Between 150 and 200 people took part in the Jefferson County Walk to Stop Heroin, held Saturday in Kimmswick, during the town’s annual Strawberry Festival, said Beth Hudson of Crystal City, one of the walk’s organizers.
“I thought it was a huge success, it brought out parents who had lost children (to heroin addiction) and let them know there was hope and support groups for them,” Hudson said.
She said the walk also helped to raise awareness about the heroin epidemic that’s plaguing Jefferson County and other parts of the country.
Hudson said Jillian Bissell and Alicia Towery of the Jefferson County Drug Prevention Coalition also helped organize the walk, as did Hudson’s friend, Patty Orchard of De Soto.
As part of the walk, T-shirts were sold to raise money for the coalition’s efforts. The coalition also had a booth at the Kimmswick Strawberry Festival.
Hudson said she began working to raise awareness about the heroin problem after losing her brother, Lance Hudson, who died from an overdose in 2006 at the age of 33, and then after her own child became addicted to heroin.
The coalition and Hudson are starting a support group for parents of children suffering from addiction to heroin or opioids. The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Main Street Music Club and Coffee Bar, 214 E. Main St., in Festus. Meetings will continue every other Wednesday after that, at the same time and place, Hudson said.
Participation in the support group is free, she said.
Hudson said she hopes the support group, called “Still . . . I Rise in Hope,” will help families who have children struggling with addiction.
“My biggest thing is you don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed; you’re not responsible for the choices your kids make,” she said. “And, the other key point is education, getting kids educated (about the dangers of drugs) as young as possible. Also, if you have family who (are addicted), there are people out there who can help you.”