ALLEGANY, N.Y. — When she was just 10 years old, a 21-year-old woman named Kassie began smoking cigarettes and marijuana with a relative, and was eventually raped by the individual.
The violent incident led to the young woman’s downward spiral in drugs over the next several years which was only halted through help provided by the Kids Escaping Drugs program based in Buffalo.
The young woman, as well as another young recovering addict from the program, recently spoke to students at Allegany-Limestone Middle/High School during a two-day visit arranged by School Resource Officer, Dep. Devine Leacock.
Leacock said both Interim Superintendent Mark Ward and Principal Cory Pecorella provided support for the presentations, which were held for the first time for students at the middle/high school. All students on campus attended the presentations held in the auditorium.
“I’ve seen the programs in Buffalo and West Seneca … and I’ve seen them here” in the Olean area, Leacock said. “I’ve also seen it presented multiple times this week. I feel it’s very powerful.”
Leacock said similar presentations were provided to Allegany-Limestone teachers last year during staff development day, and all appreciated the program and wanted it provided to students.
John Bennett, intervention specialist with the Kids Escaping Drugs program at the Renaissance Addiction Services center, told the Allegany-Limestone students the facility has treated young people from all walks of life, from rich to poor.
“(Addiction) can happen to anybody — the worst thing a kid can say is, ‘This can’t happen to me,’” Bennett told the students. “The whole point of these presentations is that it will not only save your life, but it can also save the life of a friend.”
Kassie, whose last name was not provided, told the students she was one of the many young people who found help through the non-profit organization.
Her addiction came about after she was introduced to drugs and alcohol by a close relative, who later raped her when he was under the influence. Later on, she was raped by another relative. Marijuana, pills and alcohol didn’t help her depression and anxiety and she asked friends for something stronger.
“I shot heroin for my very first time at 14 years old,” Kassie recalled. “I instantly fell in love with it, it was cheap and easy to get.”
She shot up and used drugs over the following years, until finally fed up, her mother threw her out of their home when she was 18. She continued on with her drug use, dropped from 135 pounds to 95 pounds and lived with a boyfriend who attacked and injured her with a knife. After failed counseling and treatment at other centers, as well as arrests, her family convinced her to enter the Renaissance center.
“There are a lot of people (in there) who have gone through this … it shocked me,” Kassie said. “When I got out, I got my life back … I’d never seen myself the way I am today.”
She said she recently got a job and plans to attend college.
Kassie ended her presentation by advising the students not bend to pressure to take drugs, including marijuana, because it can lead to horrible addiction with narcotics and opioids.
During his comments, Bennett said the Intervention Program for students, as well as the Face 2 Face presentations for adults in the workplace, are free of charge and open to everyone in the region. A variety of other programs and seminars are also available.
“In addition we have an ‘Ask a Counselor’ function on our websitewww.ked.org where anyone can communicate with a counselor to answer their questions or concerns,” Bennett said.
He said the programs receive state and private grants for presentations in schools and workplaces, but also rely on donations from area communities and fundraisers.
“The communities have been very generous to us,” Bennett added.
For more information on the programs or presentations, visitwww.ked.org or call (716) 827-9462.
