READERS REACT TO HEROIN SERIES

Response Overwhelmingly Supportive.

When The Times ran its recent series on Porter County's heroin
problem, a Times editorial said it was time for a wake up call. Many
readers agreed, echoing the need for a call to action.

The overwhelming majority of the responses were positive, with many
asking how they might be able to be part of the solution.

Of the handful of readers who complained, most said they were family
members or friends of those who died heroin- and opiate-related
deaths and were offended by the inclusion of photos of the deceased
in the series. Most did not offer their names or phone numbers.

Many parents whose children's pictures were featured in the photos,
however, thanked The Times for shedding light on the problem.

Other readers told stories of personal struggles with heroin and
methadone, of trying to help their children who are still battling
addiction, of trying to find help for themselves or others and
finding nowhere to turn.

Below are some of their comments.

* A man who did not identify himself on a voice mail message said
running the photos of the deceased was insensitive.

"I can't believe someone would be so callous as to put the pictures
of the people who have passed away and do this to these families," he
said. "I hope you rot in hell for this ... I have friends of mine and
I see their kids' pictures here, and I can't imagine what they're
going through."

* Nancy Polewski of Portage, lost her son, Shawn, 22, to heroin in
February. Polewski said she was surprised to see Shawn's photo in the paper.

"It was tough, but once I started reading and saw what you are doing,
I was happy to know that Shawn's death might help contribute to the
solution," Polewski said. "I didn't mind because if it wakes people
up to this, if we can save one person from dying from it, it's worth it."

* Teri Wickberg of Chesterton, whose son, Shawn Rivera, died of a
heroin overdose at the age of 18, said many parents and friends of
addicts don't want to believe it is happening to them.

"A lot of parents are in denial," Wickberg said. "They think (their
children's addiction) reflects on their parenting skills. That's not
it. It can hit anywhere at any time."

* Kim Scott of Madison, Wis., formerly of Chesterton, is the mother
of Max Donnella, a recovering heroin addict and aunt to a boy who
died a drug-related death.

"Putting it in people's faces makes them uncomfortable, but that
seems to be the only way to wake them up, unless it is their child,
then you wake up and the nightmare begins," Scott said. "Thank you
for bringing it out and not letting people hide from it and not
letting it get buried with the memory of our kids."

* A Valparaiso woman who asked not to be identified said she has
struggled to find help for her son, who has been a heroin addict for 11 years.

"If you don't have money or insurance, there is no help," she said.
"My son has tons of medical bills that he cannot pay, so he is turned
down at hospitals to try to detox ... My son is now downstairs as I
write this letter, throwing up and trying to detox once again by
himself and it won't work because you can not get off without help
and there is none."

* Jessica Plescott, 26, of Portage, is a recovering heroin addict
and, with the help of methadone from the Semoran Treatment Center in
Gary, has been clean for two years.

Plescott said she would like to start an online forum or support
group for teens, but doesn't know where to turn.

"I have looked online before for local online forums or mentoring
programs in which I might be able to volunteer my support and
knowledge of the evils of heroin," Plescott said. "Sadly, I have
turned up nothing."

* Maggie of Griffith asked not to use her last name because she is
involved in education. She is a recovering alcoholic and prescription
drug addict who overdosed on fentanyl prescribed to her by a doctor.

She was put on methadone to try to kick her prescription drug habit.

"Methadone is horrible," she said. "I'm against those clinics. The
withdrawal is horrible. I just think there's such a message to give
the community that there is hope and it isn't in those methadone clinics."

* Kimberly Rodriguez of East Chicago lost her boyfriend of 25 years
to heroin in June and found a poem while she was cleaning out her
boyfriend's things after his death and asked that we share it with
other readers.

The poem ends with:

You have heard my warning but will take no heed

Put your foot in the stirrup, mount this great steed

Get right in the saddle and hold on real well

For the white horse heroin will take you to hell.

"Maybe it can help the younger ones see that if you start, this is
what happens to you," she said.