Emotional first in series on addictions, leads to discussion on solutions

Over 100 show in meeting sponsored by Coulee Council on Addictions 

There were emotional moments during a meeting on addiction in La Crosse on Wednesday night.

It was the first of a series of conversations about addiction sponsored by Coulee Council on Addictions.

More than 100 showed up at the Cargill Room downtown for this first in the series, called “A Mom’s Perspective.”

“In our lifetime, if we don’t love someone with an active addiction, we probably know someone who is,” one of the speaker’s told the audience. “Addiction’s best friend is shame and silence. Without it, addiction can’t survive.”

She told a story about her son’s addiction.

“The best gift I can give addiction, is to keep quiet,” she said. “And that’s what our family did with my brother. The best gift I can give myself and my son, is to talk about addiction, to nurture understanding and change.”

The three speakers – all mothers – shared hard stories of addiction truth. Some healing. Some emotion. And a few possible solutions.

During breakout discussions, many attending said one of the key needs in the La Crosse area is a treatment center and hoped for a time when those with addiction would not face public shaming. Others talked about the lack of treatment available under Medicaid.

Some criticized how festivals in the area tend to focus on heavy drinking, while others talked about how badly a detox center is needed.