At a time when our city and state are making tremendous strides, I have never been more proud to say I am an Oklahoman. Even with these great successes, the sobering fact remains that Oklahoma is ranked in the top ten states for illicit use of pain medications, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). While this is a disturbing trend, a couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of witnessing the other side of the coin by attending a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the Brandon Whitten Institute for Addiction and Recovery at East Central University in Ada.
The Brandon Whitten Institute (BWI) was established by Reggie Whitten, who lost his son Brandon in a motorcycle crash in 2002. Brandon had fought addictions to prescription drugs and alcohol, and as a way to prevent families from having to go through the hardships that his family endured, Reggie decided to be proactive in the fight against addiction by creating the BWI. The BWI's mission is to assist students, community individuals, groups and agencies by providing quality addiction and recovery services through education, collaboration and scholarship. You can find out more about the program by visiting their website: http://www.ecok.edu/bwinstitute/index.htm
The more I sympathize with Reggie and his family, the greater I come to appreciate his devotion to helping people who suffer from this crippling disease. After talking to the staff and touring the facilities, I rest assured that the BWI will succeed. It is not easy to face tragedy in such a head-on manner, but I am confident that the BWI will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow in our great state.
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