TUJUNGA, Calif. -- The misuse of an addiction to opioids has reached epidemic proportions. Neighborhoods around the country are taking matters into their own hands. In Tujunga, residents recently came together for community conversation about opioid addiction.
Maria Alexander is reading a Mother's Day card from her daughter that has special meaning because during the years that she was addicted to drugs, she spent more than a few holidays in jail and lost custody of her children. Now that she's clean and sober, she's able to celebrate with her two children and her new grandson.
"This one is the first year of watching my daughter, be a mother and that's just... I can't believe I'm just here to see that and I'm so grateful," said Maria, with tears in her eyes.
She almost wasn't here to see any of this after overdosing five times. Her daughter Sylvia found her one of those times when she was just a little girl.
"I just remember the paramedics coming in they like broke down the door. And that's when I realized and they had said she was overlooking in that they told me like I saved her life," said Sylvia. "But she's an amazing mother and grandmother now."
Maria is showing her son, Eddie his photo, which is part of a campaign for the opioid blocker naloxone. It once saved her life. He talks about everything his mom has been through and overcome.
"She's the strongest person I know, male or female," said Eddie.
Maria shows the full campaign poster on her phone that has a dozen people holding various signs.
"Those are people who have survived overdoses and who now work helping others," said Maria, who is now the Executive Director for the Center for Living and Learning. The center provides services to more than 500 people a year who are transitioning out of rehab or jail. Maria was once a client herself.
On this Monday evening she's attending an opioid community conversation at the North Valley neighborhood City Hall and talking with her friend, Sandy Logan, from the San Fernando Valley Partnership.
The event was sponsored by the group Communities In Action, a collaboration of different local organizations that implement programs designed to prevent drug abuse.
Parents were informed that 49 percent of 12 to 17 year olds have said they've used prescription drugs before or during school.
An ER doctor, an LAPD Narcotics detective, a social worker, and a pharmacist are on the panel. They're telling the audience of about 75 people what they're seeing on the frontlines of the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.
"Everyone asked questions. And I think they walked away with more than just like a scare tactic," said Logan afterward. "They walked away with information, empowering them, services that they can get help with, and ways to help protect their families."
"I'm really hoping that these community conversations will bring the community together to find a solution and I want everyone to have the same chance to save their life that I had," added Maria.
As a former drug user, and overdose survivor, Maria plans to continue this community conversation wherever she goes, in the hopes that it will help save lives.