Opiate Free Island Partnership gathering shares stories of recovery

‘I will never not have hope’

By Jenna Lookner

STONINGTON — The third annual Opiate Free Island Partnership Recovery Celebration drew families, friends and supporters to the Island Community Center on September 28. Attendees enjoyed live music, a touch-a-truck event, refreshments, and a small display of vintage automobiles. 

OFIP Director Ashley Pesek said that the celebration is open to all. She said that attendance has slowly grown over the past three years. 

“We kind of take an ‘if we build it, they will come’ approach,” Pesek said of the event.

Island organizations including the Deer Isle and Stonington Fire Departments and the Memorial Ambulance Company were among those in attendance, as was community nurse Stacy Roberts who provides medical services to the fishing community. The firefighters worked together to serve up hot dogs and show off their rigs to eager folks of all ages enjoying the sunny afternoon. Torrin Eaton was on hand to offer face painting free of charge. 

The Darling’s Ice Cream Truck for a cause was also present, with the donation proceeds collected for their frozen confections going to benefit OFIP. 

At the OFIP table, Pesek, OFIP Community Liaison Saige Hammock, and Angel Eaton were greeting attendees. The table was equipped with Narcan and other resources available for free to the public. 

“We gave out more test strips than ever before at the Blue Hill Fair,” Pesek said. 

Among the organizations tabling at the event was AMHC. According to their website, the 60-year-old organization is the largest behavioral healthcare organization in the area and provides certified behavioral health services to thousands of people via 27 locations in Aroostook, Hancock and Washington Counties. They offer integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment that empowers individuals to recover and enhances their “overall quality of life.” 

Sarah Aila of AMHC, a mental health and substance use treatment services provider, distributes Narcan and discusses recovery at the event. Photo by Jenna Lookner.

One of the representatives from AMHC was Sarah Aila who is based in Ellsworth. Aila, who said she has been sober for three and a half years, said her services are free and open to anyone in need.

“My goal is to help others reach their goals through my lived experience,” she said. She added that sharing her experience helps provide a sense of camaraderie to her clients. 

“I can say, ‘We’ve been through the same thing, let’s figure it out together,” she said. 

“If a peer needs me, I go,” she added. 

Amy Evans runs the TENS Foundation in honor of her son Tram who passed away in Joshua Tree National Park after embarking on a self-guided effort to detox. It was the withdrawals that ultimately cost him his life, she said. 

She added that Tram considered Maine his home and, even though she lives in Florida, she makes an effort to connect to Maine and spread her message. She added that she has hosted two trash cleanup events in Maine in his honor. 

Evans spoke about her lack of knowledge when it comes to the dangers of withdrawal.

“I just didn’t know,” she said. She recalled reading his last journal entries where he discussed experiencing seizures. 

“He predicted in his journal that he was going to die,” she said. “He thought he could self-detox and sadly miscalculated.” 

She said that about five percent of alcohol addicts will experience life threatening withdrawal symptoms like her son. Of that five percent, 15 percent will die, she said. 

“I’ve learned a lot and I want to share it with all of you,” Evans said. “It’s not a sign of strength to try to fix it alone. It’s a sign of strength to ask for help from those who love you.” 

Pese, who is an adoptive parent of teens with substance abuse disorders who she supports in navigating and recovering, discussed being an “affected other” in her role as a mother to her biological and adopted children. 

“I have held my kids’ hands while their parents have been intubated,” Pesek said. “We have had holes in walls and broken hearts.” 

She described one of her children discovering their mother overdosed. They administered Narcan and did CPR while on the phone with emergency dispatchers.

“There are moments when I have had to use my professional skills as a mom,” she said. “My personal experience with all of this is heartbreaking. I really couldn’t just fall apart, I used every piece of information I had.” 

But, Pesek added, recovery is possible and the resources exist. She said she is so proud of her own children, some who are young adults, that are in various stages of recovery. 

“Today, I breathe a little easier,” she said. “You hold on for the ride and you love them through it. I will never not have hope.” 

To learn more about the Opiate Free Island Partnership follow them on Facebook. 

Ashley Pesek, Saige Hammock and Angel Eaton represented OFIP at the recovery celebration. Photo by Jenna Lookner.