BURLEIGH – “My story is one of hope, redemption, and loss,” Venessa Vitolo began Aug. 30.
“Three weeks ago I lost my best friend who had been sober for four years and who actually worked in the addiction recovery field.”
On Overdose Awareness Day, a large crowd of “loved ones and survivors” gathered as a community at The Lighthouse Church on Route 9 to hear survivors share their testimonies of recovery.
Loved ones attended to recognize those they lost to addiction, and to honor emergency medical technicians and law enforcement for saving lives with the use of Narcan.
From the beginning the event was as much a reunion of recovery workers, clients, friends, loved ones and family as anything else; many long tearful hugs that turned into smiles and kisses were seen as attendees filed into the church.
Sueanne Agger of CARES (Cape Regional Recovery Services), celebrated the efforts of The Lighthouse Church’s CURE (Christians United For Recovery) in partnership with CARES, plus the efforts of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, local EMTs and state and local police departments in the fight against opioid and other addictions in the county.
Agger pointed out the 207 purple balloons tied to shoes, and many photos of those lost that filled the church’s outside grassy area. Many spilled over to the interior corridors of the church complex as one entered the church. Agger stated that those memorials represent the 207 overdose deaths suffered since 2012 in Cape May County alone.
Lorraine, an addict in recovery, stepped to the microphone to talk about her son who suffered an addiction that cost his life. “This is just like a cancer,” she said. “Cancer comes and may be ‘cured’ with treatment, but it can always come back.”
Lorraine warned everyone, “Hold your babies close” because you never know when you might lose them.
Kreni spoke about her son who, one day, “woke in the arms of angels.”
David described how he lost his father and his brother to opioid addiction, and that his family, including his brother’s children, continues to suffer while he battles his own addiction.
“We need to break this cycle” of family devastation, he lamented.
Presentations were made to help attendees recognize the signs of addiction; free Narcan training was offered by the county.
For information about future events and resources, visit www.facebook.com/overdoseawarenesscmc/
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.
