Many people ask me how they can help support The Jennifer Act. The main thing you can do, as an individual, is contact your State Senators and State Representatives to let them know you support this bill. (See below for detailed instructions)
Also, if you have any ways of bringing media attention to The Jennifer Act - through radio, tv, newspaper, social networking – this is a huge help because it increases the awareness of this cause. If you can spread the word on your facebook pages and have your friends and family do the same, the momentum will be great and widespread.
You can also Sign The Petition – this helps us show the state legislature how important this bill is and how many lives it can spare.
If you want to get in touch with me, Sharon Blair (Author of thejenniferact.com), please call or email me. I am the mother of Jennifer M. Reynolds who died 1/15/2009.
(812) 824-5366 | sharonblair3@gmail.com
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In Indiana
Step 1) Find your State Senator and State Representative for your mailing address by visiting http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup Or by using the built-in plugin below.
Step 2) Write one (1) letter to your State Senator and one (1) letter to your State Representative explaining that you support The Jennifer Act and you want them to support it on your behalf. (You can download and print a template here.)
Step 3) Also, call and email your State Senator and Representative to make sure they keep The Jennifer Act on the top of their mind so they remember to support it.
Sponsor
In Indiana, Senator Vi Simpson is sponsoring the bill, but she needs to hear from all the other State Senators and Representatives in order to get enough support to pass the bill. If you want to contact her:
| Vi Simpson – Indiana State Senator (Sponsor of The Jennifer Act) |
| (800) 382-9467 |
| Indiana State Senate, 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785 |
| s40@iga.in.gov |
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| Mitch Daniels – Governor of Indiana |
| (317) 232-4567 |
| Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797 |
| www.in.gov/gov/2631.htm |
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In Florida
Step 1) Find your State Senator and State Representative for your mailing address by visiting http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/representatives/myrepresentative.aspx Or by using the built-in plugin below.
Step 2) Write one (1) letter to your State Senator and one (1) letter to your State Representative explaining that you support The Jennifer Act and you want them to support it on your behalf. (You can download and print a template here.)
Step 3) Also, call and email your State Senator and Representative to make sure they keep The Jennifer Act on the top of their mind so they remember to support it.
In Florida, Jack Latvala drafted The Jennifer Act in 2010 but could not get the bill heard before Congress because he needed a co-sponsor. So it’s important to let your FL State Senator and Representative know that Jack Latvala is willing to sponsor the bill again but he needs support from others in Congress. Your voice could make a difference in getting this bill passed.
| Jack Latvala – Florida State Senator (Drafted The Jennifer Act) |
| (850) 487-5075 |
| 405 Senate Office Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 |
| latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov |
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In Florida, Darryl Rouson sponsored The Jennifer Act bill in 2009 but the bill was unable to gain enough support to pass. We need to get the other State Senators and State Representatives on board to get this bill passed. To find out more info from Darryl Rouson, you can contact him below.
| Darryl Rouson – Florida State Representative (Sponsored The Jennifer Act) |
| (850) 488-0925 |
| 405 Senate Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 |
| darryl.rouson@myfloridahouse.gov |
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| Rick Scott – Florida Governor |
| (850) 488-7146 |
| Email Rick Scott Here |
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To learn more about The Marchman Act visit>>>
Follow this link to file a Marchman Act in Pinellas County visit>>>
When I read the article in the times I was reading a story about myself. Although my daughter has not died from an overdose I feel she is very close. My wife and I have lost a 27 year old daughter to an excessive speeding driver 2 1/2 years ago that we are still grieving over and still going to court on. So I know you can understand our concerns for our other daughter.
As with Jennifer our daughter started with drugs about 15 years old. We had been through many many counseling and treatment centers. Including Fairwinds in Clearwater and Tampa Crossroads. She has managed to learn how they work and get through them all.
