Addiction is Real, Inc.

04/04/2026

Attention All Parents in the St. Louis, MO area affected by Addiction:

Join us on Easter Sunday and April 11 as we work with local Christian orgs to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction, support parents and help their communities start life-saving conversations. Not religious? Neither are many of us, come anyway!

Invitation from Addiction is Real, Inc. Board Member, Tennille Heitkamp! Please join us tomorrow at either service! ❤️:

Hello everyone, I was asked by my pastor if I would share a short testimony of hope during the Easter services. 9:00 & 10:45 at The Factory in Chesterfield. After the sermon with the testimony he is going to ask moms of loved ones affected by addiction to come forward for a blessing. We are hoping to show that this disease does not discriminate and its nothing to be shameful about and your not alone. Gathering Now started Underground Recovery back in October - it’s on Wednesday nights. What they have noticed is mothers and fathers looking for help on how to deal with a child in recovery or active addiction. They are really leaning in to help our community. Christopher Pondoff who runs Pondoff's Anonymous has met with me and Erin and has become an incredible partner up with Addiction is Real!

So I invite you to come stand with me on Easter to show hope to others and that they are not alone.

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Also on April 11th 9am-11:30am we are having a moms (and dads)round table at Underground Recovery which is at the Gathering Mcausland location, to brain storm how we can help the Underground community in education for the moms and support the parents/adult of the Gathering community as they embrace/learn about stigma reduction/treatment/recovery and prevention.

Email Tennille with any questions! Tennille@addictionisreal.org

04/02/2026

If you have a child in school, you need to know about nitazenes. 💯

Nitazenes are a highly potent class of synthetic opioids that have increasingly been detected across Missouri. Originally developed for medical research, they are now appearing illegally in the drug supply.

Through data provided by the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), 26 of 37 schools that have participated in voluntary school wastewater testing tested positive for nitazenes.

Awareness saves lives:
⚠️ You can’t see, smell, or taste nitazenes
⚠️ They’re often mixed into other substances
⚠️ Nitazenes are 5 to 10 more potent than fentanyl

The good news is that Naloxone can still reverse overdoses. 👏

Speak with your children about drug usage and what to do in the case of an overdose. This isn’t about fear—it’s about staying alive. 💛

03/30/2026

When it comes to your child's bedroom, privacy is healthy 💚 Secrecy plus defensiveness is different. Green flags to look for:

✅ Door can close — but not barricaded
✅ Adults can enter (with a reasonable expectation of privacy) and converse
✅ No strong scents, constant incense, or heavy air freshener use
✅ No sudden environmental shifts that suggest concealment
✅ Devices out in the open (not hidden constantly)

💚 Prevention isn’t just about spotting problems—it’s about recognizing what’s going right.

03/27/2026

St. Louis County PAL is a program we are proud to partner with! Our Executive Director, Erin Johnston serves on the Board - these officers never stop working hard for their community youth! ♥️🙌 thank you for covering KMOV!

Brandon McCrary
Brandon Sierra
St. Louis County Police Department

03/25/2026

We learned something alarming: a lot of parents believe that people who use fentanyl always overdose and die. For those that don’t know - Fentanyl is a drug that can be (and IS) abused multiple times/daily - without death. It’s important that all parents understand that their children could be around people (it’s used by adults AND teens) who are regularly using fentanyl. Yes - one pill CAN kill (and fentanyl is laced into many other things in what can be/many times is a deadly dose) - but, we can also tell you about millions of times it has destroyed lives for years. ♥️💜

Find practical, science-based guidance for families at https://addictionisreal.org/

03/25/2026

One of the most impactful, empathetic and generous servant leaders Addiction is Real, Inc. has the privilege to work with is celebrating 12 years of sobriety today! Join us in encouraging and congratulating Christopher Pondoff! ♥️🙌 this man IS SAVING LIVES! Pondoff's Anonymous Illinois Recovery Center Gathering Now

Our fearless leader is 12 years sober today.

Technically, this whole thing started 12 years ago today. Pondoff’s Anonymous is here because of that day, and it continues because of all of you who have been part of it along the way.

Recovery changed one life, then reached a lot more.

Let’s give it up for Chris Pondoff...12 years sober today. We’re proud of you, and grateful for what this day made possible.

03/23/2026

Check in with your teens/tweens. Ask how their mental health is - and really listen.

Then….. do it again tomorrow ♥️🙌

03/18/2026

Check these out! ♥️🙌

Join Operation Parent’s free, monthly webinars featuring child psychologists and prevention experts. Topics include teen anxiety, va**ng, social media, trauma-informed parenting, and more—designed to empower K‑12 caregivers and spark meaningful conversations.

03/17/2026

Hello All Addiction is Real, Inc. supporters! If you are a Thrivent customer, please consider using your Thrivent Choice dollars to provide a grant to our organization! Your request must be made by March 31, 2026! Not a Thrivent customer? Share this post with someone who is!

Funds raised will be used to complete our Mobile Prevention Unit and hire members of our Student Ambassador Program (High School and College) for paid internships. We appreciate your support in our work! Please email erin@addictionisreal.org with any questions! Our EIN is 81-1896239 ❤️ Thrivent Charitable

https://service.thrivent.com/apps/ThriventChoiceMemberWeb/public/orgDetails/101069058097

12/19/2025

Addiction is Real, Inc.’s Volunteers are reducing the stigma surrounding addiction by sharing their stories at events, on social media and in the news. Zack and his mom have been a part of our team for years - we appreciate his willingness to be interviewed for this piece. Thank you, David Amelotti, for keeping a close eye on area opioid remediation funds and exposing improper spending (like the snow plow purchased in a St. Louis county community). The stat David reported - 80% of the inmates at the St. Charles County jail are dealing with an opioid/substance use disorder - is stunning. We are happy to hear St. Charles County has included medication assisted therapy, and peer support in their plans for the jail’s renovation using the funds the county has been awarded. No one chooses the life Zack has lived - this disease is horrible - he is doing so much to help others by working with our team ♥️ solid job Fred Rottnek!

A jail expansion will serve dozens of inmates.

12/13/2025

♥️🙌

12/12/2025

Get out to 102 Ladue Pine Woods Place in St. Louis to see the incredible lights display! Donations are being accepted for Addiction is Real, Inc.! The display is up through the holidays. Online donations can be made at www.addictionisreal.org or dropped at the collection container at the end!

Our team is so grateful for every ounce of support! Please share/like and help us spread the word ♥️🙌