[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E114-E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE NATIONAL OPIOID EPIDEMIC
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HON. ANN M. KUSTER
of new hampshire
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in
the Record the personal stories of families from across the country
that have been impacted 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
change in Washington and I am proud to preserve their stories.
Carlton Fredrick Messinger II--Holderness, New Hampshire
On Sunday, September 28, 2014, Carlton's (Carl) family
found out that he had been using heroin on and off for about
a year. They were as shocked and bewildered as any parents
could possibly be. They asked themselves: ``How does a young
adult who is a college graduate and taking advanced classes
in chemistry and biology, getting A's & B's in the classes so
he can apply to dental school use heroin?'' His mother
immediately thought that's not my child, there has to be a
mistake. How did we miss this? How does a functioning member
of society who six months ago started a thriving eBay
business selling vintage transformer toys use heroin? There
were many questions swirling around in her head after being
told about Carl's heroin use. She felt, and still does feel,
at times, that she is in a movie and this has not really
happened to her family. She feels that Carl is out of town
and will be coming back home someday. But then reality hits
and she realizes Carl is never coming home.
Within minutes of being told about Carl using heroin, his
family confronted him. After a lengthy, calm, and rational
discussion, he confessed to using and that he was weaning
himself off of it with Suboxone. Carl told his parents he
wanted their help. The result of that meeting was an
agreement: Carl would immediately enter a detox program, then
enter a treatment facility.
After six phone calls and much frustration, his mother
finally found a detox center that would take Carl. The reason
for her frustration was not that there wasn't a bed available
or that they didn't take their insurance;
[[Page E115]]
the real frustration was his mother was told over and over
again that if they didn't take our insurance, they could not
accept him as a cash-only client. These specific detox
centers had an agreement with insurance companies that they
would accept approved insurance clients only.
Carl's mother finally found The Farnum Center in
Manchester, NH, where Carl could enter as cash paying
inpatient client if their insurance denied the request for
coverage. As expected, their insurance denied the request to
cover detox treatment for drug addiction. His mother was told
that if Carl had an alcohol addiction it would be covered.
She was also told that the insurance companies did not think
you could die from drug detox.
Carl entered The Farnum Center detox program on Wednesday
morning, October 1, 2014. At the end of the six-day inpatient
program, everyone in the facility was convinced that Carl was
going to make it. They made his family feel wonderful about
their son; Carl had stopped using heroin on his own two
months prior and was now detoxing off of suboxone. They also
mentioned how Carl had helped other patients realize they
could be treated for heroin addiction and have a better life.
Before departing, the discharging doctor mentioned that if
Carl was not ready to go right into rehab, he may be able to
stay clean on his own since he had already stopped using
heroin on his own and had previously used suboxone.
In another lengthy, calm, and rational discussion Carl made
a case for not going to a treatment facility. Based on Carl's
request, and the information his family received from the
detox doctors, they ultimately agreed. After he successfully
completed the detox program Carl moved home, and his parents
felt they could monitor his progress adequately. They all
agreed that he would have to stay clean and sober during this
two-week trial period. At the end of the two weeks, Carl
would be drug tested. If he tested positive he would enter
treatment immediately. If at any time after the two week
period Carl tested positive for drugs he would immediately go
to treatment, no discussion. At the end of the two weeks,
Carl took the drug test and passed with flying colors. His
family congratulated him, and hugged him. They truly felt
they had their son back and on the road to recovery.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2014, Carl came down with a bad
upper respiratory infection and was taken to the doctor the
next day. Carl's parents found out later that he never saw
his regular doctor for this visit. He saw a doctor who was
not familiar with Carl's medical history, and had no idea
that he had just come out of detox for heroin addiction. They
also discovered later that Carl's primary care doctor never
wrote in his chart about his heroin addiction, and having
just completed detox. Even though his primary care doctor was
part of the process of getting Carl help.
Carl's parents found out after his death that the doctor
never asked him if he had any alcohol or drug abuse issues
before prescribing a codeine cough syrup for the infection.
They learned that, five years before, the medical center had
removed a template that would cue doctors to ask patients
about substance use disorders prior to prescribing a
narcotic. Carl's mother had a conversation with the CFO of
this medical center, only to be told that, ``Yeah, we don't
do such a good job with this issue. Our clinicians need to be
mindful of these issues.''