In December ’08 she came to us needing help we allowed her to move back in with us with strict rules. After 3 months of huddling over her searching her room periodically and finding alcohol and oxycodiene and methadone in her room. We took her to The Harbors in New Port Richey where she spent three days. The night we brought her home we found her drinking in her room. I have even made a video of her on drugs and when I showed it to her she stared at it for awhile then blew it off. What makes this even worse she has epilepsy caused by her passing out and fracturing her skull going thru withdrawal.
We have been trying to get someone to keep her under lock and key and help but she is 25 and you cannot stop her from going where she wants when she wants. We keep our bedroom under triple lock and key because that is where we keep our medication which she has stolen before. I caught her trying to break into our bedroom again the other day and brought her back to the Harbor. She did not want to stay and left. She went to a half way house in New Port Richey stayed 2 days and now we have no idea where she is.
I know of several other friends that have almost similiar problems with young adults. Mostly with perscription drugs. If we cannot control our children we need better control of our drugs.
I would like to help in some way in your quest for reform or at least give some support.
I will contact my representative but naturally I wish there was something that could be done now.
We will be filing a missing persons report on her but I do not hold much hope in that.
Yours Truly
Warren Kanarvogel
14704 Boland Ave
Spring Hill, Fl 34610
7272434477
Dear Mr. & mrs. Kanarvogel, Please let me know how your daughter is doing. I sent you an answer to this email a few weeks ago. Did you receive it? I pray things are better. Sincerely, Sharon Blair
I came upon the Newspaper Article about The Jennifer Act when I googled Marchman Act – I am trying to get more information on anything I can possibly do to help my Daughter (27). The Crisis Line told me about the Marchman Act, but if they only keep them 72 hours, how can this possibly help. There is also 3 grandchildren involved, what does the court do about this. How can Grandparents get prequalified? My Grandchildren have enough trama and instability, I don’t want the state to put them in foster care. The father of the 2 youngest is the drug dealer!!!
He goes to these Pain Management Centers and sells these drugs out of the same apt my grandchildren are living in. If I call the police, they will arrest them and take my grandchildren. If I get the Marchman Act on my daughter they might leave my grandchildren with the drug dealer. I don’t know what to do.
Hi Sharon your site is a wonderful thing keep up the good work my thoughts and prayers are with you {give Kate a kiss for me } love sherri
I would like to talk to someone…lost my mother and my brother within a year of eachother my brother being prescribed 12mg of zanax a day. then taking the whole bottle several times, telling his doctor he needs a higher dosage, ME PERSONALLY telling the doctor he was addicted, and the Dr. then upping it to 14mg a day. NO HE DID NOT FLUSH THE WHOLE BOTTLE BECAUSE HE WAS SICK OF TAKING THEM!!!! HE TOOK THEM ALL!!!! HE WAS DROOLING AT THE TABLE LAST NIGHT. MY BROTHER THE PROFESSIONAL BODY BUILDER…EX MOTOCROSS SUPERSTAR. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN YOUR FIGHT!!!
Thank you for contacting me. I am trying to reply to you via email but am trouble making the connection. Please call me so I can get some help for your brother. My no: 727-542-5071
There is help for your brother. Do not give up. I can direct you.
Sharon Blair
In 2002, my 15-year-old son was heavily involved in drugs and alcohol – and gangs. The police were not able to give us any help since he wasn’t breaking any laws, or at least they weren’t catching him. I spent many nights wandering the streets trying to find him, sure he would be dead. The rest of the night I would spend on my knees next to my bed, praying that God would keep him alive until he could get help. Then I made a very desperate decision. I contacted a non-voluntary treatment program and had him “snatched”, handcuffed and taken to a farm deep in the Florida orange groves. He spent a year there, got out, went right back to the lifestyle, but now had the knowledge of where it was going to lead. He asked me to sign permission papers to get him into the Army at 17 years old – and graduates this next February from an elite program – the Special Forces (Green Beret). Don’t ever give up. Do whatever it takes! It cost $1,500 per month for a year, but today my son is a beautiful, full-of-life young man.
