Lassen County Times, Westwood PinePress
: 2B Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007
Ruth Ellis
Staff writer
rellis@lassennews.com
The Narcotics Overdose
Prevention and Education
Taskforce first candlelight
vigil was a time to remember
those who have died from
drug-or alcohol-related
events, but also to bring
awareness about the devasta-
tion drugs and alcohol use
can bring.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday,
Oct. 23, community members
gathered at Memorial Park in
Susanville to participate in
the nationwide event.
During the evening, those
at the vigil heard from the
mothers of Stephen Draxler
and Alan Hoffman, and
Hoffman's brother, Zach, also
spoke.
Hoffman and Draxler, both
of Susanville, died on Sept.
23, 2006, from a methadone
overdose.
Dee Draxler said her son
brought so much joy. Dee also
shared how she, Dave Wilson,
who Stephen viewed as a dad,
were once functioning drug
addicts, both eventually
served time in jail and prison.
However, with her son's
patience and support, Dee
said she went on to college
graduating with top honors.
When she heard she her son
died of a methadone over-
dose, Draxler said she walked
around in a fog of disbelief.
"Of all things, I never
dreamed my son would die of
a drug overdose. I had talked
to him about drugs, he even
knew firsthand what drugs
could do to a person and how
drugs broke up .our family.
However, I never thought to
talk to him about prescription
pills," Dee said.
She encouraged everyone
in attendance to live a drug-
free life.
"If not, your only other
option is jail, prison or
death," she said. "I know, I
went to jail, I went prison and
my. son paid the ultimate
price."
Dee said it only takes one
time to make the wrong
choice.
"Don't let it be you or one of
your friends. Reach out and
help one another by getting
help or talking to someone. It
can save your life."
She said her son did not die
in vain and after his death, a
friend who was addicted to
methadone got help and is
clean and sober today.
When Alan died, Brenda
Hoffman said at first, she was
surprised to learn his death
could've been caused by
methadone.
Brenda said she had always
talked to her sons about drug
use because of her own broth-
er's drug related death. Like
Dee, Brenda said she never
thought to talk to her boys
about prescription drugs
until Alan died.
To those in attendance,
Brenda said to think about
the prescription drugs in
their homes and how conve-
nient it would be for someone
to take them. And if it wasn't
. a drug someone takes often,
how long would it be, if ever,
before the drugs were discov-
ered missing.
After Alan died, Brenda
said she would think about
the p~Tescription drugs in her
home, too.
She asked those in atten-
dance if they receive a pre-
scription from a doctor, to ask
if the drugs should be locked
up somewhere.
Brenda said she didn't want
another family to go through
what her family did.
She encouraged people who
know someone who is using
drugs, even for the first time,
to get them help.
"'If you think someone is
overdosing call 911," she said.
When she ended her
speech, Brenda said, "Think
twice, you only die once."
Zach shared how Alan was
a role model to him, saying
Alan was funny, nice and an
all-around good guy.
He said, "Just do Alan a
favor, don't do drugs; don't let
your friends or family mem-
bers do drugs. Drugs killed
my older brother, don't let
them kill you or someone that
you love."
Dr: B.J. Goodridge, a local
pharmacist, said he dispenses
prescription drugs such as
oxycontin, methadone and
percoset. He reiterated what
Brenda said and encouraged
everyone to lock up their pre-
scription drugs.
The event also featured
keynote speaker Dr. Eric
Trevizu, a psychologist who
talked about grief.
Lassen High School stu-
dents provided special music,
with Barrett Shepherd play-
ing guitar, Kacie Toon sang
Eric Clapton's "Tears in
Heaven" and Stephanie
Gifford sang Sarah
McLachlan's "I Will
Remember You" as people
lighted candles and Cerena
Brewen sang "Calling All
Angels."
The evening ended with a
moment of silence.
A memory board at the
event included pictures of
those who died from drug or
alcohol related incidents.
Those represented from
Lassen County included
Draxler, Hoffman, Robbie
Schlauch, who died in Chico
last October, and Kelli Tassi-
Berry who was killed by a
driver under the influence of
drugs.
Tassi-Berry and her newly-
wed husband were taking a
walk when the driver ran his
car into them killing Tassi-
Berry and injuring her hus-
band.
National, local statistics
Goodridge, provided both
local and national statistics
about drug use and said there
is a problem in Lassen
County like the rest of ~the
country.
In 2006, 86 local fifth-
graders were surveyed and 40
Candle in hand, Dee Draxler, mother of Stephen Draxler, looks at the photos on the Narcotics
Overdose Prevention and Education's memorial board, which displayed photos of people who
have died from drug or alcohol related deaths. Draxler spoke about her son and cautioned peo-
ple to stay away from drugs at the first NOPE candlelight vigil held on Wednesday, Oct. 24 in
Memorial Park. Photo by Ruth Ellis
percent said they had used
alcohol, 9 percent said they
had used alcohol one to two
times in the past six months.
