Addicts, families at Trumbull summit say there is hope

March 23, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

CHAMPION

On Saturday evening, a night of entertainment for most, more than 100 people crowded the lecture hall at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center not for enjoyment, but for support.

They were there to hear about drug and alcohol addiction, the damage left in its wake, and, most importantly, stories of hope.

Most of the audience was composed of families of the addicted and a few addicts.

“My daughter, who is 35, has been a heroin addict since she was 20, and I can’t even tell you where she is right now,” said Bonnie Wilson of Champion, one of the speakers at the event billed as “Hope for Recovery from Addiction.” Wilson said her daughter has been in and out of prison.

“Drug addiction is something we can’t fix,” said Wilson, who wound up adopting her daughter’s child. “Our children have to fix this on their own, [but] God help us — we’re going to keep on trying.”

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, a community project of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, spent more than four months planning the gathering and brought in more than 20 community and private groups that offered information and assistance. ASAP also released its Drug and Crime Prevention Strategic Plan. “We’re spreading hope and giving hope to families,” said Lauren Thorp, ASAP project director.

Marilyn Burns, a clinical counselor from Boardman, shared the agonizing story of losing her son Christopher, who died of a drug overdose in 2007 after a long battle with addiction.

“You always worry about getting that call, and in 2007, I got that call,” she said.

Burns’ struggles are not over. Her surviving son, Jason, also is battling heroin addiction. His drug problems were widely publicized this month after he was discovered with heroin and other drug materials while working as a paralegal for the Warren City Law Department. He eventually resigned from the position. Last night, he was by his mother’s side.

“My son is in recovery, and he has been clean for 90 days,” said Marilyn Burns, to applause from the audience.

Perhaps the most emotional story of hope and recovery came from James Bobco, 33, and his wife Brandi, 31. Both describe themselves as addicts. In 2012 when their son was born in Youngstown with opiates and other drugs in his system, the child was taken away from them and turned over to a foster family.

“That’s when I knew we hit rock bottom,” Brandi said. She and her husband turned to Family Dependency Court, and their rehabilitation has worked.

“Since I’ve made that choice, I’ve never looked back,” she said through tears. “I’m sober and have my children.” She brought her son, now 2 years old, on stage.

“I’m 750 days sober, and that’s 18,000 hours,” said her husband to loud applause and a standing ovation from the audience.