The Hamburg Strand hosted “A Mother’s Voice: One to Remember,” a presentation aimed to raise awareness about addiction on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The event, one of a series, featured mother Diane Shepler who shared the story of her son, Tyler, and his battle with addiction until his passing in 2012.
“Tyler was an amazing, talented young man,” said Shepler. “We started to see a change in him around his senior year. He was irritable and quick to anger. When my father passed, it got much worse and rapidly. We tried so many things to help him, and we always got every answer from the professionals except drug addiction.”
Shepler walked the audience through a journey of deep sorrow, mixed with moments of great hope and joy. She shared the ups and downs of taking her son to multiple treatment centers, helping to pick him up after relapses and learning about addiction. She shared the pain of having to let her son go, both during his addiction and after his untimely death on December 13, 2012.
“To those of you in the audience who have children struggling with addiction, I implore you to please find the gratitude that exists in every day,” said Shepler. “Every day your child is alive is a day of hope.”
Since her son’s death, Shepler has been speaking out and raising awareness about addiction through “Shine the Light,” a cause started in Tyler’s honor.
“We must speak out, spread the truth,” said Shepler. “This is a subject that has been in the dark for far too long, and the more that we share, the less the stigma exists.”
Shepler ended her presentation with a “fallen warriors” slideshow of photos to honor other people who have lost their battles with addiction.
A panel discussion followed and included Diane Shepler, as well as four others: Person in Long-Term Recovery Josh Holland, Tiffani Jones-Montgomery of the Council on Chemical Abuse, Pasquale Leporace of the Berks County District Attorney’s Office and Christopher O’Reilly from Caron Treatment Centers.
The audience was encouraged to ask questions. Among the many topics discussed were resources for parents, prescription medication as a gateway, legislation and recovery.
Person in Long-Term Recovery Josh Holland shared his personal experience with the audience.
“I don’t do it alone, ever,” said Holland. “I have to adapt my life to my recovery. I have been clean for 22 months, but I also say I am just clean today, because that’s all I really have.”
Holland also shared the importance of raising awareness.
“A lot of people don’t know about recovery,” he said. “It all starts right here, with talking about this disease.”
Another issue of interest for the audience was the efforts of our law enforcement to aid in addiction awareness and drug abuse prevention.
Pasquale Leporace spoke on the topic.
“We implement a three phase approach,” explained Leporace. “Education prevention, treatment and enforcement.”
Leporace also announced that Governor Corbett recently signed a bill known as the Good Samaritan Act that will go into effect in 60 days. The act legally protects those who are present with overdose victims and choose to call the police or ambulance for assistance.
The last question presented to the panel came from an audience member concerned about the welfare of our children and students who are being exposed to drug and alcohol abuse at a young age.
“The best we can do is stay aware of our children, where they are and who they are with, and to be aware of any changes,” said Tiffani Jones-Montgomery. “Be involved with your kids, and don’t be afraid to talk to them.”
Jones-Montgomery helps run education prevention programs for young students through the Council on Chemical Abuse.
The panel discussion closed out around 8 p.m. and guests stayed to talk and thank Shepler and the panel for their efforts.
“A Mother’s Voice: One to Remember” will be presented again on Nov. 3 at the Boyertown Multi-Services Center and on Nov. 12 at Berks Catholic High School.
The presentations are sponsored through the Council on Chemical Abuse in partnership with the Berks County Intermediate Unit, “Shine the Light” and the Berks County Probation/Parole and District Attorney’s offices.
For more information, or to save a seat for the next presentation, visit www.councilonchemicalabuse.org/mother.html
