WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is expected to declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency during a White House Ceremony on Thursday. Alongside him for that announcement will be Cece and Bobby Brown of Charleston, W.Va. The Browns know the full weigh of the opioid crises in America, their son Ryan Brown, lost his life to addiction.
“Until it hits you personally, I think people really have a hard time understanding it,” Cece Brown said on Metronews Talkline.
The Browns, since Ryan’s death, have been on a personal mission to raise awareness and help lobby for legislation both in Charleston and Washington to help battle against addiction.
“One of the first things I said was, ‘I don’t want one more person to die.'” explained Cece when asked why her campaign has been so passionate. “I don’t want another family to go through this. That’s exactly why we decided to try and make a difference and if it helps one person, it’s all worth it.”
The couple was invited to the White House because of their unique perspective on the issue, but even they are unsure what the President will say and do in about addiction treatment. Regardless, Cece says it will make a difference.
“The fact that we’re having this kind of discussion nationally to bring attention to it and to address the stigma,” she said. “The more we talk about it the more we can begin to come together and solve problems and come up with ideas.”