Emily Harman, host of Onward Podcast, interviews Ginger Rosela, a mother of four who raised her children in Calvert County Maryland. She was a stay-at-home mother for most of the time during her children's’ lives and was a working mom when they were older. Ginger was involved in the Parent-Teacher Association, she was the Little League President, and her family home was known as “The Kool-Aid House”. Ginger’s family looked like any normal family. Substance use can affect any family. Ginger’s son was injured in a bicycle accident while in high school. His parents gave him his pain medicine as prescribed by the doctors. The doctors never told Jake’s parents the use of the pain medicine could become addictive. Ginger’s son Jake passed away from an overdose on July 19th 2013. Listen and learn about Jake and how Ginger provides families the support they need while their loved one is in crisis and helps families deal with the disease of addiction.

 

Episode Highlights: 

• Emily Harman introduces Ginger Rosela and shares some opioid statistics. 
• Ginger shares the story of how her son Jake became addicted to heroin.
• Ginger and Emily discuss the dangers of drug addiction. 
• Substance abuse affects the family and friends of the substance abuser. 
• What does Ginger advise a family member who is hiding behind the shame of their family member’s substance abuse? 
• You never know what is happening in someone else’s world. 
• What is harm reduction? 
• Ginger discusses opioid reversal drugs.
• Everybody deserves a happy, healthy life. 
• What is the Good Samaritan Law and how did Ginger help get it passed? 
• Ginger discusses her son Jake and the why she uses green hearts. 
• What should you do if jewelry is missing or a suspected substance abuser is constantly asking for money? 
• What is enabling vs. helping? 
• When people are ready to get help, help is out there. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

 

3 Key Points: 

1. Addiction is not a choice it is a disease.
2. We need to end the stigma associated with drug addiction. Education is key.
3. Any type of substance abuse or mental health disorder is a family disease. It doesn’t just affect the one that is using the substance or has a mental illness. It affects the entire family and friends.

 

Tweetable Quotes:

• “I made a vow when I did his (son Jake’s) eulogy at his funeral and I said that, Jake’s death would not be in vain. And the third words out of my mouth were that our son died of a heroin overdose.” – Ginger Rosela
• “I don’t think that we think about our elder generation that are in their 70s and 80s that take prescribed medicine and then forget that they took it and take it again and take it again.” – Ginger Rosela
• “We all should know that any type of substance abuse or any kind of mental health disorder is a family disease. It doesn’t just affect the one that is using the substance or has a mental illness. It affects the whole family and friends.” – Ginger Rosela

Resources Mentioned:

• Linkedin: Ginger Rosela
• http://www.mdcoalition.org
• National Institute of Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
• The Good Samaritan Law in Maryland: https://health.maryland.gov/qahealth/substance-abuse/Pages/Good-Samaritan-Law.aspx
• Information on Narcan: https://www.narcan.com/
• Maryland Coalition of Families: http://www.mdcoalition.org/
• Contact Ginger: [email protected] – 443-510-7883
• http://www.mdcoalition.org/get-help-now/list-of-family-navigators
• http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/1113/heroin-in-southern-maryland-the-brief-life-of-an-addict.html
• https://www.facebook.com/Advocates-For-a-Drug-Free-Calvert-County-Team-JAKE-1397061117213775/
• https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/new-law-requires-naloxone-to-be-placed-in-all-maryland-schools/465535734
• https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Mother-of-Overdose-Victim-Celebrates-Signing-of-Maryland-Good-Samaritan-Law-258034591.html
• https://emilyharman.com
• https://www.facebook.com/Onward-Podcast
• https://www.instagram.com/onwardpodcast
• https://twitter.com/OnwardPodcast
• https://www.soulpajamas.com/home
• https://www.podcastpress.io/