As the heroin epidemic continues to make headlines and devastate communities across the country, Kent State sophomore public relations major Emelia Sherin found a way to help people better understand what鈥檚 going on, who is affected鈥攁nd what we can do about it.
By Emelia Sherin, as told to Jan Senn
It all began because I was angry. In the news, I saw a photo taken in East Liverpool, Ohio, of a grandmother and her boyfriend passed out in a car from a heroin overdose, with her young grandson in the back seat.
As a public relations student, I thought, 鈥淥kay, they are building awareness, they are showing people what is happening, and it鈥檚 getting people talking.鈥
But as someone who has seen the tragic effects of this epidemic in my hometown, I was heartbroken, because the media was treating this like a circus. The people in the photo are human beings. My parents taught me to treat people with decency, respect and support no matter what, because you don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e going through. The media was saying 鈥渢his problem is happening,鈥 but they weren鈥檛 telling you what to do about it.
That upset me, and I wanted to educate myself so I could educate others. A dear friend of mine is currently an addict; she鈥檚 transitioning into recovery, and it鈥檚 been hard to watch. I grew up with kids who are funny, intelligent, caring and compassionate鈥攁nd then I鈥檇 see an obituary with their face and name on it.
I鈥檓 tired of it. We鈥檙e so young. We shouldn鈥檛 be suffering from addiction. We shouldn鈥檛 be going to rehabilitation centers or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. We should be traveling. We should be having fun. We should be going to school, getting an education, working, seeing the world.
I began talking with people all over northeastern Ohio about the heroin crisis鈥攑aramedics, current and recovering addicts, families, friends, complete strangers off the street. I talked with them face-to-face, because confrontation is key to communication. I started writing down what people were saying and recording it鈥攖heir feelings, their experiences, their stories.
And then I thought, 鈥淚 have all these interviews; what am I going to do with them? I can鈥檛 just write a news article or TV spot, because this needs more of an emotional connection. Why not theater?鈥 Theater is up close and personal, and you can feel the emotions the actors and the audience are giving off.
I approached one of my professors, Stephanie Smith, who is such an amazing role model, and I told her, 鈥淗ey, I鈥檓 going to write a play.鈥 She was supportive and encouraging, and has been there for me throughout this entire project.
After I wrote out all my scenes in an outline, I had no idea what format to put it in. I鈥檇 never written a play. However, I happened to sit next to Zachary Manthey in my Communications course this past spring semester, and I noticed he was always writing something on his laptop. So I asked him what he was doing. And he said, 鈥淚鈥檓 writing a play.鈥 And I鈥檓 like, 鈥淣o way. Me, too!鈥 He showed me his format and taught me how to use Celtx, this free scriptwriting website he was using.
I am so thankful to have met Zach, who is majoring in digital media production. He became my cowriter. We locked ourselves in my apartment for three days, with nothing but pizza and coffee, and stitched together the stories and the characters. Probably six different interviews went into each character. We kept editing and thinking of little things to add here and there. That鈥檚 how we created (In)Dependent: The Heroin Project. The story line follows two addicts undergoing recovery. One successful and one really struggling.
We were fortunate to debut the play at the Akron Civic Theatre, especially since Akron is the founding place of AA鈥檚 12-step program for recovery from alcohol and addiction. We only had two shows, but both were sold out and received standing ovations. The proceeds went to Orianna House Inc., a local nonprofit that provides addiction treatment, counseling and court-ordered correctional services, as did about five hundred dollars we collected in donations and about nine bags full of shampoo, toothbrushes, body wash, socks and shirts.
It鈥檚 awesome, because the show isn鈥檛 meant just to educate people about the epidemic on an emotional level, but also to reach out to those who give so much to the community and who are desperately trying to help.
I thought, 鈥淲ow, it can鈥檛 get any better than this.鈥 Then I got a call from The New York Times who wanted to interview us. Zach and I met the reporter at Scribbles Coffee downtown and talked with him for hours. Then the next day we met up with a photographer. A week later, .
Two days after that, I got a message from [Hollywood writer and director] Chris Columbus, who grew up in my hometown and wanted to read our work. People have messaged me from California, Mississippi, Missouri, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, who are willing to pay for rights to the play so they can put it on at their colleges or local playhouses.
We had the play copyrighted, and it鈥檚 been shipped to Chris Columbus and to a couple of community colleges in New England and down south. Wherever it鈥檚 performed, we ask that the proceeds and donations go to a local rehabilitation center.
People think they鈥檙e going to get things done if they protest and sign petitions. And yes, you鈥檙e getting proof that people want to support it. But there鈥檚 so much more that you can do. You can raise money, collect donations, volunteer at a needle exchange or a rehabilitation facility. The important thing is to give back to your community and other communities around the world who are willing to listen, learn and understand this message and the truths behind it.
I鈥檝e been amazed to see such a positive response, and I hope to continue educating people on issues like PTSD, domestic violence, and so forth. Kent State has not only helped me find my path, through my classes and campus activities, but I know that the people I鈥檝e met here will be with me for the long haul. I鈥檓 beyond grateful for everything that鈥檚 happened and for the support I鈥檝e received on this campus.
I鈥檝e worked so hard and been so caught up in all these incredible opportunities that I didn鈥檛 have a chance to sit down and relish the moment until a couple days ago. My best friends told me, 鈥淗ey, you need to just sit down and enjoy it.鈥
Emelia on discovering her purpose at Kent State
Cowriters and classmates Zachary Manthey and Emelia Sherin sign the copyright to their play, (In)Dependent: The Heroin Project.