When Carl's mother picked up the prescription for Carl, she
was not aware that Cheratussin AC Syrup is a codeine cough
syrup. There were no labels on the bottle stating that this
cough medicine does in fact have codeine, and it can
stimulate drug-seeking behavior. However, buried on the
second page of the patient prescription information sheet it
lists the following: ``Though very--unlikely abnormal, drug-
seeking behavior is possible with this medication.''
The codeine in the cough syrup triggered the need for Carl
to use again. His mother found him dead in his bathroom, with
the syringe still in his hand. The memory of finding him
cold, dead and blue will be something she lives with every
day. ``This is an experience no parent should have to go
through,'' writes Carl's mother.
``Carl died from fentanyl intoxication. There was no heroin
in Carl's system, only fentanyl and codeine from the cough
medicine. As my husband has said: this was the perfect storm.
Unfortunately it took our son's life. Carl never had a chance
to embrace sobriety. I feel some of the people we put our
trust in failed Carl.''
``Carl was an educated, smart, and vital young man who came
from a family who loved him very much. He had his whole life
ahead of him and is sorely missed by his parents, brother,
family, friends and everyone that knew him. We know Carl is
in a better place. Carl will always be in our hearts.''
Tyler Reed--Poteau, Oklahoma
Tyler came into this world on January 27, 1992. Tyler was a
natural fighter, independent and won the hearts of everyone
he met. He excelled in all sports but was most passionate
about baseball until ninth grade when he suddenly lost
interest and quit playing. It was later learned that he had
started experimenting with marijuana and alcohol and as a
result, he started getting into trouble at school. As a
single mother, Tyler's mom found herself at odds with a
strong-willed boy who told her he just wanted ``to have fun
and not be tied down by responsibilities, those will come
soon enough.'' By the time Tyler graduated high school in
2010, he was using marijuana and alcohol almost daily and
experimented with K2, bath salts and Xanax.
Tyler had dreams of becoming a Texas Ranger, but he had
gone too far into his head and couldn't see a way out. He had
gotten in trouble with the law for underage drinking and
possession of marijuana on several occasions. He finally got
his head clear for a while and started working on the road to
pay off his fines. Everything seemed to be falling into
place, but his love for fun and adventure kept him searching
for the next good time.
On many occasions Tyler woke up still wasted, wondering
where his money went. In May 2015 he came to me once again
and said he was tired of the life he was living. He asked his
mother for help. Tyler longed to have a straight mind and
clean life but he just couldn't seem to shake the addiction.
Despite his desire to clean up, he refused to go to an
inpatient facility. As a nurse his mother set an alternative
plan of care in motion and he stayed clean and sober for 29
days, until one day he left and she didn't hear from him for
weeks. When his mother put out a missing person alert he
surfaced just to let her know he was OK; she knew he was
using again.
They talked off and on for a month while he was staying
with a woman known in town to be a meth user. When she was
arrested in August 2015 Tyler came asking for a place to
stay. His mother let him stay under the conditions that he
would get a job and stay drug-free. He did for a while but
quickly reverted back to his partying lifestyle. She
struggled with him and the choices he was making. His mother
didn't know how to handle it.
One of Tyler's friends was found dead in a field from an
overdose of meth, and Tyler was questioned in his death.
Tyler's innocence was later proven, but that didn't curb the
harassment he took from people that still believed he was
guilty. That event shook Tyler and his mother thought he was
on his way to being clean and sober. He seemed ready to
conquer the world.
On February 6, 2016, Tyler went out with some people he
thought he could trust. They drank and smoked pot and when
Tyler passed out one of them shot him in the spine with a
lethal dose of methamphetamines. Tyler was rushed into the
hospital at 3:00 AM on February 7, 2016, with a core
temperature of 108 degrees. The doctors didn't expect him to
make it past the hour, but Tyler lived for 24 days in
critical condition with severe multi-system organ failure. He
was never able to speak a word again but he communicated with
eye and hand movement. Drugs took his life away and his
mother believes he realized that on March 2, 2016, when he
tried to climb out of the hospital bed--it was as if he was
saying, ``I am out of here momma, I'm going home.''
