Vigil aims to raise addiction awareness

Jody Chatelain had the task of sifting through 517 photos of overdose victims.
She had to choose which ones to include on the memorial slide show for the Narcotics Overdose Prevention Education Candle Light Vigil at the First Christian Church in Bloomington Thursday evening.

“It made me quite reflective because I realized this disease is no discerner of your race, disease or religion,” Chatelain said. “This disease doesn’t have any
boundaries.”

The vigil was to honor those who have lost the battle of drug addiction or are currently
suffering.

As the event started, Chatelain said 50 other NOPE vigils were started across the country.

Chatelain said addiction costs the U.S. $650 billion every year, and about 2 percent of that goes to treatment.

“That’s what we’re trying to change,” Chatelain said.

Michael Paine, author and activist, told the story of his son David Michael Paine Jr.’s addiction.

“My son began to experience difficulty with marijuana when he was 12 or 13 years old,” Paine said.

Paine said he learned of his son’s disease after attending his own alcoholics anonymous meetings. Paine said at first, he tried to convince his wife to go to meetings, but after her first week she never went back. Paine stayed with the
program.

Paine Jr. was in prison for 7 years in Arizona and 7 years in California, both on drug related charges. Paine Jr. came out with a swastika on his chest and tear drops on his face.

“Once you get into the system it’s hell to pay. It’s not an easy system once they get your name,” Paine said.

Paine Jr. overdosed three times. One of the times, he was put on a ventilator for eight days, and survived, Paine said.

Addiction is not a quick-fix illness, it is a disease that will kill you, he said.
Paine said most alcoholics and drug users have experiences they do not share with people.

“We have to get behind the mask to get at a root cause of what’s doing all this, and then we can start treating what’s happening,” Paine said.
 
Paine said he did not find Paine Jr.’s mask until he was in prison in California. It was there he told his father he had been molested by the same clergyman Paine had asked to help him.

Methamphetamine was the worst thing David had ever found in his life, Paine said.
Paine said when dealing with someone on meth, people are dealing with someone charged up with a completely different personality, someone who is violent, has no respect and is dangerous.

Paine said he heard about Paine Jr.’s friends dying and it crushed him, but he never connected that happening to his son because he was always getting his son help.
“I don’t have the time to bore you with all the good points of his life. He was a very neat, spiritual kid every time he was sober, and he was a delight to be with,” Paine said.

One day, Paine said he had been watching television when his son showed up at his house high on meth and wanted to come in. Paine told him no and to come back when he straightened out. Paine said the next thing he heard was his son crashing in the front doors. Paine’s son started hitting him, and eventually Paine shot Paine Jr. in the leg.

“You shot me,” Paine recalls Paine Jr. saying.

“I know I did,” Paine said. “Now, get to the hospital.”

“I’d rather be dead than go to the hospital,” Paine recalls Paine Jr. saying.
Paine called the police and eventually received the news that his son had died.
“Don’t think you can’t die, because you can, and don’t think you can’t go to prison, because you will,” Paine said.

Follow reporter Mary Hauber on Twitter @mary_hauber.