((ANIMATION W/ GFX, CAPTIONS, PHOTOS))
((Banner: More than 115 Americans die each day from opioid overdoses. VOA looks at three stories from the epidemic))
((PKG)) / ALLISON: PART 1
((Banner: Allison: Part 1))
((Producers: Chris Simkins, Jeff Swicord, Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Camera: Jeff Swicord, Chris Simkins, Marcus Harton))
((Map: Miami, Florida))
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I started smoking pot when I was about 18. I was 19 when I met my husband. He kind of introduced me to oxycodone. I got in two car accidents back to back and I went to a doctor. You have doctors that are called pain doctors. They go from prescribing nothing to prescribing a very powerful opioid that turns into this beast you can’t control. A lot of people turn to heroin because it is significantly cheaper. When you find something you like in that drug culture, you kind of stick with it.
((NATS))
Do we have any aluminum foil?
That’s a negative.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
John and I have been together, now, 10 years. He was my knight in shining armor and then we slowly fell into addiction. And we split up for about four or five months when I went into rehab. I could feel a piece of me missing, but I was so broken outside of our relationship, there’s absolutely no way he and I would’ve been good together.
((John Lowe, Allison’s Husband))
In order for us to be the best version of ourselves, we had to worry about ourselves for a minute.
((NATS))
That’ll do.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
After him graduating rehab and being there for the same amount of time, it allowed us to come back together as the people we were when we first met.
((NATS))
Now pour some more, I’ll tell you when.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
We’re involved in family court and my daughter is with my mom. She has been taken out of my husband and my custody for the time being. We’re building slowly towards her coming and living with us.
((John Lowe, Allison’s Husband))
My focus is being the best father, the best provider, the best person I can be. And there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for her.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
We are still left with all the problems and the debt that we had incurred before we went into rehab and then starting off trying to find a place to live, getting all the essentials, a bed.
((John Lowe, Allison’s Husband))
Finding balance when it is so tilted. You’re still weighed down by your past and here you are trying to balance everything out. Just because of the wreckage.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
It’s impossible.
((John Lowe, Allison’s Husband))
It is really hard to find that balance right now.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
But we manage.
((NATS))
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I used to tell him all the time, I’d ask him to tell me a story just like I did, tell me a story. And I’d sit there, and I’d listen.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Jen has made this entire process bearable. She is answering my phone calls whenever I’ve needed her whether she’s in a meeting herself, if she’s with her family, she’ll step outside. She has been a constant in this flux. She’s kind of helped me stay grounded and if I needed advice she’s been there. She’s an amazing person, that Jen.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
So how was Christmas?
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Christmas. Christmas was difficult. I’m not going to lie. My mom at the last minute decided that she was uncomfortable having John and I there because my sister and all of them haven’t, haven’t quite gotten to the point where they want to be around us.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
But you know, just because you guys are healing, and your healing process, and you’re feeling good, doesn’t mean that they’ve let go yet. You know? And it’s on them.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I think that’s the hardest part. I’m so eager to get back in touch with my family.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
A lot of people want to heal those relationships and they don’t really grasp that the other side isn’t necessarily ready to heal, or willing to heal right away. You can’t force somebody to see you change. Part of letting go is letting go of your family to allow them to heal too as hurtful as it can be. That’s why we say build a support network because other people have done this too. That’s why we see them three times a week to work on how they feel and how difficult it is. Part of getting sober is making a new family sort of. At least you guys have each other, which is great because there is a lot of people alone. But you guys have each other. You know, and if you have positive people to spend, you know, holidays and stuff with,
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Right.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
you know that really helps.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Instead of sending my daughter to foster care or a foster home, my mom offered to take temporary custody of her so I could focus on myself and John could focus on himself. She has been with my mom since I entered rehab, so it’s going on almost 11 months that I haven’t been around her.
((NATS))
John Lowe, Allison’s Husband))
Hey, you want your Goldfish, huh?
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I think my mom is uncomfortable with me having my daughter for a lot of reasons. I haven’t been the most present mother. My mom has been her caregiver for almost her entire life because I was there, but not there. I was using, I was getting high. I think my mom is extremely uncomfortable. She’s not quite sure of my resolve. Addiction is not just about the addict, it affects the whole family. And it has caused my mom to be very distrustful of not only me, but of my actions.
((NATS))
Okay let’s go find daddy.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I can’t force it. I cannot pressure her. It’ll end up causing more harm than good. My intentions for this scenario as far as staying clean, having my daughter, having a relationship with my mom, having John have a relationship with my family, and having that family unit be whole. That’s what I want out of all of this.
((NATS))
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
I have court for the shoplifting.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
The incident.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
The incident. In rehab, I fell into a group of girls who was stealing from different stores. I ended up taking quite a few articles of clothing from Target and they got me for shoplifting. I made a really bad decision, and I’m human. I know it’s going to happen, but it was just….
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
You’re in rehab so it’s like a bunch of, I mean, in rehab, nobody, you’re all there together. So, no decision making process has been positive so far.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Right.
((Jen Ellison, Peer Counselor))
To meet people in treatment. It’s really common when you stop doing something you’re used to doing all the time and you’re looking for things to fill the void. Without drugs, you look for some kind of excitement, and sadly, you know, breaking the law is exciting because you’re kind of used to doing that in a sense. You know it’s kind of sad, but it’s kind of true, at the same time. So, is it uncommon that somebody would go out and do something like that? You know, with three, four weeks clean and sober? No, actually it’s not.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
My main concern was how is, how is this going to affect my getting my daughter back? That is paramount. Anything and everything to do with her is paramount in this situation. And I’m terrified, terrified.
((NATS))
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
My greatest fear is going on probation and losing my job and then, in turn, having this family court process drag out even longer. That means more time without my daughter. That means falling back into a depression. That means a greater chance of relapse. That’s not something I’m willing to allow to happen,
((NATS))
Judge Michelle Gonzalez Paulson now presiding.
((Judge Paulson))
Good afternoon everyone. Thank you. You may be seated. First case being called is Allison Nicole Norland.
((Allison Norland, Recovering Addict))
Good afternoon judge.
((Text over video))
Living America’s opioid nightmare…..continues on VOAConnect in the weeks to come