Nine percent believed there
was a 50-50 chance they would
use marijuana the following
school year.
Five percent believed alco-
hol use is not bad and 3 per-
cent believed marijuana use
is not bad.
For prescription pain
killers, 10 percent of seventh-
graders who were surveyed
admitted to using them one
time.
Twenty-one percent of the
freshmen surveyed admitted
to Using four times or more,
while 13 percent of the
juniors admitted using pre-
scription drugs two to three
times and 15 percent admitted
using four or more times.
The National Survey on
Drug Use and Health reported
9.8 percent of- teenagers ages
12-17 were current illicit drug
users and more than 2.6 mil-
lion-Americans ages 12 and
older reported first time use
of prescription drugs for non-
medical purposes.
Assemblyman Keene among
featured speakers at dinner
Ron Nehring, chairman of
the California Republican
Party and Assemblyman Rick
Keene are the featured speak-
ers at a Republican Central
Committee dinner
Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the
Beckwith Tavern in
Beckwourth.
With the election just
around the corner, Plumas
chairperson Leah West said
this is a great opportunity to
be informed by learning the
issues and getting the facts so
voters can make informed
decisions.
The reception begins at 5
p.m. followed by dinner at 6
p.m. Meal includes your
choice of prime rib, top sir-
loin steak, chicken Marsala
or pasta primavera, with
soup, salad and dessert.
Reservations are required
for the dinner, which is a joint
venture of the Lassen,
Plumas, Sierra and Modoc
county central committees.
RSVP by Sunday, Nov. 4 to
Leah West in Graeagle, 836-
1234 or Tim Holabird in
Susanville, 827-3018.
li
Turn a speoia photo
into the perfect gift!
Now you can buy the photos you see in the Lassen
County Times and Westwood PinePress, PLUS all the
photos taken at the event that weren't published in the
paper. You can buy prints in many different sizes or
even have them printed on notecards, coffee mugs,
coasters, tote bags, key tags, buttons and more!
Go to LassenPhotos.com now to preview and
order your favorite photos on Our secure website.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, personal checks and money orders.
Submitted photos not available.
:?:
.o.
::L :
::'7
Z. :
~S-S
,~.
S:,::
!:~i i
Congressman John T.
Doolittle continued his efforts
to compensate local counties
for the large amounts of fed-
erally owned land within
their borders.
On Oct. 18, Doolittle invited
Jim Nussle, the Office of
Management and Budget
Director to his office to dis-
cuss the importance of reau-
thorizing the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act.
This law, originally enacted
in 2000, provides federal pay-
ments for counties to be used
for schools and roads as a
result of the negative impact
federal lands have on coun-
ties' abilities to raise revenue.
AlSo Doolittle co-sponsored
H.R. 3508, the most recent pro-
posal that would extend these
payments through 2011.
DooUttle, who was joined by
several colleagues from west-
ern states, requested the Bush
Administration consider the
importance of these pay-
ments and work with
Congress to reauthorize the
legislation which expired in
2006. While payments are still
being made under a short-
term extension, local coun-
ties desperately need the
security that would come
with the four-year extension
Doolittle has supported.
Closed
10-22 to 10-31
SitSpot is closed while Jackie
attends the association of Pet
Dog Trainers Conference
10-22 to 10-31
We will reopen Thursday, Nov. 1
SitSpot Canine Center
Training, Boarding & Day Care.
472-380 Johnstonville Rd.
(530) 257-3161
"I greatly appreciate John
organizing this meeting,"
said Representative Wally
Herger "The Secure Rural
Schools program is incredi-
bly important to all of
Northern California.
Legislation to extend the pro-
gram for another four years iS
moving forward in the House,
but until a bill becomes law,
we must continue to take
every opportunity .to find
relief [or our rural and forest-
ed counties.
Thursday's meeting with
the President's chief budget
advisor provided us with a
perfect opportunity to do
that."
"This is a matter of equi-
ty," Doolittle said. "Our coun-
ties were promised that they
would be compensated when
the federal government took
their land to create the
National Forest System.
As a result of the decline in
the timber industry and
Congress' failure to reautho-
rize the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Serf-
Determination Act, these
counties lack the revenue to
provide essential public ser-
vices to their citizens."
H.R. 3058 has been
approved by the House
Committee on Natural
Resources and awaits consid-
eration by the full House.
It Shouldn't
To Go Home
Information and
assistance is
available 24 hours,
Out-of-Area
888-289-5004.
