BINGHAMTON – Hundreds gathered to march in the ‘Trail of Truth’ in memory of their loved ones as part of international overdose awareness day.

Family members continued their grieving process and were able to obtain further information about Truth Pharm, an organization designed to reduce the stigma about addiction, inform the public about what they can do to help, and push for legislative changes.

“He was 28,” Founder Alexis Pleus said in a previous interview with The Evening Sun. “He passed away from an overdose last year.” She added that her son was outgoing, was involved in sports, and was very giving. “He was super popular, loved the ladies, and was a body builder. He finished college. But, in high school he got a sports injury and received Oxycontin and became addicted … I didn’t even know.”

Pleus said she was not sure when it was that he made the switch from pills to heroin.

With regard to losing a child, Pleus said, “It’s something no one can prepare you for. ‘I can’t imagine,’ people say. No, they can’t.”

“What we lose is not our past, or his story, we lose the future,” said Pleus. “We can’t help but think what they were going to be like. Who were they going to marry? Were they going to have kids?”

Pleus continued, “In everything you do, you’re missing your child. Every single dinner, holiday, trip … he’s not there with me.”

Pleus said her son told her that he would wake up and tell himself that that day was going to be the say he was going to stop. “A hour would pass,” she said. “Then a half hour, and the withdrawals would get worse, he knew he needed a fix. He would get just enough to get through the pain. He would shoot up just the little bit. He would look at the clock while at work at know he would have to get more after work.”

Pleus said that her son told her, “‘I already failed at this day. I used. So at the end of work I would get as much as I could to drown out the fact that I failed another day.’” She said he would try again to stop tomorrow. “364 tomorrows,” Pleus said.

“It’s also interesting that a recent study has shown that if a parent finds out their child is smoking marijuana, they view that as more serious than if they were to find out they were using prescription drugs,” said Pleus. “In 2014, 47,000 people died of an overdose. Nearly 20,000 died as a result of Hepatits C that was linked to needle use. That would wipe out the entire population of Madison County in one year’s time.”

Pleus continued, “Last year, the average life span of a white man was reduced for the first time since the Vietnam War. This is due to overdoses and suicides.”

Thursday night at the event, Pleus said she could not say the number of people who have overdosed thus far in Broome County, as it is not public information. She did say that Narcan was administered nearly 200 times.

Symbolic gravestones lined the area where walkers gathered. Many shed tears as they stood near the symbolic memorial of their loved one, and most of the crowd donned shirts that displayed the names of those who lost their battle.

Parents, siblings, children and friends spent some time grieving before Pleus took the stage to speak and the guest speakers, including Binghamton Mayor Richard David.

Walkers then marched from Court Street to Governmental Plaza where they took part in live performance art, loved ones laying near the symbolic stones of their loved ones.

Roses were offered by officials to the family members.

For further information on Truth Pharm and any upcoming events, the group can be found on Facebook.

Submitted Photo
Loved ones take part in live performance art at Governmental Plaza in Binghamton as part of the Trail of Truth walk for overdose awareness.