ALPENA – Overcoming addiction of any type is no easy chore, but overcoming the urge to use opiates is something that takes professional treatment, help from a higher power and purpose.

Much has been said about the heroin issue in the Alpena area, but it is going to take more than taking dealers off the street to solve the problem. Many of those addicted to heroin have become so because they developed a habit from taking prescribed opiate pill such as oxycodone and vicodin.

Laurie Ames has a unique perspective from the damage the drug can do to a person and their family. After her son became addicted to opiates, she tried many things to help him. Helping him to overcome his addiction led her to become a substance abuse prevention specialist for Catholic Human Services in Alcona County.

Ames said there is a misconception about heroin. She said the road to using needles to inject the opiate is long and usually begins when a doctor precribes someone addictive medication for pain. Often the prescription runs out, or becomes too expensive and the addict realizes heroin is cheaper. She said when it gets to that point, it is going to be a long road to helping them become sober,

“To get to the root of the problem these drugs need to stop being prescribed for chronic pain and efforts were made to limit it,” Ames said. “We knew this could be the fallout and now there is a set of new issues to deal with.”

There are treatment programs in Northeast Michigan, but Ames said they only last for 30 days and that isn’t close to the amount needed to strip the mind of the cravings for the drug. She said there are also medications such as Suboxone, which is also an opiate, which reduces the cravings for heroin, but someone on the drug needs to be weaned off properly, or they can become dependent on it as well.

“There is no easy solution and it takes a lot of support to help someone you care about beat this addiction,” Ames said. “The best solution is to not become addicted in the first place and don’t get started on the drugs. It is hard. When they say they can’t live without the drug, it’s the truth.”

Don Woodham started using marijuana at the age of 14 and tried other recreational drugs for years. It was after a pair of back surgeries that he was prescribed oxycodone and became dependent on them. He said his use of the pills well exceeded the prescribed use and after a while he needed to snort the pills to reach the high he expected. Woodham said soon afterward he moved on to the use of heroin and injecting it into his veins and the feeling it gave him hooked him.

“It was the greatest feeling on earth,” Woodham said. “It took the pain away, it was (a) pleasure and I wanted more.”

He spent time in jail while addicted and Woodham said he went through withdrawals while incarcerated. He said it was then he knew he needed help and was committed to trying to get clean.

“I was curled up in a ball on the floor of the cell, cold and sick and I thought I was going to die. The physical detox wasn’t as bad as the mental detox. I had to reconnect with God and get help, or I was going to die.”

On June16 Woodham will celebrate one year opiate free and is moving on to helping people addicted to the drug find treatment. He said before anyone can be helped however, they must accept they have a problem, like he did.

“You have to come to grips and admit you have a problem out of your control, because until you do that, all you will do is point fingers at others,” Woodham said. “Once you can own up to your actions and surrender to the higher power, then you can start recovery.”

Woodman has started a Facebook page called “WolfPack 12 Step Recovery Support Group” where he communicates with addicts and those trying to beat their addiction. He said he is also involved in opening a Families Against Narcotics chapter in Alpena and one day would like a halfway house to help users fresh out of jail or treatment remain clean.

I’ve made it my mission to help those who are addicted,” Woodham said. “That is what keeps me going and keeps me clean and alive.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.