Fighting opioid addiction: As long as it takes | Julia Picetti | TEDxUniversityofNevada

the Jane Aubrey house is the home for

the Jane Aubrey house is the home for women who struggle with opiate addiction

women who struggle with opiate addiction

women who struggle with opiate addiction I believe the way our country has

I believe the way our country has

I believe the way our country has approached opiate addiction and recovery

approached opiate addiction and recovery

approached opiate addiction and recovery has been a complete disaster I know that

has been a complete disaster I know that

has been a complete disaster I know that that individuals who struggle with this

that individuals who struggle with this

that individuals who struggle with this illness both deserve and need affordable

illness both deserve and need affordable

illness both deserve and need affordable effective long-term treatment Jane

effective long-term treatment Jane

effective long-term treatment Jane Aubrey she was my first child I loved

Aubrey she was my first child I loved

Aubrey she was my first child I loved her before I even held her in my arms I

her before I even held her in my arms I

her before I even held her in my arms I knew I was supposed to be her mom we did

knew I was supposed to be her mom we did

knew I was supposed to be her mom we did everything together

everything together

everything together in fact in a lot of ways we grew up

in fact in a lot of ways we grew up

in fact in a lot of ways we grew up together she has the biggest blue eyes

together she has the biggest blue eyes

together she has the biggest blue eyes the blondest hair in the best smile and

the blondest hair in the best smile and

the blondest hair in the best smile and she was always the life of the party in

she was always the life of the party in

she was always the life of the party in fact when she was young I used to have

fact when she was young I used to have

fact when she was young I used to have to say quite often inside boys Janie

to say quite often inside boys Janie

to say quite often inside boys Janie because she was loudly leading the room

because she was loudly leading the room

because she was loudly leading the room however when Janie hit middle school she

however when Janie hit middle school she

however when Janie hit middle school she started to change and what I thought was

started to change and what I thought was

started to change and what I thought was normal teenage angst was actually the

normal teenage angst was actually the

normal teenage angst was actually the onset of mental illness and I had no

onset of mental illness and I had no

onset of mental illness and I had no idea she and I did go through therapy

idea she and I did go through therapy

idea she and I did go through therapy through her adolescence and it was a

through her adolescence and it was a

through her adolescence and it was a struggle but Janie got better when Jane

struggle but Janie got better when Jane

struggle but Janie got better when Jane was 18 she made a bold move to Los

was 18 she made a bold move to Los

was 18 she made a bold move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and

