‘Don’t give up’: Ogle County Board Member recounts battle with addiction on Overdose Awareness Day

OGLE COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO) — Ogle County Board Member Joseph Simms recounted his battle with drug addiction on Overdose Awareness Day to guide others away from drug abuse.

“I started using in my early teens. By the time I was 20, I had already graduated to illicit drugs. Through my 20s into my 30s, I had graduated to narcotic heroin abuse,” said Simms.

Simms suffered three overdoses before he decided to make a change.

“I suffered three overdoses… I was very fortunate to come out of it. I have a lot of friends who did not make it,” the board member shared.

Awareness campaigns and community action have helped many to avoid death in recent years, but one doctor said there is always more work to be done.

“We’ve seen positive trends in relation to opioid overdose in the last two years, with reductions nationally of around 30%. Over 70,000 people are still dying each year due to overdose,” Dr. Randall Brown explained. “So, it still is a major and historic public health issue.”

The board member, who is 10 years sober, makes trips to local high schools to inform students about the danger of drug use.

I’ve spoken at Byron High School, many of the schools in Olge County, and middle schools and high schools, and getting that and getting my story out there, getting other stories out there, Simms concluded. “It helps these young people recognize high-risk behavior, high-risk situations, and they can make a more informed decision.”