Youngstown community invited to 'Walk Against Heroin' on Saturday

YOUNGSTOWN — When hundreds of people converge Saturday to walk a one-mile stretch of Market Street, Nicole Walmsley hopes it will signal a turn in the tide of opioid addiction that has swept across the community.

Walmsley, a recovering heroin addict, organized the first “Walk Against Heroin” in Youngstown, which begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at a Community Corrections Association Inc. unit at 1806 Market St. The walk ends outside the Mahoning County Court Courthouse at 120 Market St. There, participants will hear from several speakers.

“I used to hate living in Youngstown,” said Walmsley, 30, originally from Rootstown, who now lives in Medina. “But I actually feel like I owe my life to that city, because out of all the jails and institutions I’ve been to, CCA in Youngstown was the one that worked for me.”

CCA is a sponsor of the event, which Walmsley says isn’t about making money – participation is free. She’ll be selling T-shirts and bracelets to cover costs and to support Solace of the Valley, a local organization that deals with addiction-related issues.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com