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SOLACE founder Jo Anna Krohn addresses the audience at an Opiate Summit on April 5 in Columbus.
And what a year it's been.
Since SOLACE was formed, Scioto County's problem with prescription drug abuse has gone from the shadows to one of the state's hottest topics.
Last year, former Gov. Ted Strickland declared a "war on pill mills." In his first State of the State address, current Gov. John Kasich said that "the devil had been running rampant in Scioto County" but the cavalry had finally arrived. State Rep. Dr. Terry Johnson's first piece of legislation was aimed at crippling the problem. There have been dozens of pill mill protests and SOLACE has been asked to speak at events across the state.
Yet despite all of the attention their cause has received, SOLACE founder Jo Anna Krohn said the highlight of the last year was something that happened a little closer to home.
"Everything is so overwhelming, but the one thing that kind of stands out in my mind is when we received the American Red Cross Community Heroes Award," Krohn said. "That just showed me that people right here in this area, in our own community, recognize that drugs are a problem ... To me, that's as important as all the big things that are happening."
Krohn said she's surprised by how much SOLACE has accomplished, and notes that they're showing no signs of slowing.
SOLACE members were interviewed as part of A&E's special, "Intervention In-Depth: Hillbilly Heroine." They were also featured in an article in Men's Health Magazine and have appeared in television interviews numerous times.
Krohn said that during one television appearance, WSAZ's Randy Yohe said that her son, Wesley Workman, was fast becoming a national symbol in the fight against addiction. Workman lost his life as the result of prescription drug abuse.
"I thought, 'Wesley is a national symbol?'" Krohn recalled. "'How absolutely proud would he be that he's saving lives. He's making a difference from beyond.'"
Krohn has told her son's story to numerous groups, including those who are following a path similar to the one that led to his death.
"He went through drug courts. He was on probation. He didn't take it serious, he didn't do what he needed to do and the end result was his death," Krohn said. "I think it shakes them up a little bit. It shakes up their parents and hopefully there'll be a much higher success rate (because of it)."
Increasing success rates and saving lives has always been the top goal for SOLACE, and they're now trying to accomplish that in a variety of ways.
Krohn said the group is in the process of becoming a non-profit corporation, which will allow them to apply for grants and accept donations. They're also — with the help of Attorney General Mike DeWine — working to form SOLACE groups in other counties throughout the state.
One of SOLACE's greatest contributions to the fight against addiction, however, has been the way they've inspired people to speak out.
"A lot of people in the group said they were ashamed their child died because of drugs. They thought it was something shameful that they didn't want people to know," Krohn said. "But then, just to come to the group and listen to everybody, it was like a freedom for them."
Their willingness to stand up has others speaking up as well, but Krohn knows that the work is far from finished.
"I still talk to some people now and then when I meet them who say they weren't aware of the drug problem being as big as it is in our community," Krohn said. "I don't know how they escape from the knowledge of it, but everybody needs to be on board with us and with the Rx Action Team before it affects them."
ERIC KEPHAS can be reached at (740) 353-3101 ext. 234 or ekephas@heartlandpublications.com
Note our paragraph below "The Article on the FED's honoring..............."
It was that article that "swept under the rug" SOLACE, taking all the accolades and praise by the FED's for the health dept, the PPD, and the County Sheriff's, (a photo opt?) not the SOLACE group and its good work.
It's recalled that the two articles were done by two different reporters, one frequently reports and the other an occasional reporter and thereby not tied together, etc.?
Like was said, we did not put that into an email, we do that to be able to access the articles later like for situations like this, when you can't get it from the PDT's. And that article has been dropped off of the PDT's News list, so it's not available to accurately refer to it, etc. for you.
So, this article on SOLACE is right on it, however that other article, not now accessible, gave all the praise and glory or whatever to The Sheriff's, the PPD, and the nurse not even mentioning SOLACE.
And in fact, that article attributed ah, outreach and support to the "victims" to those three getting honored by the U.S Attorney in that other article, not SOlACE, in fact it's recalled that that that article did not even mention SOLACE?
That's what was so outrageous, etc? Hence, Mr. Clark and his staff was addressed.
Perhaps, when "they" put out that article praising the "authorities" not mentioning SOLACE then they ran this article on SOLACE? Who can figure the PDT"s out? Sorry.
Has it been a year, already?
Outrageous? farce?
Was there a mix up, bringing this reality into an article?
It almost sounds like you are saying that this drug epidemic should be swept under the rug, our citizens kept in the dark about what is destroying our families, and that no one should try to stop the clinics that pass out pills to anyone who walks in the door with cash. Did you not read what SOLACE is about -
"Increasing success rates and saving lives" has always been the top goal for SOLACE, and they're now trying to accomplish that in a variety of ways. There are many good people in our community that are trying to rid this town of its drug problems and it sounds like you are against them doing so. That is a shame. I hope you find your doggie.
Mr. Clark, your product has what's called Cognitive Dissonance. A common occurrence in Scioto County, it seems.
The article on the FED's honoring Ms Lissa, Chief Horner and Sheriff Hall left out the meat and here's the meat and this article covers that, what a farce. Cognitive Dissonance....
Was there a mix up, bringing this reality into an article?
Oh, where, oh where has our little doggies gone?