Sharon,
I just accidentally erased my email to you so, I am redoing it and it will be a bit shortened. Needless to say, this topic infuriates me so much that I am ready to fight this thing head on in anyway I can!
My son, 23 years old has been dealing with this addicition for a few years now and I’m not sure how to help anymore. A few months back I kicked him out of my home for doing this crap in my house. However, I love him dearly and worry about him daily!
Please let me know what type of letter or other communication will get the most attention of our state representatives as well as anyone else who can help us! I’d like to take this to a whole new level and drive support for a change and help our families and loved ones get back their lives! Maybe we should do some type of “walk” similar to the breast cancer walk to gain attention and raise money for people to get detox! I’m open to come up with ways and engery to make a change!!
It infuriates me that the drug companies, doctors and pharmacies get away with legalized drug dealing while the rest of us suffer with the loss of our loved ones and their lives!
I look forward to hearing from you and finding a way to make a change for us all!
Sincerely,
John
Cell: (727) 743-3864
Dear John,
Thank you for writing to me and sharing about your son’s addiction. I know how hard it is to watch an adult child suffer with addiction. Does he want to get help? I don’t know where your son is located, but there are good treatment programs available to help him. Please check out http://www.nopetaskforce.org- NOPE has hot line numbers and resources to get help for your son in Florida.
I appreciate your idea of a walk for change! We did a recovery walk in September to bring awareness. You can write to Representatives: Fl. Rep. Darryl Rouson in St. Petersburg, Fl. and explain why you support The Jennifer Act bill. You can also write to your local State Senator and Fl. Governor. These all show support and the need for the bill. The Jennifer Act makes vast improvements to the Marchman so that it is a better functioning tool for those who have a loved one addicted or another treatment professional can use it as an intervention tool for a gravely addicted person. There is a fiscal impact to the bill. (providing state facilities that provide treatment will be a challenge). Fl. seems to have a problem in certain counties havng enough bed available for detox for the addicted. Most hospitals don’t provide beds for addicts who need to detox of of their opiate drugs for the full time needed to detox. Thank you for writing. Sharon
Dear Ms. Blair,
I cried when I read your article about your daughter Jennifer, my deepest sympathy and prayers to you and your family.
I have a daughter too, Summer, who is incarcerated at Rockville Correctional Facility, in IN.
I , like you, have fought the battle for 8 years now,for any sort of forced recovery I could find, to no avail. Summer, is an IV METH addict.
I thanked GOD when she was sentenced to 4 years in prison, it may save her life? She got an attempted escape charge for going crazy at a sentence hearing.
She has spent most of her adult life in prison, from all sorts of charges, but never drugs! I finally sleep at night without the fear of her dying or her killing me.
Summer has two children, my Grandchildren, I cannot see. Madison, her 6 year old was just granted adoption by her paternal Grandmother. Summer’s son Cylus, 3, Ive seen two times, the paternal Grandmother has custody of him. The fathers of her cildren, are users also, but gained custody because of Summer’s incarceration.
I am hopefull, finally, because of this treatment Summer is getting in prison, the C.L.I.F.F. program, I’m not sure if you are familiar with it, but it seems magical, the first time I have ever seen any real change in my daughter, like, the DEMON has lifted. I could only hope this program could be used for all of our children, in time, before they kill themselves, others, or lose thier families for life. I have begged the Jugde for years to sentence her to somewhere where she would be safe, and get help, there was no such place, until prison, and CLIFF, some, may not make it there, and I weep for thier loss. Summer may never stop using, it’s yet to be seen, 5 months away to be exact.
I have dreamed of doing what you are achieving, and admire, and thank you, for helping the other families that live this nightmare. GOD BLESS YOU.
I live in Fort Wayne IN, and would love to help in any way possible, please let me know what I can do.
