By Erin Smith
One Bladen County woman’s journey with addiction has led her to begin offering Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The meetings take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 until 7 PM at 1729 US Hwy. 701 North, Elizabethtown.
Garrison is registered online with Narcotics Anonymous and said the Tuesday meeting is an open meeting, and anyone can attend and join the group. She said the number of individuals in attendance at the meetings varies from meeting to meeting.
Garrison moved to Bladen County a couple of years ago and she said she began noticing there was a need in Bladen County for this type of group. She said the opioid epidemic has been making headlines everywhere and is prevalent in Bladen County.
“Bladen County has been hit pretty bad with this,” said Garrison.
Garrison began the group as a way of reaching out to others. Garrison has had personal experience with addiction following an automobile accident in 2004. Garrison said as a result of the accident, she suffered a broken leg, broken ankle and neck injuries. She underwent eight surgeries in one year and was taking prescription-strength pain medications to manage her pain level.
“Until then, I had never taken pain medication other than Motrin or Tylenol,” said Garrison.
She said her pain level was so great; she had to take the prescription-strength pain medication. Garrison said while under the care of a neurologist and a surgeon, she remained on the pain medications for more than one year. She recounted that each time she tried to stop taking them, she would become very, very sick.
“I began to realize I had an issue and had to get help getting off of them,” said Garrison.
She said the opioid issue has become an epidemic and almost everyone is affected by it.
“If I can help, that is what I want to do,” said Garrison.
For more information about the meetings, call 910-729-0170. A search of the Narcotics Anonymous website also shows an NA group meets at Open Door Ministries.
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