Addiction prevention, recovery to be discussed at North Allegheny event

Sherry Jo Matt lost her 21-year-old daughter Siena Bott to a fentanyl overdose in 2020.

Matt says there’s no better time than now to face the issue of substance abuse in the North Allegheny area.

“A Candid Conversation about Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction” on April 21, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Marshall Middle School is an important first step.

The discussion, presented by North Allegheny School District and the NA Citizens Advisory Board, will feature a panel of local experts to talk about drugs, alcohol and addiction and is geared toward parents and caregivers. An RSVP is recommended via https://nasd.school/CandidConversation.

The event will feature Bryan Kiggins, NASD Student Services department chair; Jeff Longo, NASD student assistance program coordinator; Dr. Rebecca Miller, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Abigail Schlesinger, chief of UPMC’s Children’s Hospital Behavioral Science Division; and Dr. J. Deanna Wilson, assistant professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh.

For parents, starting a conversation with their child about drugs and alcohol can be challenging. Those struggling with addiction may not recognize the effects of their behavior or are unwilling to seek treatment, said North Allegheny Superintendent Dr. Melissa Friez.

“As substance abuse statistics rise on a national level, we will only see the number of issues rise inside the district unless we are able to educate and prevent students from going down a harmful path,” she said.

“It’s our hope that by having an open and honest discussion about drugs, alcohol, and addiction, we can reduce the stigma around substance abuse and provide families with resources to get those struggling help,” she said.

Parents will learn when and how to talk to children about drugs and alcohol, substance-abuse trends, and ways to deal with kids having drug, alcohol and tobacco issues. Getting this type of information is something Matt wishes she had for her child.

“When it’s addiction, you don’t know where to go. It’s so lonely and so isolating,” said Matt, of Franklin Park.

Siena was a 2017 NA graduate with a full-ride to Allegheny College, according to her mother. But she had been struggling with addiction for years, most likely beginning with her trying to cope with mental health issues as a young teenager. Matt said the family did all they thought they could do to save her, but had no real answers, few resources and faced a stigma that prevents society from talking about addiction openly. Matt said Siena had overdosed at their home on fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid.

“It happens everywhere. It can happen to anyone. Nobody should feel so much pain,” said Matt.

Matt is the founder of “Stop the Judgment Project” that encourages an open dialogue about drug addiction and drug use and is dedicated to changing the way people think about addiction and the stigma. Addiction is a mental health issue, she said.

NA being so highly competitive adds another level of student stress.

“As a parent, you don’t want to be judged, and you for sure don’t want your child to be judged,” she said.

She will be at the discussion to address any questions related to addiction.

Joining Matt and the other panelists is McCandless Township Police Officer Matt Metzer, a police school resource officer at NA for four years. He’s been with McCandless police for 19 years, and was with the City of Pittsburgh Police Department before that for 10 years.

Metzger said he helps educate students about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. He also helps them find the resources and treatment they need.

Substance abuse is everywhere, and even in North Allegheny, Metzer said. He will be at the event to share what to look for, and what’s trending. With mental health issues on the rise, so is the desire to self-medicate.

“Drugs are readily accessible to anybody,” said Metzger.

While the event is open to people of all ages, the conversations may be mature. The school district advises that parents and guardians should decide whether their children attend.

The evening will also feature a “Hidden in Plain Sight Room,” an interactive, hands-on bedroom display that has hidden clues of drug abuse, a demonstration available only for those 21 and older.

There will also be a livestream prior to the event.

Matt doesn’t want what happened to her family to happen to someone else. She just wants parents to get the information they need and know that they are not alone. And addiction isn’t something someone can just turn off or control.

“She had such a big heart and so much compassion for everyone,” she said about her daughter. “She illuminated the room. She could talk to anybody.”

Visit www.stopthejudgement.org for more information about addiction issues.