Sincerely,
MICHELLE
Dear Michelle, Thank you for your support of The Jennifer Act- senate Bill No. 22. If you will email me your address, I will send you some postcards that you can mail out and give to your family and friends who want to support The Jennifer Act. You can email me your address at: SharonBlair3@gmail.com
I am askinf everyone to please conatct their local legisltors and also to contact In. Senator Vi Simpson in writing or email with their support. Her email address is: s40@iga.in.gov
Senator Vi Simpson’s address is: 200 W. washington St, Indianapolis, IN.46204
I am glad to hear your daughter, Summer is in a program currently. I pray she will get the treatment and help she so desperately needs. Thank you, Sharon Blair
Sam- Thank you for writing. I sent you an email. Sharon
Sharon,
I as well lost my Son to a drug overdose 09/17/2009. He just turned 25 in July. I know God has a plan for me, but I don’t know yet what that is. That is how I found your website. My Son probably was on some sort of drugs since the age of 13? I tried to do an intervention with him and my family when he was 21 and he said he would get help. He went to a few meetings and that was it. He didn’t have insurance so he couldn’t get any inpatient help. I know he would of went if I could of financed it, but I wasn’t in the position to do that. My issue is that here in Ohio, it’s so hard to get any (in patient) care when you don’t have health insurance. If you do get it in to a hospital in Cleveland, they keep you a week or so and let you out where people are selling heroin and other drugs to these people. When you get into trouble, instead of the police force trying to help them the right way, (by putting them in jail) they ask them to go under cover to “bust” the big guy. That’s just it, nobody cares about the “addict”. My son got into trouble, and the police asked him to “work” for them. Because his girlfriend was driving and they told him she would get arrested as well, he took the offer. My son died three months later, he was so paranoid that people were watching him everywhere he went. Part of it I believe, caused by the guilt of turning in what he thought was a “friend”. My son went the day before he died to a walk in facility to get help, he was so good at lying that they gave him pills for nerves. They did NO blood work. He called me the next day at work saying “just checking in Mom to let you know I’m ok and “im still alive” I was called that night and was told he was dead. About six months before he died, he went to the local hospital complaining of chest pain and feeling depressed. My son also told them at the hospital that they could tell me anything. Why didn’t they tell me what he had in his system? They did blood work, listened to his heart and sent him home with nothing “which is good because that’s what he was there for”.
My son went on 3 different occasions to get help. You can’t help a heroin addict by keeping him out on the streets. So, I agree with what your trying to do but what advise do you have for a person like me. Drug addiction is just like mental illness (in fact my son was diagnosed with bipolar many years ago. I just want to know how to start. I’d like to start something that helps people with drug problems get in patient care (for more than a week or instead of getting them in somewhere they do the methadone clinics, which is another drug that they get addicted to. I’d like to get other mothers together that have lost their children to drugs so we can compare our stories and come up with some good ideas and ways to raise money to open a place like this. I can also put the blame on me for being blind to what was going on but for the last 2 years he wasn’t living with me and he came around rarely. It wasn’t until they put him on house arrest that he moved in with me. That’s when I realized what was really going on. I need to get the mistakes I made out to other parents who enable their children and bail them out of jail. My bad actions and enabling didn’t help my Son. That’s the least I could do for my boy. He was not just a “drug addict” he was my first born Son who had many talents and they were taken away by drugs. Any suggestions to where to start would be appreciated.
Dear Barbara,
I am so sorry to hear that you have lost your son to drug addiction. It is a painful experience to go through and endure. If you have not received counseling or grief support for yourself,, I would like to suggest that to you today. My husband and I attending Griefshare, and it was very helpful and healing. You can find Griefshare in any state in the U.S. Just go to their website at: http://www.Griefshare.org and type in your state and zip code. There are many organizations out there to show support to help those addicted. You can fnd them on my website. NOPE Task Force is a very good organization that offers far reaching services, education, prevention and candle memorial vigils. You can go to their website at: http://www.nopetaskforce.org
Celebrate Recovery is also another way to show your support. Let me know how you are doing. Again, my condolences to you at the loss of your dear and precious son. Sharon Blair
Sharon,
Thank you so much for your support and help pointing me in the right direction.
