I recently received a letter from President Trump regarding my work with the Jennifer Act. It is a huge honor to be recognized by him and his administration. … [Read more...]
The JENNIFER ACT MISSION COMES TO A CLOSE- SEPT. 2018 **
Posted July 22, 2018 On Jan. 15, 2009 we lost our beloved daughter, sister, mother and friend, Jennifer (Jen) Marie Reynolds. Jennifer was a loving and caring person, whose life was high jacked by a substance use disorder, which ultimately claimed her young life in Largo, Florida. That tragedy began "THE JENNIFER ACT". This mission work, dedicated in memory of Jennifer, was started to help others who struggle with chronic substance use disorder/addiction find their path to treatment and recovery. I believe God launched me in this purposeful mission to address improving commitment laws and substance prevention. It grew to be so much more than I ever set out to do. I knew God had a plan for Jennifer's life and for mine. I have spent 9 and a half years fulfilling that mission as a ministry to help families in the grips of addiction and share Jennifer's journey with students in many schools to aspire them STOP, PAUSE & THINK before making a decision to use harmful substances that could result in addiction or even death. I have been honored and blessed to know so many wonderful people and students over the years and am so honored that they trusted me as they shared their pain of how addiction touched their families. I am so blessed to know so many friends who have also lost their child to overdose and share our tears and pain. I have united and supported many organizations who address addiction issues. I have lead and participated in many Candle Vigils in memory of … [Read more...]
Addiction & Overdoses Traumatizes Parents
The Washington Post recently published an article on how addiction & overdoses traumatizes the parents who are dealing with a son or daughter suffering with a prolonged, chronic addiction / (SUD) substance use disorder. I completely related to the PTSD symptoms, having lived through the nightmare myself. If I had it to do over again, I most definitely would have reached out for support from PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones) and/or counseling on how to deal with the trauma, fear of death of my child, guilt and isolation. The trauma was painful and overwhelming and no one could seem to understand the depth and huge magnitude of carrying this enormous stress around every waking minute of my life. I also would have gained more information on my legal rights as a grandparent with legal guardianship for my grandson. It was complicating circumstances, because the father of my grandson was/is a "family law attorney". Grandparents & grandchildren alienation is another causality of addiction. It is hard to imagine that innocent victims like this are permanently removed from one another. Where is the "love" in that? Nothing about the nightmare I was living for 13 years was "normal". Normal parents of a "normal family" are not dealing with overdoses, visiting their child incarcerated multiple times, attending court hearings or speaking face to face to with Judges and pleading for help to save their child's life, hiring lawyers, speaking to ER doctors, addiction … [Read more...]
Addiction Rages On in 2018……
In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died to due to drug overdoses. The number of deaths is simply staggering. Hoosiers have been hit particularly hard by the epidemic, as Indiana is one of four states where the overdose rate has more than quadrupled since 1999. Opioid addiction does not discriminate based on income, race, gender, geography, or age. Failure to stop opioid addiction and overdose deaths will allow this epidemic to continue destroying our families and communities....... I have been an "advocate" for substance treatment for those suffering with Substance Use Disorder since 1996 when I discovered my own daughter was suffering with an addiction to opiates. Jennifer suffered for 13 years with an opioid addiction and died as a direct result of her disease of addiction. After her death I have continued advocating (for over 9 years) for improved intervention laws, more treatment services, including providing substance treatment for those incarcerated as a result of their addiction and for those citizens with a SUD. Reflecting over the past 20 years of addressing the opioid crisis and families who are suffering, the epidemic rages on with no end in sight in the USA. Insurance providers do not want to provide behavioral health care coverage (long term residential treatment), the foster care system is overloaded due to a parents addiction resulting in they cannot care for their children, the prisons are overcrowded due to "housing" those who have a substance … [Read more...]
June 11, 2018- “Happy 17th Birthday” Trey
June 11, 2018 Today is a special day. My daughter, Jennifer's son has a birthday today and turns 17 years old. I want to wish my grandson, Trey Andrew Reynolds (birth name) /Yusuf Ahmed best wishes for a very "Happy 17th Birthday". Even though we have not seen you or heard your voice since November 2008, there is not a day that you are not thought of with love and fond memories. I know you are seventeen years old and will be a Senior in high school this August. I know where you attend High School and look forward to attending your graduation in 2019. I hope you did receive your birthday card and all of the birthday and Christmas cards I have mailed you since we last saw you. Your Mother would be very proud of you. She loved you very much and has written a journal to you. I will give you this journal when I see you or you contact me. I also have pictures and other mementos for you. Our family sends you our love, thoughts and prayers. We know all things work together for good to those who love God. We do love God and trust him. Please contact me when you can. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREY! I love you, Grandma … [Read more...]
