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The Hollister Police Department is sponsoring An Over-DOSE of REALity, a resource fair that will include presentations on issues such as mental health, substance abuse, overdoses, and recovery. The event will take place on Sept. 28 at the Hollister Veterans’ Memorial Building from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will feature presentations by individuals who have gone from substance use to recovery and who will offer their accounts of the physical challenges and mental health issues they have been through in hopes of bringing awareness to others.
Aiden Fuller, 19, is recovering from fentanyl addiction and recently celebrated his birthday at home for the first time in three years.
“I’ve been in recovery too many times to count,” Fuller said. “I’ve been in jail, in rehab three times, and I’ve had more than ten overdoses. I’m going to be showing pictures of me when I was sick so people can understand this is not something you can hide.”
Fuller began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an early age and said his days became nothing but getting up, getting high, and going back to sleep.
“You can’t function,” he said. “I mean, you’re not even gonna be conscious. It’s just the escape: you nod out, and you’re gone. You don’t have to experience anything. You don’t have to deal with emotions or your responsibilities out there.”
Having gone through rehab and getting clean in isolation, Fuller said he learned that cutting off former friends was the key to his recovery—and the most challenging part.
“I would go back to the same environment where things are readily available and relapse almost instantly,” he said. “Recovery feels different now. I learned not to blame myself for what has happened and that I need to give myself some grace.”
Fuller is just one of the people struggling with addiction issues who will be sharing their stories and talking about how they got on the path to recovery. Staci Esqueda, a mental health officer with the police department, said his story was one that others might benefit from.
“His is a very contemporary experience that our young people are having right now,” she said. “We think it is very important for parents or loved ones to hear someone as young as him come forward and say, ‘These are the challenges your kids are facing. This is what the fentanyl epidemic actually looks like.’”
Esqueda said the event’s purpose is to raise community awareness and open lines of communication for those seeking help for themselves or others.
“We hope to help individuals start conversations with their loved ones,” Esqueda said. “We want to break down some of the stigma and introduce more awareness, connecting people with resources that can help support their loved ones.”
Esqueda said many people in town have come to her saying that they have loved ones who may not have overdosed but definitely struggle with substance use. She said said the biggest obstacle to recovery is not knowing how to approach getting treatment.
“Many people have a hard time acknowledging that they have a problem,” she said, “or they don’t feel comfortable expressing the need to seek help. They’ve taken the first steps once they’ve overcome that hurdle.”
Cheree Ashley, CEO of Bright Future Recovery, said similar community events, including presentations at Hollister High School, have had very good results.
“We are trying to reach people who are either unaware of the problem or dealing with it for the first time,” she said. “There’s been an increase in drug use, especially opiates, over the last decade that we are seeing across the nation and here in our small town.”
Ashley said there are many avenues to treatment, including Bright Future Recovery, and it was important for people to know what resources are available and what might be suitable for their situation.
“When somebody comes to us seeking answers,” she said, “if our program is not an appropriate fit, we will guide the family and those suffering to other programs that might be a better fit. Sometimes getting out of town—out of sight, out of mind—is better.”
Ashley said that, as long as someone works with professionals and stays with a detox program, their chances for recovery are good.
“if somebody is willing to surrender and have an open mind to what is needed to get through the process,” she said, “they’ll be successful and follow it all the way. But they have to know they will not need to go through it alone.”
Ashley said the event will serve those with questions or concerns who do not know who to call or may not be hesitant to seek treatment.
“It’s heartbreaking when somebody comes in and they’re willing and ready to change their life, and it’s a little too late,” she said. “People don’t understand or realize how bad addiction is and when they become aware, they need to know what to do and where to turn for help.”
Information on addiction and recovery will be available at the event from San Benito Behavioral Health, the San Benito Opioid Task Force, Suicide Prevention, the Youth Alliance, the San Benito LGBTQ+ Resource Center, First 5 San Benito, Bright Futures Recovery and Youth Recovery Connections.
The Over-DOSE of REALity event will take place on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hollister Veteran’s Memorial Building at 649 San Benito Street. Live presentations will start at 10 a.m., and the Resource Fair will run from 12 to 1 p.m. First 5 San Benito will provide childcare.
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