``Tyler lived a short 24 years,'' writes his mother. ``He
had so much more life to live. As I said before, Tyler was a
fighter and very independent, he wasn't going to be taken
care of for the rest of his life. He thought he had control
over his addiction and that he wasn't hurting anyone but
himself. But there are so many of us hurting because his life
ended on March 3, 2016, when he stopped fighting and was set
free from the pain. I hope and pray that sharing his story
will help someone else who is struggling. I have to believe
that his life was not cut short for nothing, that good things
will rise out of this tragedy. Rest, my sweet Tyler, and save
a place for me. I'll be home soon. Until then I will share
your story with whoever will listen!''
Adam Schultz--Sandy, Utah
Adam Schultz was an incredible person, who lost his life to
an accidental heroin overdose on November 24, 2012, after 150
days of being clean. He struggled every day with a substance
use disorder. Adam worked hard on his recovery through
treatment, recovery support, and medication.
Adam was born December 19, 1989, and his family were lucky
enough to bring him home on Christmas Eve. He was their 9 lb.
4 oz. big, baby boy. Adam was always smiling and happy. He
learned to walk at a very young age and his motor was always
running. His family often referred to him as the ``Adam
Bomb.'' At five years old he was diagnosed with ADHD and put
on medication for hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Adam was gifted with his hands. He loved woodworking and
became the handyman around the house. He was computer-
literate and had received his A+ certification as a computer
technician as well. He was regularly called by many with PC
emergencies and were in need of troubleshooting or computer
repairs. Adam never hesitated to help when asked. However,
his true passion was working on cars. At age 13, he bought a
1966 mustang and decided to restore it himself and worked on
it all through high school. He also loved his Mitsubishi
Eclipse and always kept it in tip-top shape.
As a teen, Adam struggled with depression and it was
difficult to find the right treatment. The doctors put him on
multiple medications, which ended up causing seizures. He was
then diagnosed with epilepsy and once the medication was
adjusted the seizures stopped.
Despite all the diagnoses and medications, the one that had
the biggest impact on Adam's life came in 2007, when he was
17 years old. Adam was diagnosed with degenerative disk
disease and given a prescription for OxyContin. This
dangerously addictive
[[Page E116]]
medication quickly became a problem, and Adam was soon
physically dependent, not just for pain but also to function
in his daily life. This was where his addiction began.
In January 2008, at 18 years old, Adam checked himself into
the hospital for being suicidal. He was then diagnosed with
bipolar disorder and an addiction to opiates. He received
counseling, started on bipolar meds, and was put on high
doses of Suboxone to help with his addiction and also relieve
his back pain. But six months later, after another night in
the psych ward, he gave up on that medication and started
using heroin.
``It is absolutely paralyzing to learn that your son has a
substance use disorder,'' writes Adam's mother. ``The stigma
of having a child struggling with addiction caused us to
withdraw rather than seek help. We learned how to live life
with the truth hidden in the back of our hearts. We knew Adam
was more than his addiction, and we desperately wanted our
boy back.''
Adam suffered and struggled for many years; finally, he
found a medication that seemed to work for him. Adam received
injections of Vivitrol for opioid addiction, and his life
started getting back on track. After not using for 13 months,
he relapsed and this time he started injecting heroin. After
a six-month relapse, he set up an appointment to start
receiving his Vivitrol shots again. In early November of that
year, Adam was due for another injection. When he went in for
his appointment, he managed to convince his doctor that he
was ready to ``try'' one month without the shot. His entire
life, Adam hated being on medication; whenever he started
doing better, he insisted he didn't need it any more. So he
stopped taking Vivitrol and scheduled an appointment for
December to be re-evaluated.
Weeks later, Adam totaled his car on his way home from
work. This was just too much and, after 150 days of not using
heroin, Adam relapsed and lost his battle with addiction.
Over 300 people attended his funeral. A woman Adam worked
with told his family that just a few days before, Adam would
have stopped to help someone fix a flat tire; this just goes
to show you that people are more than their addictions.
