Kait McCarthy is our Assistant Director of Prevention First and the Coordinator of the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County. These programs are dedicated to empowering children to make healthy and responsible decisions, including avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, and reducing substance use/misuse by providing awareness, education and advocacy through collaborative efforts. Her dedication is phenomenal; her passion immeasurable. She is choosing to share her story to help prevent “children and families from ever having to experience this pain.”
With our thanks for Kait’s bravery, in her own words, here is her story:
This is Scott C. McCarthy. He was 34 years old when he passed away from an accidental overdose on June 10, 2013. Scott was many things. A lover, a fighter, an athlete, a brother, a son, a cousin, a nephew, an Uncle. He was protective and giving. Strong and witty. He was hilarious and brave.
But he was also a person who suffered with the disease of addiction and mental health issues. His addiction, (like many others) took his journey to places no person should go. To depths no person should dive. To darkness that can feel like there’s no return.
People who suffer from addiction make mistakes. They make many mistakes. They can push people away. Cause others pain. They can do things that sometimes, they can’t even forgive themselves for. The stigma and the shame that’s surrounded with this disease can take people to their grave. (I’ve seen it). It can make family members and loved ones ashamed to speak the truth of their reality, of their pain and of the day to day life they live with a person who has a substance use disorder.
Take it from me. Scott was my brother. He was 12 years older than me and we went through ups and downs together. But as a younger sister, I watched. I saw his struggles. At times, I could have sworn I felt his struggles. Sometimes more than he did. But I also saw his strengths. I celebrated every victory of his. I watched my superhero excel in baseball and football. I watched him charm a room and make others smile. I learned how to love others, because he taught me. He taught me one of the most valuable lessons – people who suffer from addiction are not JUST the addiction. They’re a person first.
As his younger sister, I will always be his cheerleader. In this life and the next. Despite his struggles, he was still Scotty. Some may know him as “crazy”. And yeah, he was wild. I just know this pain in my heart has never went away since the day he died… It really is like a piece of me is gone. And just like millions of Americans and people around the world- I question why.
My answer led to joining an organization such as Preferred Behavioral Health Group. A non-profit that helps people in the community by offering counseling and prevention education. Today, I coordinate the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County, an affiliate of Prevention First. And every meeting I’m in, every discussion I have, every intervention I do… I do it for him. I do it for the millions of people who know what this pain is like. I do it to prevent children and families from ever having to experience this pain.
And so I share this story with you, because this is PART of his story and this is PART of my story. But it’s not ALL of it.
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction. Help is out here. If you have someone in your life that you suspect is suffering from addiction, help is out here. You are not alone. Send us a message through this website or call us at 732-367-4700.
Fighting the stigma is just the beginning. Once we feel we can speak our truth, it is then that we can set the darkness free. If you’d like to join me and others in this movement, contact me at kmccarthy@preventionfirst.net.
Kait McCarthy
