One Book One County

A panel of people who are in recovery from addiction will talk about their experiences on Wednesday, March 25 at White Mountain Library at 7:00. The panel discussion is part of One Book, One County in Sweetwater County. The committee selected the book “Beautiful Boy, a Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff for the county-wide “book club”. This panel on ”Treatment and Recovery” is the third of four panels about substance abuse. The final panel on “Prevention” takes place on April 8 at White Mountain Library at 7:00.
The panel discussion on treatment will be moderated by Laura Schmid-Pizzato, Manager of Recovery Services at Southwest Counseling. Members of the panel will tell their story, the challenges they faced and the continuing challenges of recovery from addiction. Following interaction among panelists and the moderator, the discussion will be opened up to the audience.
Schmid-Pizzato said there are many paths that lead to recovery including self-help programs, formalized treatment, church, and a support group such as family and friends. Panelists will explore the different aspects of recovery.
The committee selected “Beautiful Boy” because of the prevalence of substance abuse in Sweetwater County. Committee members felt that the book could increase awareness of substance abuse, how families and relationships are affected by a loved one’s addiction and open up a dialogue about the problem. In “Beautiful Boy”, Sheff chronicles his son’s downward spiral into addiction and the impact on him and his family. The committee also selected a companion book by Sheff’s son Nic titled “Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines”, a memoir. The blurb for the book states “Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven.
In the years that followed, he would smoke pot regularly, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he had always felt like he could quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling the compelling, heartbreaking and true story of his relapse and his journey toward recovery”.
Both books are available for check-out at the libraries for a three week period. At this time, three book discussions are scheduled. Farson Branch Library and Rock Springs Library have scheduled discussions of “Beautiful Boy” on March 24. Farson’s discussion is at 7:00 at the Farson Branch Library. Rock Springs Library’s discussion is at 6:00. A third discussion is set for the Sweetwater county Library on April 2 at 7:00.
One Book, One County 2009 is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, Western Wyoming Community College, the Sweetwater County Library Foundation and Southwest Counseling Service with support from the Rock Springs area Community Foundation, and Sweetwater BOCES. The One Book, One County committee is coordinated by the Sweetwater County Library System.

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Three discussions of the book “Beautiful Boy, a Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff are scheduled at the libraries during March and April. The discussions are part of One Book, One County in Sweetwater County. The committee selected the book for the 2009 county-wide “book club”. Discussions are scheduled at Farson Branch Library on March 24 at 7:00, Rock Springs Library on March 24 at 6:00 and Sweetwater County Library on April 2 at 7:00.
In “Beautiful Boy”, Sheff chronicles his son’s downward spiral into addiction and the impact on him and his family. The committee also selected a companion book by Sheff’s son Nic titled “Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines”, a memoir. Both books are available for check-out at the libraries for a three week period.
One Book, One County 2009 is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, Western Wyoming Community College, the Sweetwater County Library Foundation and Southwest Counseling Service with support from the Rock Springs area Community Foundation, and Sweetwater BOCES. The One Book, One County committee is coordinated by the Sweetwater County Library System.
-Vicki Roth

