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The Salomones co-founded Drug Crisis In Our Backyard in honor of their 29-year-old son Justin, a Mahopac High School graduate, who died of an overdose in May 2012. The Salomones started the organization with the Christiansens of Somers, who lost their son Erik to a drug overdose around the same time.
Drug Crisis In Our Backyard is hosting a fundraiser on Monday, Oct. 6 at Dante's Trattoria at 167 Route 6 in Mahopac at 6:30 p.m.
The organization's goal is to raise awareness about the drug problem in the region and to do more to prevent drug use.
"After our son's death, my wife wrote an open letter in Mahopac News about what happened," Steve Salomone said. "There was a tremendous reaction. Other people were experiencing similar problems."
Salomone said he wanted to erase the stigma of a family member having a drug problem.
"People are embarrassed by it," Salomone said. "We want people to know they are not alone. Addiction is not just a bad choice. It's an illness."
Drug Crisis has been out in the community since it was started. A 5K was recently held at FDR Park in Yorktown and the group hosts support groups for families dealing with drug use. The group also hosts narcan training to prevent overdoses and does talks with local PTAs.
"We want people to recognize the signs before somebody starts using," Salomone said. "Once somebody is addicted, it's hard to get them off of it."
Salomone said parents have to understand they can't use logic and reasoning when their son becomes a drug addict.
"Your child is going through something they have little control over," Salomone said. "They are not thinking clearly. You can't just sit down with them."
If someone in the family has a drug problem, Salomone said they must get professional help and/or contact a professional organization.
"We tried rationalizing with our son as he struggled with addiction for six years," Salomone said. "They are sick. They are driven by drugs.
For more information, visit http://www.drugcrisisinourbackyard.com.
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