I did get the help I needed the first three months (intensive) after my Son passed and still attend a group called “The Compassionate Friends. I liked this group because it’s for parents, siblings or grandparents that lost a child “for any reason”, however, I would like to start a group for parents that lost children to a drug addiction.
If you haven’t heard about this group, I would suggest that you get the word out on your site. Again, thanks for your support and I’m sorry that you lost your beautiful daughter to these terrible drugs. We are not alone, and the number of people I know that we’ve lost to these drugs is increasing rapidly!
Hello Barbara, Thank you for your condolences and for reminding me about Compassionate Friends. I have not attended this giref/loss group but I have heard very good things about this organization to support those who have lost loved ones. I will add this to my post for Grief Support. If you want to start up a group for parenst who have lost their kids to substance addiction, check out NOPE Task Force. Their website: http://www.nopetaskforce.org They are a very helpful organization. May God comfort you as you move forward without your precious son. Blessings~ Sharon Blair
Dear Sharon,
Our son died at the age of 26 in 2006 from a methadone overdose. After work he went to a nearby town where he met a “friend”. The friend he met in rehab and was a heroin user. Our son was driven in his own car by his friend and left in a remote area of a parking lot where he was found dead 2 days later. The friend told police he thought our son needed to sleep it off but we are convinced he was already dead when he was left in the parking lot. This happened in New York. The DA didn’t charge the friend even though when he was picked up for questioning he had used hypodermic syringes and no syringe exchange card and admitted he took the left over methadone and threw it in a dumpster which was never recovered. If this so called friend had called 911 or taken our son to a hospital he would be alive today. I am very interested in your efforts and this is a national problem. I read that the police in Palm Beach are after those who are involved with these deaths. We need to make this a national effort and not one of state to state. Please involve me with your efforts as we are very behind in New York with the efforts that are being brought forth. Rep Donna Edwards from Md-4 introduced the Drug Overdose Reduction Act but this is not as strong as what you are proposing in the Jennifer Act. This should be a national effort and I am willing to help the cause. Please include me Connie Christensen
Dear Connie,
My most deepest condolences go out to you at the loss of your precious son. Trust me- I know the pain of losing a child and it is devastating. Thank you so much for writing to me. Please do contact Rep Donna Edwards and share with her my website. I am being connected with people all across the U.S. They tell me the same thing you do. Every state needs a bill like this to help families in a life and death crisis. I did not know when I wrote The Jennifer Act, that I would represent so many families who have lost a child or who are in crisis of substance addiction and need help. God has a plan and I am just a vessel that He uses. I am honored to bring this subject to the forefront. You can share my website with any and all elected officials. Start with your local Senators, Representatives and Office of Drug Control in Washington DC and President Obama. We can’t sit back and do nothing any longer! NOW is the time to write, email, call the elected officials the newspapers and television. I am trying to get on the TODAY Show and GMA to talk about The Jennifer Act and how we need this bill in EVERY state! Thank you and please stay in touch with me. God bless you- Sharon Blair
Contact me for a list of prescription deaths.
Respectfully,
Leroy Jacobs
Email:
leroyjacobs@mail.com
I just want to say how sorry I am about your daughter. I saw you on Dr. Drew’s show on HLN. I love that man. He has tried to help so many people. I just wish it would’ve been possible for him to help my aunt. My aunt died at the tender age of 33 in 1994 to a drug overdose. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and the anormous pain she must have been in. She fought for many years, but unfortunately lost the fight. It is a terrible thing that I wish on no one. I wish everyone could get help before it is too late. I have a daughter now who is 15…I constantly worry. It is a terrible thing. God bless you and your family.
Thank you for your condolences at the loss of Jennifer, our beloved daughter/sister and a mother of an only son. I am sorry that your Aunt has passed away of a drug overdose. It is happening at an alarming rate! I am doing my best to get The Jennifer Act passed in Fl. & IN. and then want to take it federally, so every state has a law to assist those in a life and death crisis of addiction. Blessings, Sharon