Ohio lieutenant governor shares sons’ addiction to opioids

Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) revealed how the opioid crisis became personal for her, opening up about her two sons’ addictions in an interview with the Dayton Daily News published on Thursday.

“I know people who have lost their kids. I’ve been to a funeral of somebody, a young person, who died of a heroin overdose. It’s not pretty. Until we found the treatment that worked for [our sons], the voice of worry was very loud and it was very scary. Very scary,” Taylor said.

The lieutenant governor said one of her sons is currently undergoing treatment, but both are doing well.

Taylor, who is running for governor in 2018, has told her staff, family and friends about the matter.

{mosads}“Mary and I have discussed this situation for an extended period of time,” Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said in a statement to the Ohio newspaper.

“As a dear friend I have encouraged her and her family during this extremely difficult journey, and I will continue to lift her family up in my prayers.”

While Taylor’s family ordeal is not public, she agreed to do the interview about it in the hope that her family’s story will help others dealing with similar issues.

“We are not out of the woods, but we’re not in a crisis mode. And I did ask my family if they felt comfortable with me having this conversation. And Michael, I mean they both to their credit, both of them said if it helps somebody, then it’s worth it,” she said.

Taylor’s interview comes as Ohio’s attorney general sues five prescription opioid manufacturers, claiming the companies made false statements regarding the risks and benefits of pain killers.

Opioid addiction has proven to be a huge medical problem for Ohio. Unintentional drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related death in the state, according to the Ohio health department.