Angeles to pursue a career in acting and

Angeles to pursue a career in acting and dance which made sense because she was

dance which made sense because she was

dance which made sense because she was very talented super theatrical and she

very talented super theatrical and she

very talented super theatrical and she had danced for the Nevada Dance Academy

had danced for the Nevada Dance Academy

had danced for the Nevada Dance Academy for many years and when Jane was in Los

for many years and when Jane was in Los

for many years and when Jane was in Los Angeles she and I spoke on the phone all

Angeles she and I spoke on the phone all

Angeles she and I spoke on the phone all the time sometimes several times a day

the time sometimes several times a day

the time sometimes several times a day and after a few months

and after a few months

and after a few months janie wasn’t sounding like Jane and I

janie wasn’t sounding like Jane and I

janie wasn’t sounding like Jane and I wasn’t sure what was going on but my gut

wasn’t sure what was going on but my gut

wasn’t sure what was going on but my gut was telling me that she needed to come

was telling me that she needed to come

was telling me that she needed to come home to see a doctor at 18 and a half

home to see a doctor at 18 and a half

home to see a doctor at 18 and a half Jane was in fact diagnosed with a mental

Jane was in fact diagnosed with a mental

Jane was in fact diagnosed with a mental illness called borderline personality

illness called borderline personality

illness called borderline personality disorder people who suffer from this

disorder people who suffer from this

disorder people who suffer from this mental illness also suffer from other

mental illness also suffer from other

mental illness also suffer from other mental disorders such as anxiety

mental disorders such as anxiety

mental disorders such as anxiety disorders eating disorders and mental

disorders eating disorders and mental

disorders eating disorders and mental disorders they also um sometimes tend to

disorders they also um sometimes tend to

disorders they also um sometimes tend to self-harm they have substance abuse

self-harm they have substance abuse

self-harm they have substance abuse issues and suicidal thinking Janie had

issues and suicidal thinking Janie had

issues and suicidal thinking Janie had them all this was the tragic diagnosis

them all this was the tragic diagnosis

them all this was the tragic diagnosis for our entire family and her dad and I

for our entire family and her dad and I

for our entire family and her dad and I took several mental health classes just

took several mental health classes just

took several mental health classes just to ensure that we could have a as

to ensure that we could have a as

to ensure that we could have a as manageable normal loving relationship

manageable normal loving relationship

manageable normal loving relationship with her ongoing with this illness I

with her ongoing with this illness I

with her ongoing with this illness I don’t know when Janie started

don’t know when Janie started

don’t know when Janie started self-medicating but she did and I don’t

self-medicating but she did and I don’t

self-medicating but she did and I don’t know when she started taking

know when she started taking

know when she started taking prescription pain pills but she did

prescription pain pills but she did

prescription pain pills but she did which led her down the really scary path

which led her down the really scary path

which led her down the really scary path of addiction to heroin her dad and I had

