Annie Zartman knows first hand the toll meth can take on a family.
Zartman knows because of her son Troy. Troy is 21 and will be going to prison because of his addiction to meth.
Whether fair or not, there is a stereotype of those who struggle with meth and their families.
Zartman's story blows those stereotypes right out of the water.
Zartman owns a successful business and dozens of rental properties in Warsaw.
She and her husband have another child and are active in the community.
Despite their seemingly middle-class life, she said the situation put a severe strain on her family.
"It was devastating to our family," said Zartman. "We tried everything we could to fix it. Spent a lot of money. Tried getting help."
Zartman said it was hard to admit that her son needed help. It caused strains inside the family.
Those problems finally got Zartman to the point where she wanted to do something, and help those who are in or have been in the same situation she was.
To hopefully break down stigmas, stereotypes and the shame involved for those with loved ones dealing with methamphetamine addiction, Parents Helping Parents will meet Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Munson Building.
"We felt the need for this after the first meth awareness meeting," said Zartman.
Zartman and her friend, Amber Blackford, have been working with a group of others to get the group off the ground.
"There are a lot of families in the same situation," said Zartman. "This is a way for us to come together and talk about ways for people to get help."
Zartman compared the group to AL-ANON which is a national organization geared toward family members who have a loved one struggling with alcoholism.
"There's a lot of shame associated with it," said Zartman. "You have to learn to move past that and that's done by talking more and being more involved with stopping it."
Zartman also has worked with Hoss Smith of Serenity House as they strive to strengthen laws concerning pseudoephedrine.
For more information on the support group, call 574-551-8308 or e-mail zartman@embarqmail.com
