HITTING HOME

Heroin Deaths Inspire Local Group

ALEXANDRIA -- Charlotte Wethington laughs whenever she hears media reports
about heroin "returning" to Campbell County.

"It has never gone away. It's still here," she says matter-of-factly.

Wethington and a handful of other Campbell County residents know all too
well about drugs in Northern Kentucky. Once naive enough to believe that
heroin and other hardcore illegal drugs were only problems in "other
places," Wethington learned the tragic truth in August 2002, when her
23-year-old son, Casey, died of a heroin overdose.

"When this happened to Casey I had no idea about the availability of drugs.
I was thinking that tobacco is here n yes. And that alcohol is here n yes.
Those two are legal. And I know that the marijuana is here n yes n because
people can grow it in this climate. But to think about heroin being in
Covington or Independence was just absolutely mind-boggling to me," she said.

On The Attack

Wethington has since become an outspoken drug treatment advocate,
dedicating her life to educating NKY about addiction. Along with other
concerned citizens, Wethington helped form the NKY chapter of Residents
Attacking Drugs (RAD).

Over the last three years, the group has focused its efforts on education
and prevention. Their mission is to be a "community catalyst uniting
families, schools, churches, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies,
prevention (agencies) and government agencies in the fight against drugs."

At times she and other members get discouraged by low turnouts at their
monthly meetings n they know there are many more people affected by drugs
than attendance indicates n but they're not about to quit.

"We're going to 'keep on keeping on,' regardless of whether it's five or
six of us or whether it's 50 of us," she said. "I think we're all
committed. I know I am. This will be my mission the rest of my life."

RAD President Pam Kinney says drugs aren't leaving NKY, and neither are they.

"It's still there. Drugs are always going to be there, I'm sure. What we've
chosen to do is educate as much as possible," she said.

9.3 Grams In 2004

According to statistics released by the NKY Drug Strike Force, less than 10
grams (9.3) of heroin was seized during 2004.

Wethington and others, however, know that drug seizure stats don't tell the
whole story. Heroin use in rural Campbell County went on for years under
the radar until the overdose deaths of Wethington, 19-year-old Mark
DeMarrero (October 2002), and 18-year-old Adam Messmer (January 2003)
pushed the issue to the forefront.

"Everybody, I would venture to say, knows somebody in their life that is
affected by the disease," said Wethington.

To get the word out, Wethington endured a hectic schedule speaking to
school groups and community organizations. That has slowed now that she
works part time at Transitions, Inc., but RAD continues pushing for more
NKY drug abuse education and treatment centers.

Melissa Pryor, community relations director for Campbell County School
System, says the district is in early talks to partner with the county and
RAD to provide drug abuse prevention and education classes to the entire
community.

Treatment Centers

As to treatment centers, Wethington is encouraged by Governor Fletcher's
Kentucky Recovery proposal for centers across the state.

Locally, there has been some public uproar concerning the location of the
proposed 100-bed men's facility that Transitions Inc. has applied to operate.

"They (residents) don't want it in their backyard, but truthfully it (the
drug problem) is already in their backyard," Kinney said.

RAD meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at Bishop Brossart
High School in Alexandria. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Aug. 11) at 6:30 p.m. For more information on RAD, visit their
Web site: www.nkyrad.com.

Information on the Casey Wethington Act, under which individuals can
petition the courts to place friends and family into involuntary drug
treatment centers for up to one year, can also be found on the site. It
passed the Kentucky General Assembly last year and went into effect July 2004.

RAD's Goals

The Northern Kentucky Chapter of Residents Attacking Drugs (RAD) was formed
in 2003 following the overdose deaths of three young men in the Campbell
County area. Many of the volunteers are friends and family directly
affected by the devastation caused by heroin and other drugs.

Goals of the NKY chapter include:

Working with state and local agencies to garner support for prevention,
treatment and rehabilitation.

Working extensively in their communities through speaking engagements and
other avenues to gain support and increased awareness of substance abuse
and its consequences.

Assisting other communities to start and maintain local programs.

Guiding those seeking help with issues of drug abuse, directing them to
programs providing support and the tools they need to succeed.

Working towards a safe and healthy environment in the community.