark
up and took him to the emergency room.
Mark had to appear in court as a result. The judge ordered
mandatory entry into a drug treatment facility, or he would
not be able to have a bail bond. Mark promised to go if his
mother let him come home, take a shower, and spend $25 on
snacks. Instead, he spent $190 on drugs, without her
knowledge. When his mother found out about his drug purchase
with her money, she said, ``Mark, this is the last time you
will steal from me.'' Well, it was the last time.
That night his mother felt Mark leaving this earth. She
called and called, to no answer. Mark was found at 3 p.m. the
next day--face down and stiff in his mother's bathroom.
Josh Powell--East Haven, Connecticut
Josh Powell was an amazing brother, uncle, son, and
husband. He excelled at everything he did. In high school,
Josh was an exceptional athlete and shined in both football
and basketball. He also showed great passion for carpentry
and became a master of the craft.
Josh's struggles began when he first started experimenting
with alcohol and marijuana in high school. His
experimentation continued through his twenties, but later he
managed to straighten himself out. Josh started his own
construction company; which became very successful. Josh was
adored by all his customers and employees. He would always go
out of his way to help anyone in need without any hesitation.
Josh had to undergo surgery and he was prescribed opiates
to help manage the pain. Soon after, his behavior began to
change. Josh became secretive and dismissive--a complete
stranger.
Opioids robbed Kelly of her beloved husband. She watched
Josh disappear into a world of lies, theft, and desperation;
things she didn't think were possible. It broke her heart. On
July 18, 2015, Josh lost his battle with opioid addiction. He
died from intoxication of heroin laced with fentanyl, just 18
months after being prescribed opiates from his surgery. Josh
was 37 years old.
Justin Michael Pratt--Cherry, Illinois
Justin was his family's youngest and only son. He was a
cute, blonde-haired boy who could make you mad one minute and
laugh the next. ``Buddy,'' as he was known to friends and
family, enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, boating, four-wheeling
and bonfires.
On November 11, 2011, Justin died from a heroin overdose.
He was 26 years old when a friend found him dead in his
apartment. Justin had struggled with addiction for over 10
years. He never wanted to talk about how bad it was and
distanced himself from his family when he was actively using.
His mother believes he had an undiagnosed mental illness, as
he often struggled in school and other structured
environments. It was due to this struggle that Justin began
to self medicate--it was his misguided attempt to cope.
One of the saddest aspects about Justin's addiction was how
it eventually turned him into someone he never wanted to
become and whom others didn't want to be around. His family
held onto the hope that Justin would defeat his demons
someday and go on to live a healthy and fulfilling life. On
that fall day when he was found dead, that hope vanished and
his family's life changed forever. Justin is missed every
minute of everyday!
Michael Ragone--Charlotte, North Carolina
Michael Ragone struggled with heroin addiction for over 10
years. He died on January 17, 2016, of an accidental overdose
in his hometown of Charlotte, NC, while visiting from Phoenix
Arizona. He was 30 years old.
Michael loved fishing, football, poker, jokes, his
girlfriend, family and friends. He was hysterically funny--
his sense of humor was sarcastic and edgy. He used to sing
songs in Italian that he had memorized. He could light up a
room with his smile and big personality.
Michael was ashamed of his addiction and always thought he
could beat it on his own. One of his last texts to his mother
was,
``love u 2 Moms . . . Don't let fear control you . . . I
know how bad this sounds but I promise I will not make you
bury me. I'm going to outlive u.''
He didn't mean to leave his family. It was an accident.
Again, he was lured by a cunning drug that destroys impulse
control. Again, he was crushed under the shame and stigma of
being addicted. He used alone and died alone.
James Atticus John-Paul-George & Ringo Ralls--Emmaus, Pennsylvania
On August 17th, 2014, James Atticus John-Paul-George &
Ringo Ralls, died alone in his bedroom of a heroin overdose.
On August 16th, he was alive and making an 18 year old's
plans: to retake the driver's permit test he had failed the
week before, to get a job at the local tavern, and, to find
an affordable music studio to record his rap demo.
Kids in town called him ``Yung G''--short for `Young Gun'
or `Young Ganja.' His reputation for extensive drug use was
well-earned and paid for with numerous overdoses, drug-
related injuries and repeated run-ins with the juvenile court
system.
James' problems began when his father was diagnosed with
cancer and died just two months later in their home. James
was only 10 years old. Their father's death blew the Ralls
family apart; James' older stepbrothers scattered and James
and his mother moved from New York to Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
James didn't have any mental health or juvenile delinquency
issues in New York, but when we moved to Emmaus he was
introduced to marijuana by some older kids in town. At the
age of 12, James became the youngest person ever to be
expelled from the East Penn School District, where his mother
had once graduated with honors. He was caught buying $5 worth
of marijuana for a friend at school.
That same year, James began attending an outpatient drug
and alcohol program and seeing a therapist, as well as a
psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with PTSD, depression,
bipolar disorder (triggered by his depression medication),
anxiety and polysubstance dependence. He was repeatedly
hospitalized overnight for overdoses on various substances.
In the fall of 2011, when James was 15, a sympathetic
probation officer helped his mother strong-arm him into a
treatment center, with the threat of lock-up if he didn't
stay until his counselors felt he was ready to return home.
This turned out to be a miracle. Within four short months,
James went from being immersed in drug culture to someone
committed to recovery. He remained enthusiastically, happily
sober until July 7, 2012, his late father's birthday, when
James was struck in the foot by illegal fireworks that were
being shot off at a pool party. The firework blew up in his
sneaker and caused 2nd and 3rd degree burns. In the ER, James
told the doctors that he had a substance abuse disorder and
begged them not to use fentanyl, for fear of relapse. Despite
this warning, he was forced to take various pain medications
and hypnotic agents while undergoing medical treatment for
his foot injury.
