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...]
Enabling vs Helping a Person With a Substance Use Disorder
It's a difficult fine line for parents of a child suffering with a (SUD) substance use disorder. Defining clear healthy boundaries is necessary for parents and other family members of a loved one with a SUD. Not all whose minds are high-jacked/ impaired by chronic substance use embrace families "being involved" in their care and HIPPA laws make this very difficult. I am seeing an alarming shift in dealing with a person who has a SUD. I was told once by a treatment counselor you can "love an addict to death". I didn't understand it at the time but now I get it. You can get pulled into the vortex of another's addiction and think you are "helping them" but you are enabling them. It's a trial and error method of figuring out what's helping and whats enabling. The line gets blurry when a person is a master at getting what they want, lying or manipulating people (even family). HELPING is doing something for someone that he/she is not capable of doing himself. ENABLING is doing for someone things that he/she could and should be doing himself. --The Jennifer Act www.thejenniferact.com … [Read more...]
My Prayer for “Special Mothers”-By: Sharon Blair
Prayer for Special Mothers Reflection and prayer for all the mothers who have addicted sons and daughters teenagers or adults makes no difference Christian mothers are taught to trust "have faith, don't worry" to do anything else is lacking trust in God Almighty, we hang on then hang on the ankles of our sons and daughters crying tears their feet in desperation we beg and we plead "here we go again" the familiar tape plays over no one understands only a mother who walks the lonely road of fear and dread of lurking danger understands and reads between these lines other mothers will never know what THIS mother lives each day the sons and daughters who succumbed to Satan's lies his deadly whispering call they have names! some even have children! all that is left are pictures and dreams of what could have been what shouldn't be what heartache and pain each day to breathe to these special mothers who tried to set them free who tried to release … [Read more...]
Indiana Senate Concurrent Resolution No.41 (SCR 41) State Senator Eric Bassler
Indiana State Senator Eric Bassler has drafted legislation- Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 41. The Resolution was heard at the Indiana Statehouse in The Senate Chamber on Tuesday, Feb.20, 2018 at 1:30pm and in the House Chamber at 1:45pm. This is located on the 3rd floor, Senate & House side. The public attended and sat on the 4th floor in the Senate gallery to watch (it overlooks the Senate chamber). I was present with State Senator Eric Bassler on the Senate floor to introduce SCR No.41 and present with State Rep. Bob Heaton on the House floor. Here is the vote and actions taken: INDIANA Actions for Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 H 02/22/2018 Representative Davisson added as cosponsor H 02/21/2018 Returned to the Senate H 02/20/2018 First reading: adopted voice vote S 02/20/2018 Referred to the House S 02/20/2018 House sponsor: Representative Heaton S 02/20/2018 First reading: adopted voice vote S 02/20/2018 Authored by Senator Bassler Footer navigation links We must stay diligent in addressing the drug epidemic in Indiana and across the country. We are losing 174 a day to overdose deaths, according to the CDC. These are alarming statistics. Senate Concurrent Resolution 41 was adopted in both the Senate & House Chambers. **Click here to read Senate Concurrent Resolution No .41: SCR NO. 41- Sen. … [Read more...]
The Jennifer Act
The Jennifer Act website has been in operation for 9 years! I took a look back at the first blog posts and through the years. What an awesome journey of grief, sorrow, many prayers, ups & downs, traveling, lobbying, victories, defeats, helping, shedding tears & prayers with families in crisis, working with and meeting state lawmakers & governors, congressmen, legislative assistants, coalition groups, schools, churches, pastors, teachers and students! Jennifer's life has blessed many people and still impacts lives today. I encourage everyone to pray and do what (ministry) your heart leads you to do. Your passion (and brokenness) will bless/encourage someone. God has a plan. -Sharon Blair (Jennifer's Mother) … [Read more...]
State of The Union Address President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump addressed the opioid epidemic at the State of The Union Address. In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug overdoses. 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed against this scourge. My administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need, for those who have been so terribly hurt. The struggle will be long and will be difficult. But as Americans always do, in the end, we will succeed. We will prevail. -- President Trump Thank you Mr. President, for working on the opioid epidemic. Lets work together to save lives. -- Sharon Blair Jennifer Reynolds Mother The Jennifer Act … [Read more...]
FLORIDA- Grandparents Visitation- Jan.19, 2018- Senator Darryl Rouson’s Proposal #64
Friday , January 19th in Tallahassee Can you be there? 301 Senate Office Building Community Room 8:00 A.M. – Noon Let your voices be heard. Focus on the harm to the grandchild at this hearing. CRC Proposal #64 is scheduled to be heard between 8:00 and Noon on Friday, January 19th in Tallahassee - Take Action NowWhile I realize that Family Dynamics can be complicated, it’s perplexing why anyone would put up resistance to allowing grandparents to petition the court on a case by case basis to visit their grandchildren. To my knowledge, and I could be wrong there are no restrictions on others who want to petition the court so why block Florida grandparents? It is borderline discriminatory! This message is not only going out to people in the loop, it’s also going out to every member of the Florida House. As a Florida grandparent, and there are many of us and YES we vote we are calling on Florida House members to make contact with Florida Constitution Revision committee members prior to 1/19 to support Senator Rouson’s proposal # 64: DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Right of Privacy; Section 23 of Article I of the State Constitution to specify that the right of privacy may not be construed to limit a grandparent’s right to seek visitation of his or her grandchildren under certain circumstances. I’m confident that there are many Florida House members who are grandparents, and although you may not think it can happen in your family - it can! You can … [Read more...]
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