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A panel of people involved with enforcement, detention, judicial, legal and other aspects of drug-related crime will present their perspectives on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00 at White Mountain Library. The panel discussion is part of One Book, One County in Sweetwater County. The committee selected the book “Beautiful Boy, a Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff for the county-wide “book club”. A series of four panels about addiction is scheduled every two weeks between Feb. 25 and April 8.
Law enforcement panelists include Police Chief Mike Lowell, Rock Springs Police Department; County Attorney Brett Johnson; Circuit Court Judge Victoria Schofield; Fred Moczulski, Detective, Green River Police Department; Vicki Lyon, Jail Services Sergeant and Program Coordinator; Travis Moser, detective with the Street Crimes Unit, Rock Springs Police Department and Kelly Garner, Probation and Parole Agent. Laura Schmid-Pizzato, Recovery Services Manager for Southwest Counseling, will moderate the panel.
Members of the law enforcement panel will give their perspectives of the drug problem in Sweetwater County followed by a discussion among the panelists with the moderator. It will then be opened up to questions from the audience.
The schedule for the other panels is Medical and First Responders on March 11, Recovery and Treatment on March 25 and Prevention on April 8. All panels are at White Mountain Library in the Grace Gasson meeting room and begin at 7:00.
The committee selected the book because of the prevalence of substance abuse in Sweetwater County. Committee members felt that the book could increase awareness of substance abuse, how families and relationships are affected by a loved one’s addiction and open up a dialogue about the problem.
In “Beautiful Boy”, Sheff chronicles his son’s downward spiral into addiction and the impact on him and his family. A bright, capable teenager, Nic began trying mind-and mood-altering substances when he was 17. In months, use became abuse, and abuse became addiction. By the time Sheff knew of his son’s condition, Nic was strung out on meth. While his son struggles to get clean, his second wife and two younger children are affected. Sheff, as the parent of an addict, cycles through denial and acceptance and resistance. The author includes hard, solid facts about meth and the kinds of havoc it wreaks on individuals, families and communities. “Beautiful Boy” is a straightforward, heartbreaking yet honest look at the impact of addiction on families. The committee also selected a companion book by Sheff’s son Nic Sheff titled “Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines”. The books are currently available for check-out at the libraries for a three week period. Book discussions at the libraries will be scheduled in March and April.
One Book, One County 2009 is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, Western Wyoming Community College, the Sweetwater County Library Foundation and Southwest Counseling Service with support from the Rock Springs area Community Foundation, and Sweetwater BOCES. The One Book, One County committee is coordinated by the Sweetwater County Library System. It is a collaborative committee represented by librarians, teachers, and interested partners. Members are Leslie Davies, Julie Farr, Janice Grover-Roosa, Jon Harwood, Marcia Hensley, Paul Holland, Connie Hollin, Dave Kathka, and Vicki Roth.

-Vicki Roth

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Sheff’s story tells of his teenage son’s addiction to meth in this real-time chronicle of the shocking descent into substance abuse and the family’s gradual emergence into hope.

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The movie “American Meth” will show at White Mountain Library in connection with the One Book, One County 2009 event. The public is invited to a free showing of the 2008 movie on February 11 at 6:00. The 75-minute movie will be followed by a film discussion lead by Laura Schmid-Pizzato, Manager of Recovery Services at Southwest Counseling Service. The movie is a four-state journey that looks at several facets of the methamphetamine epidemic and the damage being done to communities by the drug. It includes a look at Rock Springs and features comments about the meth problem from both Schmid-Pizzato and Police Chief Mike Lowell.
The movie was selected in conjunction with the One Book selection “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey through His Son’s Addiction” by David Sheff, a journalist. Following the movie and discussion, Paul Holland will lead a discussion of the book. Sheff’s story tells of his teenage son Nic’s addiction to meth. A bright, capable teenager, Nic began trying mind- and mood-altering substances when he was 17. In months, use became abuse, and abuse became addiction. By the time Sheff knew of his son’s condition, Nic was strung out on meth. Sheff, as the parent of an addict, cycles through denial and acceptance and resistance. He includes hard, solid facts about meth and the kinds of havoc it wreaks on individuals, families and communities.
Filmmaker of “American Meth” Justin Hunt tells a tale of tragedy from the oil fields of Wyoming and New Mexico to the homeless in Portland, Oregon and the teens of Montana. According to the American Meth web site, the film does two things: “It informs of the devastation that this drug is imposing on our country and it encourages Americans that it is possible to reclaim our friends, our neighbors, our families, one person at a time.” The movie is narrated by actor Val Kilmer.
The committee selected “Beautiful Boy” because of the prevalence of substance abuse in Wyoming and Sweetwater County. Committee members felt that the book could increase awareness of the cycle of addiction and the impact on families and relationships. Panel discussions dealing with addiction, recovery, community impact and prevention are planned in February and March.
One Book, One County 2009 is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, Western Wyoming Community College, Sweetwater County Library Foundation and Southwest Counseling Service with support from the Rock Springs area Community Foundation, and Sweetwater BOCES.
Multiple copies of the book have been distributed to all nine libraries in the Sweetwater County Library System. It is also available on CD. Nic Sheff’s book “Tweak”: Growing up on Methamphetamines” is also available to check out. The libraries have four copies of “American Meth” for the public to check out.

-Vicki Roth

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“Nic Sheff was drunk for the first time at age eleven. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Even so, he felt like he would always be able to quit and put his life together whenever he needed to. It took a violent relapse one summer in California to convince him otherwise. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic spares no detail in telling us the compelling, heartbreaking, and true story of his relapse and the road to recovery. As we watch Nic plunge the mental and physical depths of drug addiction, he paints a picture for us of a person at odds with his past, with his family, with his substances, and with himself. It’s a harrowing portrait - but not one without hope.”

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