Ginger Katz, a renowned national speaker and author, will tell the very moving story of how drug abuse killed her son, and discuss how we can prevent such tragedies, at a community forum in Middletown on Wednesday, June 14th, from 6:30PM. to 8:30PM, in the Elks Lodge Crystal Ballroom, 44 Maynard Street, The event is sponsored by the Brighter Visions community outreach and support program of First United Methodist Church, Middletown, in cooperation with Elks Lodge #771. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to speak with event coordinators afterwards for prayer and referrals.

Prescription painkiller abuse is at record levels today, affecting families in Middletown, Connecticut and elsewhere with overdoses, deaths, and ruined lives as never before. Virginia (“Ginger”) Katz knows the heartbreaking truth behind those statistics - she lost her son Ian to a drug overdose in 1996, and founded The Courage to Speak Foundation, Inc., to spread her personal story of loss and renewed hope to parents, children, teens, and adults of all ages. 

Ginger’s story is like the story of so many families. "Ian hid his pain.” she said. “I tell all the kids, "Get it out! Don't bury it! There are people out there able to help. If you can talk to your parents, do so. If not, find three adults you can trust who will help you sort things out". Communication is the key to the solution, she observes, and she offers many practical approaches to courageous conversations in the family that can help to break the cycle of drug abuse and denial.

“Whether you are someone with a loved one who you know is abusing painkillers or other drugs, or whether you are just concerned for them or others in our community, this evening can be a turning point for you,” said Barbara Marks, Pastor of First United Methodist Church Middletown. “People in our own church community have lost loved ones very recently to drug overdoses - it can happen to anyone, at any time. We are here to help people to find the strength for a brighter vision of their future.”