With a major interstate running right through the county, there has long been a fight to keep drugs out of the local communities. One drug that has seen a rise in prevalence in the St. Louis area and has branched out to the Metro East and further is heroin. Last Thursday night, Vandalia High School was the site of a showing of The Heroin Project documentary. The documentary was filmed by two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students in Madison County, Illinois after a rise in heroin overdose deaths and included interviews with parents who had lost their children to heroin overdoses and parents whose kids have survived their heroin addiction and been able to stay sober for several years. On hand for the documentary showing and the discussion panel after the showing was Dr. Kari Karidis whose son Chas passed away in November 2013 from a heroin overdose. Karidis was one of the parents sharing her story in the documentary and says it is an emotional subject but that people have to get past the emotions and take action to make a difference.
Karidis says some of the most important ways to act is to contact lawmakers and insurance companies and more to try and lobby for better treatment that will truly help addicts.
During the evening, it was announced that Karidis and former Troy Police Officer Chris Coyne, who have traveled to many schools over the last several years, will be back in the Vandalia School District next school year, when they will give a presentation to students on the warning signs of heroin use and addiction, the effects of opioids and the reality of drug abuse.