There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, said Julie Brenner of North Oakland Community Coalition’s (NOCC) emotional Dec. 2 meeting.
Brenner, NOCC executive director, invited community members to ‘meet Tyler? and ‘learn about his struggle with heroin.?
What the 40 guests didn’t know is Tyler, son of Rick and Ruth Aust, of Rochester, died of a heroin overdose June 4 in his E. Shadbolt Street residence.
‘Heroin robbed me of my son,? Ruth said. ‘What I want parents to know is that could happen to your kid, too.?
NOCC’s goal is to create a healthy, safe and drug-free environment.
The coalition partnered with the Austs to help educate the community on not just heroin use, but alcohol, tobacco and prescription and illegal drug use.
‘Part of the reason [kids are] using alcohol and drugs is because they’re bored,? said Brenner. ‘They have no other outlet. They have no transportation to get to where they want to go, there’s not a lot to do after school ? that’s what they’re saying.?
But what young people don’t realize is how fatal ‘using? can be, according to Brenner. And what the community doesn’t realize is how prevalent it is in Lake Orion.
‘It’s a sleepy little town but it’s here and it’s affecting the kids,? she said. ‘Kids are dying from it.?
As parents, what do you do? Brenner’s advice is to ‘pay attention.?
‘If you’re connected to your kids, you’ll notice there’s something going on,? she said. ‘If you suspect your kids are using, snoop around.?
Tyler’s mom says parents have to be on guard even after their children turn 18 or 21.
‘My message is that our young people are vulnerable to influences and impulsivities even past the age of maturity.
Those negatives still influence them even when we think they’re in a safe place,? she said.
Aust says she was especially stricken by the fact that her son was under the care of a mental health agency who said Tyler was going to be supervised and supported. Tyler struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and drug use in his adult life after an abusive childhood, according to the Austs, who are his adoptive parents.
‘I relaxed and my son died,? she said ‘He was under the care of Training and Treatment Innovations and he was begging for help. It wasn’t like he was sneakily doing things ? he was begging for help but obviously succumbed.?
She added, ‘I was so focused on keeping Tyler out of Pontiac because I knew that drugs were there. I thought that when he ended up in Lake Orion, he was safe.?
So, Aust says, be on guard.