Testimonials
Drug Crisis In Our Backyard has been a major support system for me. Dealing with two children with addiction this support group has educated me with a method called CRAFT (Community Reinforcement And Family). It has taught me that addiction is a disease with a stigma attached to it. Many people are uneducated about this disease and judge without knowing that this is an epidemic that is affecting normal everyday people and especially our children. Conversation needs to happen to make people aware so more can be done about this epidemic that is plaguing our communities. Drug Crisis In Our Backyard is getting the word out by helping people with family members afflicted with addiction. This group is led by trained professional leaders that run this informative and supportive group weekly and are available whenever you need them. They have helped me tremendously not only by directing me to rehabilitation centers, counselors and other resources for my sons, but also by emphasizing the importance of self-care and kindness for ourselves. They emphasize treating affected loved ones with kindness, compassion, understanding and positive reinforcement. This group has been a lifesaver for me - I was unaware that there was so many people going through what I was going through with my sons. The shame and embarrassment that is attached to this disease has to change by educating the public. The Drug Crisis in Our Backyard team has been so supportive, loving and understanding. The families that attend the meetings are an amazing group of people that do not judge or criticize each other, but share support and ideas on how to cope with this dreaded disease that affect many families. I am incredibly blessed to have found this wonderful group of caring trained leaders that do an amazing job sharing their knowledge and support by helping us navigate through this unpredictable disease that affect so many people.
-M.G.
-M.G.
The Drug Crisis in our Backyard group has been an incredible aid in helping me cope with the pain of having a son who suffers from addiction. Not only has it helped in itself by being a support group, but also by being extremely educational and informative about the reality of these situations. This group has had a great way of opening up conversations and bringing people together on a topic that faces tremendous stigma and shame in our society. Before I felt alone and lost, I didn’t know what to do or who I could talk about it with. This group has showed me that I’m in fact not alone.
-A.B.
-A.B.
"I wanted you to know that Drug Crisis in Our Backyard has helped our family through a very rough time when our son came to us and admitted that he had an opiate problem. We visited a seminar you held at St. Christopher's Inn and it was a great learning experience for us.
When my son requested that we help him get into an inpatient program, we immediately started calling all of the inpatient programs within a 100 mile radius only to receive the same answer from everyone:
'Our insurance will not cover inpatient treatment until my son fails at outpatient'
That is when I contacted you for your help and you were able to help us find an inpatient program that billed on an outpatient basis. I am happy to say that my son is doing very well. His attitude on life has changed. I have not seen this side of my son in 5 years. It is such a pleasure to have him back.
We have personally contacted the Governor's Office of the Attorney General and they will be trying to get my son some additional days of treatment as our insurance stopped paying after 30 days and originally would only cover 18 days. Many people are not aware, most outpatient treatment requires approval from the insurance company before treatment begins and in many cases offers a very limited number of days of treatment.
It is my understanding that Drug Crisis in Our Backyard has also been in contact with the Attorney General's Office in hopes of getting the insurance companies to change their policies. Again, I want to thank you and Drug Crisis in our Backyard for all of your help. You are doing a wonderful thing for our community and I want you to know that your hard work is greatly appreciated by our family!"
- Jon G.
When my son requested that we help him get into an inpatient program, we immediately started calling all of the inpatient programs within a 100 mile radius only to receive the same answer from everyone:
'Our insurance will not cover inpatient treatment until my son fails at outpatient'
That is when I contacted you for your help and you were able to help us find an inpatient program that billed on an outpatient basis. I am happy to say that my son is doing very well. His attitude on life has changed. I have not seen this side of my son in 5 years. It is such a pleasure to have him back.
We have personally contacted the Governor's Office of the Attorney General and they will be trying to get my son some additional days of treatment as our insurance stopped paying after 30 days and originally would only cover 18 days. Many people are not aware, most outpatient treatment requires approval from the insurance company before treatment begins and in many cases offers a very limited number of days of treatment.
It is my understanding that Drug Crisis in Our Backyard has also been in contact with the Attorney General's Office in hopes of getting the insurance companies to change their policies. Again, I want to thank you and Drug Crisis in our Backyard for all of your help. You are doing a wonderful thing for our community and I want you to know that your hard work is greatly appreciated by our family!"
- Jon G.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Susan and Steve Salomone from Drug Crisis in Our Backyard for the past year and a half. They have done so much advocating for this huge epidemic that we find ourselves faced with and are always available to listen and help when needed They are doing great things in our communities.. Recently, my son relapsed again and went back into a rehab out of state, one which he had previously been in a few years back. He also previously lived in this community in sober living for a few years prior to coming back to our area. Through his years of addiction and sobriety he has lost everything and also knows that he can no longer be in our home. He does not feel comfortable at home as it is where his addiction began and continued off and on for years.
Thanks to the generosity of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, my son has been able to have another chance at life and start over in the community where he feels safest and with the most support. Susan and Steve generously paid his first month’s rent in a sober living environment so that he could start over. Without their help he would not have been able to do this. They have set up good parameters that he must follow through with which as a parent I am so thankful and grateful for. I do know that my son is so appreciative of all that they have done for him to help in his sobriety, but most of all, for believing in him and giving him another chance at a fresh new start."
-Tyler K.
Thanks to the generosity of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, my son has been able to have another chance at life and start over in the community where he feels safest and with the most support. Susan and Steve generously paid his first month’s rent in a sober living environment so that he could start over. Without their help he would not have been able to do this. They have set up good parameters that he must follow through with which as a parent I am so thankful and grateful for. I do know that my son is so appreciative of all that they have done for him to help in his sobriety, but most of all, for believing in him and giving him another chance at a fresh new start."
-Tyler K.
"Not knowing where to turn or what to do this past August and having received a suggestion to attend a Drug Crisis in Our Backyard meeting, we would like to say thank you for the compassion and caring we have found from attending meetings.
While this whole epidemic seems to be nothing short of a fiasco created by corporate greed and improper knowledge by medical professionals, Drug Crisis in Our Backyard has made an impact on us, on how we feel, see things and understand the epidemic.
I meet a lot of people everyday and during conversations hear people telling similar stories to that of our “family” attending Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. I’ll tell them about Drug Crisis and suggest that they reach out.
If we learned only one thing (and we’ve learned much more than that), we know for sure that this disease is non-discriminating and we are not alone."
-William & Donna H.
While this whole epidemic seems to be nothing short of a fiasco created by corporate greed and improper knowledge by medical professionals, Drug Crisis in Our Backyard has made an impact on us, on how we feel, see things and understand the epidemic.
I meet a lot of people everyday and during conversations hear people telling similar stories to that of our “family” attending Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. I’ll tell them about Drug Crisis and suggest that they reach out.
If we learned only one thing (and we’ve learned much more than that), we know for sure that this disease is non-discriminating and we are not alone."
-William & Donna H.