Family Addiction Network
A Compassionate Community for Families with Addiction
Opinions of presenters do not necessarily reflect those of the Family Addiction Network.
PLEASE NOTE: For information on past meetings, please go to the Past Meetings page.
Current Meetings 2024
Tuesday September 17th - 7:00 -8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
115 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
From Darkness to Light: Finding Hope & Purpose Amidst Life's Struggles
In this talk, Gina Economopolous shares her personal journey through loss, addiction, and a crisis of faith. She explores how to navigate feelings of hopelessness and despair, offering practical advice on finding hope and a sense of purpose. You will be inspired by her resilience and guided by her insights on embracing faith and perseverance to overcome life's darkest moments.
Born and raised in the vibrant community of Syosset, New York, Gina emerged as the seventh child in a family of eight whose roots were deeply intertwined in an Italian and Greek-loving family. She grew up in a Catholic traditional upbringing with unconditional love from her parents. Despite facing numerous surgeries from a young age, each shaped her into the resilient individual she is today. With a degree in social science from Eastern CT State University, she ventured to Harrisburg in 1989, where she seamlessly blended her social work background with bartending, embodying the essence of hospitality.
Following the loss of her mother to cancer in 1992, she embarked on a spiritual journey that led her to the convent for twelve years before caring for adults with disabilities. Settling on the tranquil shores of the Jersey Shore in 2010, she encountered love and loss, finding solace in sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. Today, as an End of Life Doula, she extends her compassionate heart to those in their final chapter, grounded in faith and guided by the wisdom of the scriptures. She is also very much involved in the rooms of AA in service and reaching out to other alcoholics. Whether enjoying simple pleasures like playing golf, shooting pool, traveling, or going to the beach, she navigates life's journey with gratitude and grace, forever grateful for the blessings that adorn her path.
Tuesday July 16th - 7:00 -8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
115 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
Kirk Murdoch
"A story of Hope and Healing"
Kirk has been sober for many years, and yet has many stories to tell about his journey through active addiction. He understands the dynamic of personal addiction, as well as that of having a spouse (his first wife) who was also suffering. From his early teens, through young adulthood, he used alcohol and marijuana, graduating later into full on heroin addiction. He describes how this stunted his growth and how it shaped his life in limiting him, especially in his work life, only choosing work where he could drink on the job.
It was in 1985 when he first found sobriety when his employer gave him an ultimatum, get help or get fired. He reluctantly went into treatment, which began his journey of recovery. He had many relapses, twists and turns and has experienced many different paths to sobriety, crediting the 12 steps as being the backbone of his success. Being in service is a big part of Kirk’s recovery!
Retired from the IT world, Kirk currently resides in Atlantic Highlands with his beautiful wife, facilitating breathwork for healing. He plays rhythm guitar in a rock band, Lady Apocalypse, and recently embarked on an acting career, doing film and television!
Kirk believes If he can get through, stay alive and be happy, then anyone can!
May 21st 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
CURRENT TRENDS IN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
We are so happy to welcome Rachel Parello this month! If you have been at any of our meetings over the past several years, you would have met Rachel’s mom Patty, and you would know how amazing Rachel’s story is! In July, Rachel will celebrate 2 years in recovery! As a teenager she used many drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, pills and more, but at 17 she fell down the rabbit hole into heroin use. There were many times when we wondered if she would survive it.
It has been a joy to witness her recovery unfold! Being in service to others is a big part of Rachel’s recovery and she is looking forward to sharing about her story and how it helped her along the way! We hope you can join us for this special meeting!
April 16th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
HARM REDUCTION - AN UPDATED APPROACH
For April, we welcome back
Shannon Hurley
Lead Counselor at Middletown Medical
We have all undoubtedly heard a lot about harm reduction over the past several years, but as the industry changes and we continue to learn from those who have experienced addiction and recovery, the parameters are evolving! We used to heavily rely on a 12 step model for recovery, 28 days was the standard of length in rehab, and mostly leaned on a shame based approach to inspire sobriety. We are learning that the old confrontational style of treatment is not working. There is no “One Way” to reach recovery. For instance, Medically Assisted Treatment used to have negative connotations, where now it may be the most effective form of treatment. The best and only way to serve the person is to meet them where they are. To that end, Shannon will share her perspectives on the changes in harm reduction approaches, based on her years in active addiction and her vast experiences through her career and her own recovery!
