ARLINGTON — Lisa Martin was trying to save her daughter’s life.
She called everyone she could think of. She was turned away by some organizations because they needed to talk to her daughter directly. Others put her on a waiting list.
She quickly learned that there are far fewer detox beds and treatment centers than there are drug addicts, Martin said. Her daughter is hooked on heroin. She didn’t know how to help.
Now she is determined to get more resources in Snohomish County for addicts and their families. The first step is making sure people don’t turn a blind eye to drug problems close to home, she said.
Martin is the keynote speaker at Beyond the Shadows on Thursday evening at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd. The event is put on by the Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition, a group of parents, educators, nonprofits, business owners and others who aim to fight drug problems through knowledge and connections.
Beyond the Shadows follows up on the coalition’s first event in April, Out of the Shadows. It starts and ends with a resource fair featuring information about health, safety and activities for young people in the Arlington area. Guests can pick two of five breakout sessions to attend, each led by a different expert on drug abuse. Among them are police, medical professionals and representatives from the new Arlington Community Resource Center.
The resource fair starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by breakout sessions and Martin’s presentation.
Martin’s daughter, Carrie Enyeart, became addicted to heroin at 18 years old, fresh out of high school. She’s now 21 years old.
Martin watched her struggle to overcome the addiction, but Enyeart fell back into it again and again. They live in Smokey Point and drugs are easy to find. Enyeart started mixing methamphetamine with her heroin habit.
“I just called every number I could possibly find for a detox center or treatment center,” she said. “I felt like there weren’t any resources to help me save my daughter’s life.”
Earlier this year, she contacted the producers of the television show “Intervention” on A&E and they decided to film her daughter’s story and connect her with professional help. Enyeart started treatment in April, relapsed in July and then returned to treatment for another month. She relapsed again and is back in treatment in California. Martin expects her home for Thanksgiving, and then Enyeart plans to join a sober living program in California.
“I’m just holding my breath until then,” Martin said. “I want other parents to know that it doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent if your child is struggling with addiction. You never need to be ashamed to ask for help.”
Volunteers with the Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition want to make information about drug abuse, recovery and prevention easier to find, spokeswoman Andrea Conley said. That includes details on how to recognize drug use and addiction, how to find help and how parents and friends can keep young people away from drugs.
At Thursday’s event, medical professionals can explain what drug use does to the human body and the symptoms shown by addicts. Police plan to teach people how to recognize different drugs, show which ones are most common in Snohomish County and answer questions about drug laws and enforcement. Those types of specific breakout sessions are based on a survey of the 200 people who attended the April event, Conley said.
A number of local clubs, teams, nonprofits and youth groups also plan to have information on how to get involved in drug-free activities outside of school.
The coalition reached out to school districts around the county to share event details with students and parents.
“We wanted to make sure it was open to everyone,” Conley said. “It’s not just an Arlington challenge. It’s everywhere.”
She hopes this can be an example of the kind of work schools and cities can do. They can help people learn more about what to do for others and in their own homes to fight addiction.
The coalition plans to have another event this spring.
“You can’t just say, ‘Here’s a bunch of information’ and walk away,” Conley said. “You have to continue finding out what people want to know and what they need.”
Martin is proud that her community isn’t ignoring drugs. People often try to act like they aren’t there, but ignoring them only lets dealers and addicts flourish out of sight.
“The people out on the streets are worth saving,” she said. “They’re someone’s child, they’re someone’s brother or sister or mom. They’re not throwaways. They need help.”
She sees Beyond the Shadows as a bridge, whether it connects an individual to professional help or sparks discussions between leaders and organizations that can fight for more local resources.
She feels compelled to tell her story so others know they aren’t alone and it’s worth the fight.
“There’s hope,” Martin said. “Never give up on hope. There is another way of life out there and people don’t have to struggle in the throes of addiction.”
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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