Andrew Benjamin Smith--Las Vegas, Nevada
Margie Borth's world was forever changed on October 5,
2014, when her husband uttered those words: ``I just received
an email--Andrew is addicted to heroin.'' The news hit like a
baseball bat between the eyes. Suddenly, all of the questions
she'd been struggling with regarding her son were answered:
Why so many car accidents? Why is he so distant? Why does he
get mad and refuse to talk? Why doesn't he have any money?
Still I tried--I tried everything I could possibly think to
do in such a desperate situation. I begged, sobbed, hugged,
listened, scolded, yelled, pleaded--I mothered. I bargained
with Andrew and with God.
But he was just visiting for the weekend and soon he had to
get back to his job. Within two weeks, he was in the hospital
with his first DUI and another wrecked car. He had overdosed
on the streets of Las Vegas while driving. Thank god no one
was hurt. He died just 21 days later, after spending a short
stint in rehab.
When remembering Andrew, the first thing people talk about
is his intellect. He was extremely bright; he thrived in
accelerated programs and graduated from college in three
short years. Many of his friends have said, ``He was the
smartest guy I've ever met.'' Then we remember his razor-
sharp, witty, often self-effacing sense of humor. Andrew was
also inquisitive, a good listener and a loyal friend. He was
polite and people took to liking him immediately.
He was driven and it seemed as though he had the world at
his fingertips. Andrew was confident about his opinions, view
of the world and goals in life. He inspired many people
during his short life. He was well loved by co-workers and a
role-model for new employees at his new position in Las
Vegas. His employer said they had so many plans for Andrew's
future. She told me he always volunteered for extra projects,
never complained and would have given the shirt off his back
to someone in need.
Andrew began experimenting with drugs in high school, but
his addiction to Oxycontin developed in 2009 while he was
attending college in Florida during the Pill Mills--Oxy was
cheap and readily available. Andrew often expressed his
frustration with trying to find people on his intellectual
level; Oxy made him feel more like everyone else. Oxy made
people, life and college feel tolerable. Throughout the
trajectory of his use, he thought he was in control. Even
when he was forced to switch to heroin in 2014, he told a
friend, ``Heroin is not so bad, it's just like Oxy.'' In
August 2014, he took a job promotion in Las Vegas and thought
he could leave heroin behind: ``Mom, I never planned to do
heroin here,'' he said. ``I planned to quit, but I realized I
was an addict when I got to Las Vegas and still had to have
it.'' Even at the very end, when his life really began to
unravel, he still thought he had the upper hand on this drug.
He refused long-term treatment and thought he could return to
work after detox. I spend the last 6 days of his life with
him, he was clean for 19 days before he overdosed. During
that time, he told me what I wanted to hear, ``I don't want
to do heroin again, Mom.'' But he struggled; he was deeply
sad and ashamed of what his life had become. On the surface,
he was a successful corporate executive who appeared to have
everything in check. He had great credit and a 401k. But in
reality, he was a struggling addict who lived for Oxycontin
and ultimately heroin--he was desperate to keep it a secret.
On a Monday afternoon, on November 10, 2014, Andrew handed
me two red roses and said he wanted to go to an AA meeting. I
was so excited that he was finally making progress and
dropped him off at a meeting soon after. An hour later when
he didn't respond to my texts or phone calls, I knew in my
heart what had happened. The hospital called 45 minutes
later. He was found in the bathroom of a Petsmart just down
the street. It was too late to save him. He died alone.
I simply miss my son--he was my only boy and my youngest.
Even though we lived in different cities, he was always
present in my life except for the few times that he distanced
himself due to his drug use. Even then, I knew I'd eventually
get a phone call and a visit. I had hopes of grandchildren
because he talked about becoming a father someday. He wanted
to meet someone educated, maybe a doctor.
What I miss most is what could have been. He talked about
wanting to move to the Pacific Northwest eventually, close to
Portland, OR, where I live. I always thought he would join
us. I miss his open-mindedness and intellect. His willingness
to try new foods, adventures, places, his sense of humor. I
miss our playful banter. I miss every phone call that ended
in, ``I Love You''. Now there is just an enormous void in my
life where he used to be. Sadness and tears are now a part of
my everyday.
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