Shannon received her bachelor’s degree from Kean University and has been working in addiction and mental health treatment for over 25 years. She joined the team at Middletown Medical in July 2022 as a Counseling Intern while finishing her CADC. Shannon was born and raised here in NJ where she has spent the better part of her career as an advocate and a voice of empowerment for those affected by substance use.
Shannon’s career path began in mental health when she worked as the Substance Abuse Specialist for one of the first PACT teams in the state and was Liaison to Ancora State Psychiatric Hospital. She moved over to addiction when Turning Point, Inc. started a Co-Occurring team and she was brought on for her experience working in mental health.
Shannon also worked at Mrs. Wilson’s Halfway House for Women where she had the opportunity to work with women and was eventually promoted to Intake and Marketing
Coordinator for the agency.
Shannon’s approach is strength based and client centered. She works best in a team setting and believes in a humanistic approach stressing unconditional positive regard and describes herself as “a little bit Carl Rogers and a little bit Mr. Rogers”
March 19th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
Current Trends in Treatment and Recovery
The treatment industry changes so quickly and if you are new to this, it can be very daunting. This month we are pleased to welcome Carley Dietrich from Seacrest Recovery Center. She is a healthcare professional who has found her home helping anyone, anywhere struggling with substance use disorder. This is her true passion due to her own personal experience, as well as having lived experience with loved ones. She will share her knowledge of how to navigate the system when you or a loved one is in need.
She is a graduate of Middletown Highschool South, attended Brookdale Community College while waitressing and catering. After two years at BCC Carley continued her education at Rutgers University where her uncle and brother both went. In 2008 Carley graduated from the School of Communication, Carley began her career in healthcare at Horizon BCBSNJ where she remained for five years. While at Horizon Carley attended St. Peter’s University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Business.
Following, she joined Hackensack Meridian Health where she remained another five years, most recent role at HMH she was the Business Manager of Surgical Services before starting her role at Seacrest Recovery Center in Eatontown as a Business Development Representative, now the Director of Outreach & Community Engagement.
Carley’s passion is to help others and to improve the world around her one step at a time by helping our community, & beyond, get well. She was born and raised in Lincroft, NJ. and currently lives with her two English Labs in Oceanport. She spends her free time fishing, dancing, singing, gardening, being with family & friends, drinking coffee, going to the gym, swimming, kayaking, spending time with their pups... & working, because if you "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
February 20th 7:00 - 8:30pm
West Long Branch Community Center
116 Locust Ave., W Long Branch, NJ
The Shame and Blame Game
Nikki Tierney, LPC, LCADC
Nikki Tierney has been a friend and supporter of Family Addiction Network since the very beginning and we are thrilled that she will be our presenter this month! Her story is inspiring and uplifting, to say the least! She has been in sustained remission from substance use disorder for over a decade and is a loving Mom to 4 children. She credits her family as being a constant in her life and the most impactful reason she is on her path to wellness. She recognizes the tremendous transformation and trauma her family and her children experienced as a result of her opioid use disorder.
Nikki will discuss the blame and stigma family members experience including self-stigma, public stigma, and structural stigma. In addition she will share about the ways family dynamic is affected by one members substance use and finally how the family unit can begin to heal once a family member enters recovery. This discussion will be from the perspective of her family’s lived experience as well as from a clinical perspective.
Nikki excelled in sports and academics through high school and college and in 1997 received her Juris Doctor with Honors from Rutgers University School of Law. She practiced law for nearly 10 years until her Opioid Use Disorder became so severe that she surrendered her license to practice. In 2007, after trying for years to remain abstinent from opioid and other drugs, Nikki felt helpless and hopeless and attempted to end her life. Unknowingly, that began the start of her journey to health and wellness. Since that dark day in 2007, Nikki has finally received evidence-based treatment for her previously undiagnosed mental health disorders (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder) and has focused on living her best life and moving forward from her past negative experiences. Towards that end, she returned to Monmouth University graduate school where she obtained her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Studies. She graduated w a 4.0 GPA and received the 2021 Advocacy Award from the Department of Professional Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Nikki and her children founded a small nonprofit charity in honor of her parents, Hope is NEVER Lost and has a private practice Hope-Fullness Counseling, Prevention, and Education. She is also a policy analyst for the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery. Nikki has made it her mission to decrease stigma and barriers to treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.