Madison Middle School students hear from parents affected by heroin overdoses

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) – Madison Middle School students were exposed to some hard lessons at an event in the school’s auditorium.

In honor of “Red Ribbon Week,” two parents, each of whom have lost a child to a heroin overdose, spoke to hundreds of students about their harrowing experience. “Red Ribbon Week” is recognized nationally and dedicated to raising awareness about drug use.

One parent, Nicki Strunck, is all too familiar with addiction’s cruelty, having watched her son battle with substance abuse for nine years.  During her presentation, she played the 911 call that she made when she found her son after he had died from a heroin overdose.  She says he was 24 years old, and that it had been his 6th overdose.

“I want you to understand the seirousness of one decision, “Strunck told students, “one decision can end your life.”

She says she shares her son’s story to students in hopes of saving someone else’s life.

Strunck is also opening Breaking Free Ministry, a detox center in Richmond for people who are on a waitlist to get into an addiction recovery program.

More details on the Breaking Free Ministry are available at breakingfreeky.org or by calling (859) 421-0794.