Six weeks after finishing his prescribed round of pain
medications, James began to relapse into the abuse of illicit
substances, which triggered further arrests,
hospitalizations, another week in treatment, which he refused
to stay, and in March of 2013, a synthetic acid overdose that
landed him in the hospital with facial lacerations (from
banging his head against a wall) and a broken collarbone
(from a police officer wrestling him into an ambulance).
Miraculously, James did manage to get sober again, but his
will to fight was depleted and he suffered repeated relapses
until August 16th, when he and a fellow member of Narcotics
Anonymous smoked heroin on the back porch of his mother's
home while she was asleep. When his mother went to wake him
up the next morning, he was gone--dead in his bed. Less than
six months later the other young man died of a heroin
overdose as well. His body was found on the bathroom floor of
a local hotel.
Jennifer Reynolds--Spencer, Indiana
In January 2009, a Pinellas County Deputy showed up at
Sharon Blair's door and delivered the news that her daughter,
Jennifer Reynolds, had died of a drug overdose. Jennifer was
a bright, fun, and loving individual. She enjoyed
cheerleading, speed skating and softball. She was very
creative and artistic. Jennifer enjoyed staying current with
fashion, hair, makeup and nails. She wanted to be a fashion
designer and makeup artist. Jennifer was a delightful sister,
daughter, friend and mother to her only son, Trey. As
Jennifer battled her Substance Use Disorder, her passion
shifted and she desired to help others who were also
struggling with the same disease. She felt it takes one who
has experienced it, to really know what addiction is all
about and help people. Jennifer was very close to her mother
and together, they fought a gallant battle to get to the
other side of her addiction. However, the day of recovery
never came. Sadly, Jennifer died January 15, 2009 in Largo,
Florida.
[[Page E1691]]
Fueled by the pain of her loss and anger over what she felt
was a preventable death, Jennifer's mother has spent the past
seven years working as a social justice advocate and pushing
the Jennifer Act, a bill named after her daughter, that would
empower families to help loved ones who are struggling with
addiction.
Jennifer Reynolds had been struggling with an addiction to
prescription pills for over a decade before her death. Over
the course of that time, Sharon Blair sought the state's help
and filed five different petitions under the Marchman Act,
which allows for the involuntary treatment of substance
abusers for three days. Only one of the petitions was
granted, and 72 hours wasn't enough time to help her
daughter: According to Sharon, ``Jennifer was dying in front
of me.''
Domenic & Vincent Rosa--Seabrook, New Hampshire
Domenic and Vincent Rosa were the oldest of six children.
They were good sons, brothers, cousins and friends. They both
had big hearts and were remarkably compassionate people. They
did mixed martial arts, skateboarded, cooked, played ice
hockey for many years and taught skating clinics to kids who
adored them. They were decent students and most importantly,
they were respectful. They both began battling with substance
abuse at the age of 14. They would manage to be ``good'' for
a while--trying to manage their demons--before falling down
again. Both boys eventually lost the fight.
Their family considers themselves blessed to have known
Domenic and Vincent and are grateful for their short stay
with them. They both gave their family the guidance to help
others.
After losing his two eldest sons, Chucky Rosa vowed to make
a difference through awareness and education. In an effort to
reach those who are suffering from addiction or trying to
help a loved one, he visits schools and treatment centers to
tell his story and educate young audiences about the dangers
of substance abuse. If Chucky can save at least one child by
sharing his experience of loss, strength and hope, it is all
worth it.
Domenic and Vincent were cremated and their family spread
their ashes into the ocean. Now, Chucky wakes up each morning
and takes a dip in the sea, regardless of the weather. He
starts his day with both of them.
Jessica Mary Miller--Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
Jessica Mary Miller died at the age of 31. Jessica
struggled with addiction for 15 years and was also afflicted
with severe mental illness.
Jessica died at the hands of her mentally ill boyfriend.
She had been in the relationship for only five months and
thought she found the ``love'' of her life. Jessica had been
doing much better than she had been in the past, and her
mother was hopeful she may be ready to overcome her struggles
with addiction. But like many women who battle addiction, she
desired a partner who would make her feel worthy and wanted.
It didn't matter what they looked like, how old they were, or
what they provided financially--she just needed assurance
from a romantic relationship.
One night, after Jessica's boyfriend's unemployment check
came in, they got into a fight about how the money was going
to be spent. Her mother only assumes this was the main
argument from the phone call she got from Jessica that night.
After they spoke on the phone at approximately 10 PM, the
police were at Jessica's mother's door at 5 AM to tell her
Jessica had been strangled and was found outside the steps of
her apartment. At first, the police told her mother that
Jessica died by suicide but the boyfriend was later charged
and convicted for murder by strangulation and is now serving
25 years in jail.
Jessica's mother is writing to show that not only drug
overdoses are killing our children, but also the fallout of
both drug use and mental instability. Not only girlfriends or
spouses, but the innocent children who can't fend for
themselves when their parents are so engulfed in their
addiction.
It has been three years since Jessica's death and there
isn't a day that goes by that her mother doesn't think of
her. Many might find this strange, but her mother does not
hate the person who took Jessica's life, as he is just as
sick as Jessica was. They chose to be together and she knew
what he was like, and chose to stay. A mentally healthy
person would not put herself in that position. This was not
Jessica's only bad romantic relationship, they were all bad,
and her addiction drove her from one bad relationship to
another.
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