of addiction to heroin her dad and I had

of addiction to heroin her dad and I had her in several treatment recovery

her in several treatment recovery

her in several treatment recovery programs

programs

programs none of which worked she would go in for

none of which worked she would go in for

none of which worked she would go in for the typical 28 30 day program and this

the typical 28 30 day program and this

the typical 28 30 day program and this only didn’t work for her but it set her

only didn’t work for her but it set her

only didn’t work for her but it set her up for failure 28 30 days is the normal

up for failure 28 30 days is the normal

up for failure 28 30 days is the normal amount of time for someone who suffers

amount of time for someone who suffers

amount of time for someone who suffers from an addiction to get treatment and

from an addiction to get treatment and

from an addiction to get treatment and it also sets them up for failure

it also sets them up for failure

it also sets them up for failure by the time Janie was 21 years old she

by the time Janie was 21 years old she

by the time Janie was 21 years old she was out of control I cannot tell you how

was out of control I cannot tell you how

was out of control I cannot tell you how many times her dad and I were on the

many times her dad and I were on the

many times her dad and I were on the streets searching for her busting her

streets searching for her busting her

streets searching for her busting her out from under or getting her out from

out from under or getting her out from

out from under or getting her out from under dirty bathroom stall doors

under dirty bathroom stall doors

under dirty bathroom stall doors me going into a drug house pulling her

me going into a drug house pulling her

me going into a drug house pulling her out putting her back in our car and

out putting her back in our car and

out putting her back in our car and taken her back to the very places that

taken her back to the very places that

taken her back to the very places that promote census abuse program and mental

promote census abuse program and mental

promote census abuse program and mental health services with them only turning

health services with them only turning

health services with them only turning her back out on the streets within 72

her back out on the streets within 72

her back out on the streets within 72 hours and I was always there and I would

hours and I was always there and I would

hours and I was always there and I would plead to these professionals what are

plead to these professionals what are

plead to these professionals what are you doing my baby is sick she needs

you doing my baby is sick she needs

you doing my baby is sick she needs long-term help you need to help her and

long-term help you need to help her and

long-term help you need to help her and they would just look at me as if their

they would just look at me as if their

they would just look at me as if their own hands were tied with a super sad

own hands were tied with a super sad

own hands were tied with a super sad look in their eyes knowing that we were

look in their eyes knowing that we were

look in their eyes knowing that we were losing the battle on March 10th 2015 at

losing the battle on March 10th 2015 at

losing the battle on March 10th 2015 at 3:40 in the afternoon I got a phone call

3:40 in the afternoon I got a phone call

3:40 in the afternoon I got a phone call and it’s that phone call that no parent

and it’s that phone call that no parent

and it’s that phone call that no parent should get Janie had overdosed on heroin

should get Janie had overdosed on heroin

should get Janie had overdosed on heroin and I had lost my baby girl and here I

and I had lost my baby girl and here I

and I had lost my baby girl and here I stand a short twenty-two months later

stand a short twenty-two months later

stand a short twenty-two months later and my heart is broken

and my heart is broken

and my heart is broken and I’m pissed off I’m angry that I had

and I’m pissed off I’m angry that I had

and I’m pissed off I’m angry that I had to lose my daughter I’m angry that no

to lose my daughter I’m angry that no

to lose my daughter I’m angry that no one could help her and I’m angry that

one could help her and I’m angry that

one could help her and I’m angry that our substance abuse treatment programs

our substance abuse treatment programs

our substance abuse treatment programs and mental health services across this

and mental health services across this

and mental health services across this country are so broken which tells me

country are so broken which tells me

country are so broken which tells me that if we treated substance abuse as

that if we treated substance abuse as

that if we treated substance abuse as the chronic illness that it is then we

the chronic illness that it is then we

the chronic illness that it is then we as a country would be approaching it in

as a country would be approaching it in

as a country would be approaching it in a much different way the United States

a much different way the United States

a much different way the United States spends over 400 billion dollars annually

spends over 400 billion dollars annually

spends over 400 billion dollars annually in the name of addiction on programs and

