Freedom from Addiction Coalition holds first Community Awareness Breakfast
Mike and Deborah Bailey have lived every parent’s worst nightmare.
On Jan. 30, 2016, the couple lost their 20-year-old daughter Ashlynn to a drug overdose.
Since then, the Baileys have started a foundation, written a book and given talks around the region, and on Tuesday spoke at the Freedom from Addiction Coalition’s first Community Awareness Breakfast.
Held in the fellowship hall at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Vestavia Mayor Ashley Curry, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch and Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer, who make up the coalition, hosted a variety of local resources that treat and aim to prevent addiction. At the meeting, there was a standing-room only crowd of interested community members.
“What we hope to do is raise awareness, reaching out to our citizens,” Curry said. “We also want to have protocols in place where an individual seeking help from addiction can be connected to the available resources that we have here in Birmingham.”
The Baileys spoke about their experiences and thoughts on addiction, along with Addiction Prevention Coalition Executive Director Mike Vest and Alabama Teen Challenge Public Relations Director Jason Norris.
Ashlynn Bailey was in the ninth grade when her troubles began, Mike Bailey said, though for many teens it begins earlier.
“It’s not a matter of if your child will be exposed to drugs, it’s a matter of when your child will be exposed to drugs,” Deborah Bailey said.
She was a cheerleader, involved with the families church and other groups, but when she moved to Hoover’s ninth grade campus, things changed.
“When that happened, new surroundings, new environment, new friends and all that, things started kind of changing for Ashlynn,” Mike Bailey said.
What began as mild experimentation with marijuana quickly turned into addiction to prescription painkillers, and eventually heroin.
Once they finally realized why Ashlynn was doing poorly in class and withdrawing from them and friends, the situation was dire.
Even though their daughter went through nine different programs, and the couple disciplined and sought counseling for their family, Ashlynn passed away from a fentanyl overdose.
“Watching your child do drugs is terrible, but losing your child to an overdose is gut-wrenching,” Deborah Bailey said. “It’s a very great loss.”
But the Baileys said they don’t tell their story to be a sensation or dwell on their own pain, rather, they want to make sure other families don’t go through the same thing their family experienced.
“This is our viewpoint as parents who have lived through the nightmare of it,” Mike Bailey said.
The Baileys urged parents to heed the warning signs.
“When there’s smoke, there’s usually fire,” Mike Bailey said.
If they do discover their child or another loved one is addicted to drugs, even before honestly evaluating the situation, the Baileys suggest setting clear boundaries and speaking life — rather than condemnation or anger — to that person, in addition to leading with love in all things.
The couple emphasized the need for those who have a child or loved one who is addicted to drugs to have their own support system in place.
“I challenge you to strengthen your faith,” Deborah Bailey said. “You’re going to be worn out physically and spiritually.”
Ultimately, all of the speakers at the breakfast encouraged anyone who is concerned about a friend or loved one to contact the resources throughout Birmingham and seek help immediately, even if it’s a hard truth to swallow.
“If there’s anything you guys need from us, please feel free to reach out,” Vest said.
The next Community Awareness Breakfast is scheduled for June 12, and will be hosted by the City of Mountain Brook at a time and location to be determined.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, please visit apcbham.org or call 205.874.8498.