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March against heroin highlights struggles of epidemic
Hundreds march in Niles against Valley’s drug epidemic
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
Those attending marches against heroin such as Saturday’s event in Niles have stories to tell, and all of them are tragic.
They serve as graphic reminders of the severity of the heroin epidemic in the Mahoning Valley, which is why more of these rallies are taking place.
“They found my daughter’s body dumped on the side of a road in Warren,” said Amy Jo Giovannone of Mecca, speaking of the heroin-overdose death of her 23-year old daughter Sierra in June 2014. “She was a good person, and at no time was I ever ashamed of my daughter.”
A group of 15 family members and friends showed up to remember Tom Myers of Alliance. All wore distinctive purple and white T-shirts emblazoned with “Heroin broke my heart” on the front, Myers name on the back and the slogan “It’s time to take a stand.” Myers was 39.
“He was addicted for six months, and I didn’t know,” said Jamie Fletcher of Alliance, Myers’ sister. Several family members wore a button picturing Myers looking healthy and happy.
“I lost my older brother to heroin last March,” said Renee Zumerling of Cortland. “I’ve come here because we need to create awareness and help people.”
An estimated 275 gathered near the city’s bike
path to tell their stories, share their mutual grief and march through downtown escorted by police. They shouted “not one more” and “I hate heroin” as they walked along North Main Street.
Erica Clay of Niles, one of the event organizers, has been in recovery and clean for seven years. Her heroin addiction, she said, cost her custody of two of her four children.
“I was 13 when I lost a friend to heroin, and since then, I would say 70 people I’ve known have died from heroin overdoses, most of them from Niles,” said Clay, who is 31.
“We have lost the war on drugs, and we can’t incarcerate our way out of this,” said Hope Lourinoff-Moran, Mahoning County coordinator of I C.A.N (Change Addiction Now), a support group.
Statistically, it may be difficult to argue. Clay and her event co-organizer, Samantha Hird of Niles, spoke of “58 confirmed deaths in Trumbull County from heroin overdoses this year.” Another I C.A.N. representative quoted the Ohio Board of Health as reporting that Ohio leads the nation in fatal overdoses from heroin and other opiates.
An inflammatory missive on one woman’s T-shirt, “kill your local heroin dealer,” may represent a shared rage at drug dealers and feelings of helplessness, but the sentiment was isolated in comparison with the many statements of hope for addicts and families. To buttress the point, several support agencies set up tables for those seeking help.
“There is an answer out there,” said Lori Gregory, a Niles native now living in Florida who lost a son to drug addiction three years ago. Gregory said her life can be an example.
“I’ve been 17 years sober from alcohol and drugs,” she said.
Giovannone, displaying a picture of her late daughter, told the walkers to not allow drug addiction and loss to defeat them.
“Turn your pain into something positive,” she said to loud applause.