Franklin Matters: "here’s the key – it’s really, really hard to do alone”

Saturday, February 15, 2020

"here’s the key – it’s really, really hard to do alone”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"When Plainville resident Robin Hamlin found a bottle of OxyContin in her son’s bedroom, he confessed that he needed help.

“He sat down on our couch. Actually, just like this,” said Hamlin, pointing to a framed photo of her son – Brian Hamlin Jr. – sitting on their living room couch, both elbows resting on his thighs with his hands clasped loosely together.

The photo is nailed to a wall, under a banner reading, “Brian Hamlin Jr. Recovery Resource Center.”

“With tears pouring down his face, he said, ‘Mom, I’m in trouble,‘” she said. “I need help, I can’t stop.’”

Brian Hamlin Jr. died on June 11, 2014, at age 32. He had a seizure following an addiction to painkillers, though he was in recovery at the time of his death.

To honor his memory, the new, centralized location for the Support for Addicts and Families through Empowerment (SAFE) Coalition is dedicated to him. Previously based out of Franklin and borrowing space for meetings and support groups to help those struggling with substance abuse, the coalition moved to a permanent location at 206 Dedham St., Suite E, in Norfolk on Thursday night."