Fredericksburg Parent

12 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2025 Addiction is a family disease. That's a reality that Ashley Jaderborg has learned through his own journey with opioid addiction, and throughout his nearly- 4.5-year recovery. It's a truth he carries with him as he helps indi- viduals through his work as a Peer Recovery Specialist with the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board. "It's a family disease," he says, "because even though, yes, I was the person that was using the substances, it affected everybody around me." While there are signs of hope in recent statistics concerning opioid addiction, drug overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the Virginia Department of Health, 1,403 Virginians died from drug overdose in 2024. While that number is a 43% decrease from 2023, it still represents an unnecessary loss of life. And the impact of fentanyl is unquestionable. Data from 2023 (the most recent year for which complete numbers are available) show that nearly 80% of the 2,463 drug overdose deaths recorded that year involved fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and tramadol. For an individual trying to cope with stresses in life, opioids and fentanyl deliver a euphoria that momentarily removes all worry— with life-altering consequences. "The drug gives you a little bit of happiness…but eventually takes everything else that you love away from you," said Jaderborg, who lost his first marriage, his job and his home to his addiction. Through treatment delivered through the Rappahannock Regional Adult Recovery Court, Jaderborg has been able to walk the path of recovery for nearly half a decade, working during that time to rebuild bridges with those impacted by his substance use. But just as addiction impacts an entire family, parents, caregivers and other family members have enormous power to help teens choose healthier coping options. Jaderborg urges parents to keep in mind how much they teach their children through their own actions. The simple act of turning to substances—a drink, a pill, a vape—to cope with the stress of a tough day sends a message. "Young people see that, and they think that's the way to go about coping with things, by having a drink or popping a pill," he said. "They see it as being acceptable to do these things, because if their parents are doing them—the people we're supposed to look up to as kids—then it gets ingrained at a young age." As the father of a 14-year-old, Jaderborg is well aware that many kids begin experimenting with vaping, alcohol and other poten- tially harmful substances in the middle-school years. A message from the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING sponsored material SUBSTANCE MISUSE Parents Play an Important Role in Preventing SUBSTANCE MISUSE

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