in the name of addiction on programs and

in the name of addiction on programs and resources that don’t work and this is

resources that don’t work and this is

resources that don’t work and this is exactly what happened to me and my

exactly what happened to me and my

exactly what happened to me and my family this happened to many others

family this happened to many others

family this happened to many others across the United States and it’s

across the United States and it’s

across the United States and it’s unacceptable and this is why we need to

unacceptable and this is why we need to

unacceptable and this is why we need to be having this conversation

did you know opioid addiction is one and

did you know opioid addiction is one and a half times more prevalent than

a half times more prevalent than

a half times more prevalent than cancer with only 10% getting treatment

cancer with only 10% getting treatment

cancer with only 10% getting treatment only 10% and this is both from

only 10% and this is both from

only 10% and this is both from prescription pain pills such as

prescription pain pills such as

prescription pain pills such as hydrocodone oxycontin Percocet vicodin

hydrocodone oxycontin Percocet vicodin

hydrocodone oxycontin Percocet vicodin morphine and then your street drug

morphine and then your street drug

morphine and then your street drug heroin and what’s interesting is that

heroin and what’s interesting is that

heroin and what’s interesting is that all these drugs they produce the same

all these drugs they produce the same

all these drugs they produce the same effect in high it’s the same thing which

effect in high it’s the same thing which

effect in high it’s the same thing which is why four out of five people who are

is why four out of five people who are

is why four out of five people who are addicted to heroin started out with the

addicted to heroin started out with the

addicted to heroin started out with the with prescription pain pills moving on

with prescription pain pills moving on

with prescription pain pills moving on to the cheaper more readily available

to the cheaper more readily available

to the cheaper more readily available Street drug heroin in November of 2000

Street drug heroin in November of 2000

Street drug heroin in November of 2000 November in 2016 the US Surgeon General

November in 2016 the US Surgeon General

November in 2016 the US Surgeon General came out with extensive scientific

came out with extensive scientific

came out with extensive scientific evidence proving the opioid addiction is

evidence proving the opioid addiction is

evidence proving the opioid addiction is in fact a chronic illness

in fact a chronic illness

in fact a chronic illness and this is because it changes the

and this is because it changes the

and this is because it changes the structure of your brain it actually

structure of your brain it actually

structure of your brain it actually alters your brain and in turn this is

alters your brain and in turn this is

alters your brain and in turn this is why people who are addicted to opioids

why people who are addicted to opioids

why people who are addicted to opioids have a higher risk of chronic real out

have a higher risk of chronic real out

have a higher risk of chronic real out which is what happened to Jane since

which is what happened to Jane since

which is what happened to Jane since being involved in the recovery aspect it

being involved in the recovery aspect it

being involved in the recovery aspect it is it is just it’s why I know that we

is it is just it’s why I know that we

is it is just it’s why I know that we need to have substance abuse programs

need to have substance abuse programs

need to have substance abuse programs widely available across the United

widely available across the United

widely available across the United States because currently we don’t there

States because currently we don’t there

States because currently we don’t there is a huge shortage and a lot of times it

is a huge shortage and a lot of times it

is a huge shortage and a lot of times it takes weeks and sometimes it takes

takes weeks and sometimes it takes

takes weeks and sometimes it takes months to get into treatment these are

months to get into treatment these are

months to get into treatment these are the things that I think we need I think

the things that I think we need I think

the things that I think we need I think we need to have prevention early on we

we need to have prevention early on we

we need to have prevention early on we need to have it in our schools our

need to have it in our schools our

need to have it in our schools our educators we need to have it in our

educators we need to have it in our

educators we need to have it in our local state and national legislative

local state and national legislative

local state and national legislative system to be committed to changing how

system to be committed to changing how

system to be committed to changing how we’re approaching opioid addiction we

we’re approaching opioid addiction we

we’re approaching opioid addiction we need to stop punishing people who have

need to stop punishing people who have

need to stop punishing people who have this addiction and start really helping

this addiction and start really helping

this addiction and start really helping them and all doctors every single

them and all doctors every single

them and all doctors every single physician needs to be really educated on

physician needs to be really educated on

physician needs to be really educated on the dangers of the addiction of

the dangers of the addiction of

the dangers of the addiction of in pain put pills and opiates and I also

in pain put pills and opiates and I also

in pain put pills and opiates and I also think it would be really cool if we

think it would be really cool if we

think it would be really cool if we could create a monitoring system that

could create a monitoring system that

could create a monitoring system that the medical community could tap into and

the medical community could tap into and

the medical community could tap into and collectively like track when an if

collectively like track when an if

collectively like track when an if prescription pain pills are prescribed

prescription pain pills are prescribed

prescription pain pills are prescribed after Janie died I led the charge of a

after Janie died I led the charge of a

after Janie died I led the charge of a volunteer program addressing addiction

volunteer program addressing addiction

volunteer program addressing addiction with an emphasis on opioid addiction and

with an emphasis on opioid addiction and

with an emphasis on opioid addiction and this brought awareness to my hometown

this brought awareness to my hometown

this brought awareness to my hometown and in turn it spurred a yeren

and in turn it spurred a yeren

and in turn it spurred a yeren initiative at my church to raise money

initiative at my church to raise money

initiative at my church to raise money to purchase a recovery home and with the

to purchase a recovery home and with the

to purchase a recovery home and with the help of many volunteers and leaders in

help of many volunteers and leaders in

help of many volunteers and leaders in my community I am really proud to say

my community I am really proud to say

my community I am really proud to say didn’t in July of 2016 we opened up the

didn’t in July of 2016 we opened up the

didn’t in July of 2016 we opened up the Jane Aubrey house this is a home to help

Jane Aubrey house this is a home to help

Jane Aubrey house this is a home to help young women between the ages of 18 and

young women between the ages of 18 and

young women between the ages of 18 and 25 who suffer from opiate addiction and

25 who suffer from opiate addiction and

25 who suffer from opiate addiction and this is not your typical 28 30 day

this is not your typical 28 30 day

this is not your typical 28 30 day program this is a as long as it takes

program this is a as long as it takes

program this is a as long as it takes program to ensure that these women can

program to ensure that these women can

program to ensure that these women can really begin to heal and they have

really begin to heal and they have

really begin to heal and they have intense they have intense access to

intense they have intense access to

intense they have intense access to therapy they also have personal

therapy they also have personal

therapy they also have personal development financial training and job

development financial training and job

development financial training and job placement

placement

placement it’s an is an incredible program and you

it’s an is an incredible program and you

it’s an is an incredible program and you can do this thank you

and you can do this in your community to

and you can do this in your community to reach out to your local leaders reach

reach out to your local leaders reach

reach out to your local leaders reach out to your law enforcement or your

out to your law enforcement or your

out to your law enforcement or your church and collect you know get together

church and collect you know get together

church and collect you know get together get your resources together and your

get your resources together and your

get your resources together and your ideas together so you can make a

ideas together so you can make a

ideas together so you can make a difference in your community too because

difference in your community too because

difference in your community too because chances are the person you’re sitting

chances are the person you’re sitting

chances are the person you’re sitting next to is struggling with an addiction

next to is struggling with an addiction

next to is struggling with an addiction and if it’s not them then they know

and if it’s not them then they know

and if it’s not them then they know someone close to them that is an

someone close to them that is an

someone close to them that is an addiction has no bias it doesn’t matter

addiction has no bias it doesn’t matter

addiction has no bias it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is or

what your socioeconomic status is or

what your socioeconomic status is or your weight or how well you’ve raised

your weight or how well you’ve raised

your weight or how well you’ve raised your children and when we realize that

your children and when we realize that

your children and when we realize that we need to love those who struggle with

we need to love those who struggle with

we need to love those who struggle with this chronic illness until they can love

this chronic illness until they can love

this chronic illness until they can love themselves that is when we will see a

themselves that is when we will see a

themselves that is when we will see a real change for us all thank you

real change for us all thank you

real change for us all thank you [Applause]