Kris Murphy and Julie Williams have a few things in common.
Both are mothers in the Fox Valley, and both have watched loved ones struggle with addiction.
"I think that people are not aware of what is going on, what an epidemic it has become," said Williams.
For years, both women said they felt isolated in dealing with their families' addiction battle.
"I thought everyone would judge me as a parent, only to realize months to a year later that there were so many people right in this area, and their story was exactly the same as mine," said Murphy.
After realizing there were few resources for people going through similar situations, and those battling addiction themselves, they noticed the need for a group in the Fox Valley to help.
Murphy then helped start Wisconsin United We C.A.N., a part of the national organization Change Addiction Now. She now serves as president of the group.
"When we started, we had probably under 100 members," said Murphy. "Now we're approaching 800."
The group has grown to seven chapters across the state, providing support services for people battling addiction and their families, as well as educational opportunities for businesses and communities to learn about heroin, opiate, and other addiction epidemics.
Despite their work, heroin addiction continues to hit close to home, especially for Williams.
On July 4th, she lost her brother-in-law to an accidental overdose.
"He moved to Milwaukee, he was doing wonderful, had a job," she explained.
It was his first relapse since being sober for about 2 years, Williams said.
"It hits all different people," she said.
That doesn't just mean younger generations.
"A lot of the opiate overdoses are actually older people who are misusing their legal prescription drugs," said Murphy.
After young people, the second group most likely to have addiction problems with opiates is the 55 and older community, said Murphy.
While the opiate antidote Narcan is mainly associate with heroin, Murphy said it can also reverse overdoses related to accidentally abusing prescription opiates.
For more information on Wisconsin United We C.A.N., visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WIUnitedWeCAN
