PAGE A4: LEARN MORE ABOUT KAY IVEY, OUR 55TH GOVERNOR A Nu Direction provides addiction recovery for Elmore County
PAGE A2
High school football coveragee from the area
Football season wrap ups for Stanhope, Holtville and Edgewood Academy
INSIDE TODAY
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THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper - Established 1898
Wetumpka, AL 36092
50¢
WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 14, 2018
THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM
VOL. 120, NO. 46
‘Addiction is not a choice’ Alabama, Elmore County facing meth, opioid crisis By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Staff Writer
Addiction is no stranger to Alabama, especially to the thousands of people who struggle with addictions to two of the state’s most common types of drugs:
opioids and methamphetamines. During a 2013-2014 study by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration, more than 100,000 people over the age of 12 were reportedly abusing or depending on illicit drugs in Alabama.
But despite some common misconceptions, addiction is not a choice or the result of character weakness. Alabama Department of Mental Health Director of Substance Abuse Treatment and Development Nicole Walden See ADDICTION • Page A5
DID YOU KNOW? Alabama has the highest drug prescription rate in the country. It is almost twofold greater than the average U.S. rate of 79. See more addiction facts on Page A5.
Woman talks opioids and how local facility helps women overcome addiction, abuse By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
R
ecently, it was a big day for Jennifer Bice. Her parental rights were reinstated through Alabama’s Department of Human Resources after her children were placed in a foster home due to her substance abuse. “It’s been 19 months. It was supposed to be December but we don’t have to wait that long,” Bice said with a smile. “I’m so happy. I am also nervous, but I know God hasn’t brought me this far to let me go now.” While this isn’t the first reunification for the family after a stay in foster care, Bice says it will be the last. “This is the second time that I lost them. The See OVERCOME • Page A6
History comes Weather to life at 51 37 Frontier Days
Tribute to Veterans reaches 10th year
Today’s
High
Low
THURSDAY: HIGH 43 LOW 31
CONTACT US 334-567-7811 Fax: 334-567-3284 USPS 681-260
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
By AMALIA KORTRIGHT Bureau Chief
Thousands of people came to Fort ToulouseFort Jackson Park throughout the week to get a glimpse of daily life during the century before Alabama became a state. At the 23rd annual Alabama Frontier Days, which was held at the park from Nov. Amalia Kortright / The Herald 7-10, visitors were able to interact with Students from elementary schools throughout the state were able to see the types See HISTORY • Page A6 of entertainment that were popular during Alabama’s early settlement period.
In honor of those who served in the United States military, Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka held its annual Tribute to Veterans event Sunday. “We enjoyed great music and some great stories while we recognized our men and women’s service to this nation,” event co-organizer Gardner Perdue said. During Tribute to Veterans, patriotic music was performed See TRIBUTE • Page A3
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