Local Officials Pool Their Resources, Invite Drug Addicts

Kathy Passafiume is concerned about families—particularly those who aren’t looking for help when a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.

“There’s a lot of lying with addiction,” said Passafiume, the clinical director. “People minimize and normalize and the problems just continue. That’s a shame when there are so many people who really aim to do right and keep kids safe.”

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In March, area law enforcement, mental health, school and government officials in the wake of a . They determined that although a great deal of varied treatments, counseling and programs are available in the area, people who need help aren’t connecting with those treatments.

So on May 2, a Community Link Symposium will be held at Carl Sandburg High School to introduce people to local drug and alcohol support services.

The symposium will include Orland Park police officers, who will talk about modern drug trends and describe heroin’s "new look."

“We have these dated images of people with missing teeth in abandoned homes,” Passafiume said. “But now we’re seeing cheerleaders and student athletes.”

David Lee, who lived through years of drug abuse himself before turning his recovery process into treatment called Intervention Services, will also be present to tell his story.

“He will also talk about why some people are able to just dabble with substances, and others become addicts,” Passafiume said.

Mary Egan, community relations coordinator from Rosecrance Health Network, will go over specific prevention techniques, the best of which is practicing safe and open communication among family members.

“That’s how you best learn what your kids are doing and who they are doing it with,” Passafiume said.

Finally, a panel of people representing the different treatment and counseling options will introduce themselves for about two minutes each. The representatives will later be on hand for one-on-one talks with attendees.

Shame is one of the most common reasons holding people back from seeking treatment for themselves and for loved ones. To accommodate privacy, each organization’s information will be handed out as a printed package to all attendees, Passafiume said.

“The whole point is getting rid of the shame to simply ask for help,” Passafiume said. “There so many options out there, and these helpers have been in the trenches for a long time. They know what to do with all these situations. All we need to do is link the two together.”

If You Go

What: Community Link Symposium

Where: Carl Sandburg High School Gold Gymnasium, 13300 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

When: 7 p.m.  Wednesday, May 2

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