Shedding a light on heroin abuse

WEST MILFORD — This past May 10, Chris Fagan's life changed forever. Her 23-year-old son, Nick, died of a heroin overdose after a four-year struggle. Just a few days later on Mother's Day, Fagan and her daughter, Kacie, decided Nick would not die in vain.

"We as a community need to fight this epidemic," said Fagan of Towaco in a letter.

And so Fagan and her daughter decided to start an organization that will shed light on the heroin epidemic in the local area and help fight it. They came up with "A Change For Nick," taken from the heart-wrenching eulogy by his friend at Nick's funeral.

This Sunday, "A Change For Nick" is hosting a pig roast at the West Milford Elks Club. The donations received will be used to raise awareness and to help addicts in the area who need financial assistance for rehab.

"We are working with Transformation Life Center (TLC), a drug rehabilitation center in New York State and will also form a scholarship fund for someone who has successfully completed a program and is ready to attend a trade school or college in the area," Fagan said in a letter about the organization.

Nick, who was from Haskell and graduated from Lakeland Regional High School, absolutely loved movies, according to his aunt Valerie Jernigan. He was very athletic, playing basketball and baseball, and participated in school plays.

"He was very popular and likeable," said Jernigan. "I want everyone to know it can happen to anyone."

Heroin is prevalent in the area. It is cheap and very accessible, Jernigan noted. She said her nephew was the fifth person in the area to overdose at the time.

"Heroin has been steadily and rapidly expanding from the usual centers of use and distribution for over a decade," said Fagan in her letter. "It can no longer be considered just an inner city problem but has reached and continues to infiltrate our communities. We are here to push the issue and make sure that the families within our communities are made aware of the growing heroin epidemic."

And so A Change For Nick has its vision - to help families and addicts with support such as counseling and job placement.

"Nicholas received excellent care at TLC and we are working with TLC on helping an addict that is ready to make a change in their life," said Fagan.

A Change For Nick pig roast will have a special guest speaker, Donald K. Hallcom, Ph.D., director of Prevention and Early Intervention at New jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The D.R.B. Band will provide entertainment.

Many local businesses have come on board supporting A Change For Nick, including Andrea Powers Yoga, Aqua Tech Pool Supply, Emil's Auto Repair, Harvest Moon Health Food Store, Mark Lindsay and Sons Plumbing and Heating, Momento Restaurant, Snap Fitness, The Children's Castle, The Vreeland Store, Uncorked Wine and Spirits, Valley View Pub, West Milford Pharmacy and West Milford Physical Therapy.

"As a foundation looking to make a difference, it is clear that financial support is needed in order to make our foundation's goals a reality," said Fagan. "We ask for your help to make this necessary change to destroy the face of heroin, a change we cannot accomplish without your support, A Change for Nick."