Steps of Change: Walk a Mile in My Shoes kicks off May 16 at Plum Creek in Brunswick at noon. OhioCAN (Change Addiction Now) is sponsoring the second annual walk which aims to educate, embrace and empower families and individuals whose lives have been impacted by substance use.
“I just read statistics today that 108 people are dying daily from accidental overdoses,” explained Cindy Koumoutzis, who co-founded CAN. “We’ve become complacent. For each one of those accidental overdose deaths, there are 5-10 family members whose lives have been shattered. We hope to send the message into the communities this year that we aren’t going to sit back and be quiet anymore.”
Koumoutzis launched the program to offer help, hope and health to those and their families/friends battling with the disease of addiction. Koumoutzis has four children. Her daughter has been addicted to heroin for nine years and is now in recovery. “Addiction is a family disease.”
The walk begins at noon with a Mile in My Shoes, where pairs of shoes with names tied to them of those loved and lost to addiction sit. “It’s a real sobering time,” Koumoutzis said.
“We need to begin educating at 10 years old. Families need to come together because there’s power in numbers. We need to contact our politicians and have them update laws which would allow more than 16 beds in a treatment facility,” Koumoutzis said. She believes there needs to be more understanding that addicts are sick and need treatment, not just locking them up in jails. Her suggestion is to also incorporate local facilities that will give treatment for an extended period of time, treatment that lasts 6-12 months, and then ongoing treatment.
“We can’t criminalize our way out of addiction.”
All ages are encouraged to partake in the May 16 walk at Plum Creek (2500 Plum Creek Pkwy. in Brunswick). You don’t have to sign up, you can just show up to show your support or show that you’re recovering and how it’s changed your life.
“Let family members know we aren’t alone and we can bring change into the communities.”
On the Web:
Ohio CAN: www.changeaddictionnow.org