Timeline of Opioid Addiction in America
Advocating in Washington, D.C. #APFFamilyDay -April 24-25, 2018
A big thank you to Addiction Policy Forum (non profit organization) ( from a parent advocate who lost a child to overdose) for organizing APF Family Day event in Washington, D.C. #APFFamilyDay. This was my 3rd year attending Addiction Policy Forum's event in D.C. Speaking with Congress members (and last year and testifying at a congressional hearing) was eye opening. April 25, 2018- I joined other families and advocated for Federal Legislation: Opioid Crisis Response Act( OCRA) of 2018,Prevent Overdoses while in ER ( POWER), Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC) Act of 2018 We asked our senators to co-sponsor the Opioid Crisis Response Act (OCRA) of 2018. This legislation would enhance research and discovery efforts, support first responders, improve the efficiency of state grants, encourage the use of recovery supports, develop integrated care models to address treatment gaps, and expand the use of telemedicine. Second, we ask our elected officials to co-sponsor the Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms (POWER) Act of 2018, which is in both chambers. This bill would provide emergency departments with the resources and tools needed to develop evidence-based protocols for screening overdose patients, initiate treatment with FDA-approved medications in the hospital, and provide rapid referrals to evidence-based treatment before a patient is discharged. It would also help hospitals develop and implement best practices for care coordination and … [Read more...]
Owen County, Spencer, Indiana- Re-Elect Sheriff Sam Hobbs
The Jennifer Act supports Re-Elect Sheriff Sam Hobbs for Owen County Sheriff. Sheriff Sam Hobbs and his Deputies and I share a unified focus on Drug Prevention & Education and on a partnership of working together for Owen County youth in the Spencer-Owen community. Many in our community may or may not be aware, the CDC reports we have lost 62,000 people to overdoses in 2016. That is 174 a day. More than 90% of people with a substance problem began smoking, drinking, or using other drugs before age 18. These are all very good reasons to have a dialogue with our youth. I want to give public recognition for what the Owen County community is doing to address the ever growing opioid epidemic. The Jennifer Act and Owen County Sheriff Sam Hobbs are strong advocates focusing on drug education in the Owen County Schools for Red Ribbon Week. By volunteering and providing these educational school presentations at OVHS, OVMS, Spencer Elementary, McCormick's Creek Elementary, Gosport Elementary, Patricksburg Elementary Schools, we are bringing education and providing handouts, wrist bands, book markers, water bottles, etc. It is a free public service to our community and by speaking directly with the students on the dangers of drugs, including prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, we learn about our youth in our community, their real life issues and how substance abuse is affecting their families in Owen County. I want to personally thank … [Read more...]
INDIANA- Support for Parents of Addicted Loved Ones- Meeting Locations:
The Jennifer Act Advocacy- March 19, 2018
As a volunteer advocate, my 10 year mission is speaking on the topics of legislation, addiction,treatment, recovery & drug education. This mission is in memory of my daughter, Jennifer. For over 9 years, I've received a lot of comments from people. Many are kind and appreciative and then there are those who disagree with my stance and that's okay. It's part of public advocating. I help everyone I can who contact me for advice, guidance or help. I stay faithful in my convictions and belief in my creator and heavenly Father, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I am pro-life, a conservative and a Republican. I have seen a lot of changes in different approaches to addressing the opioid epidemic and curbing overdose deaths. I lean towards encouraging faith-based treatment as an option to consider. Faith based treatment leads those addicted to the healer who can set them free of their brokenness, spiritually, physically and emotionally. This requires a physical detox, an assessment and a treatment plan. Others don't believe in God or this approach and want "secular" or non-faith based treatment or MAT (medically assisted Treatment) Methadone, suboxone, etc. There is another approach- harm reduction (clean needle exchange) meet the addict where they are, etc. Then there's the buzz "evidence based" "data driven" which is a combo of the above. There is "say "no" to tough love" when dealing with an addicted person and "the war on drugs has failed". We have the "blame the … [Read more...]
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