Hope against overdose epidemic knocking at Indiana’s door

INDIANAPOLIS — Overdose deaths within the U.S. topped 100,000 a yr for the primary time ever final spring. Based mostly on the numbers, it could seem like this can be a conflict we’re dropping. However are we? A narrative of hope began in somewhat city known as Hohenwald Tennessee and is spreading right here to Indiana.

Households, communities, and youngsters have felt the impression of medicine throughout Indiana. There’s a likelihood it has touched your loved ones or somebody you recognize. This conflict is at our doorstep.

“It’s a $43 billion downside. That’s how a lot we’ve got paid out as a state,” mentioned Terrance Wheeler, director of Wheeler Mission. “Funerals, workdays misplaced, crime, and the emotional toll on damaged households, finally breaks our communities.”

It has gotten to the purpose the place some coverage stakeholders have sought nationwide motion in designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. In December, President Biden declared a nationwide emergency in respect to the worldwide trafficking of illicit narcotics, together with fentanyl.

Wheeler has labored as a restoration specialist for years earlier than becoming a member of Wheeler Mission as program director. He says it’s not simply the homeless. It’s cities, suburbs, colleges, and increasingly more of our younger individuals in center faculty, highschool, and faculty.

“It’s an equal alternative drug,” Wheeler mentioned. “They’re considering this can be a one and accomplished, I’ll do it as soon as, I’ll give it a attempt, I’ll experiment with it not understanding very nicely they’ve simply signed their dying warrant.”

A neighborhood responds

Hohenwald Tennessee, a neighborhood of 12,000, was dropping 2-3 younger individuals every week to drug overdoses…till somebody determined to do one thing totally different.

“The neighborhood fashioned a coalition, and so they went out and so they began rescuing their younger individuals and setting them free, and now they’re profitable the conflict on medication,” mentioned Kerry Pharr, Producer of Hope Lives in Hohenwald and host of the discuss present In Your Nook.

Pharr and his crew occurred to be in Hohenwald when it began, and He stored coming again documenting every part. He confirmed the actual uncooked aspect of habit, overcoming habit, and the way the individuals of Hohenwald remodeled their neighborhood saving numerous lives.

 “These individuals had sufficient sense to simply invite the hurting individuals in and say how are you, let’s speak about it, let’s eat, let’s break some bread, and simply love on them. And what it does is it loves the life again into individuals,” mentioned Bobby Hayden, co-host of In Your Nook.

Hayden grew up in Indiana and moved to L.A. to play in a number of the most well-known bands within the 80s. He has gone to the depths of drug habit many might by no means survive.

“Injecting 10-15 occasions a day dwelling in a cardboard field, skid row downtown L.A. My physique’s mutilated with injection websites,” mentioned Hayden.

Close to-death, in a dumpster at 122 kilos, Hayden discovered hope.

“You couldn’t beat that hell out of me, incarcerate that hell out of me, preach that hell out of me for certain. However when this man Jesus got here alongside he liked that hell proper out of me. That is the actual miracle,” Hayden mentioned. “12 church buildings throughout denominational boundaries fashioned a coalition and mentioned ‘we’re going to take our metropolis again and set our kids free. We’re bored with going to a funeral each week.’”

These church buildings and the residents of Hohenwald let Pharr’s cameras roll, documenting the monumental transformation of hearts, lives, households, and, finally, their city.

Spreading the phrase

Kerry and Bobby simply launched the documentary making it accessible without spending a dime everywhere in the U.S. One of many first stops is Bobby’s hometown Central Indiana and Wheeler Mission.

“It can get the message on the market so individuals can understand this can be a greater downside than we see and our neighborhood wants to return collectively,” mentioned Brandon Andrews, director of the lads’s residential middle at Wheeler Mission.

Residents on the middle watched the documentary and reacted. They are saying the important thing to lasting hope for them and others, is filling the void of their lives spiritually, by means of a relationship with God. Hope lives not solely in Hohenwald however wherever individuals will exit and assist rescue individuals.

That’s the important thing Hayden will inform individuals. He’s grateful his sister discovered him, liked him, and rescued him. He’s additionally grateful she introduced him house to complete therapeutic.

He calls this motion a revival. That motion is spreading. Wheeler Mission is hoping to steer a coalition in Indiana to save lots of lives.

You’ll be able to obtain the whole documentary without spending a dime by visiting hopelivesinhohenwald.com. They simply received finest documentary at a latest movie competition.