Vivian Percy - Saving Jenny: Rescuing Our Youth from Americas Opioid and Suicide Epidemic

Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven. Mammon with his industrious crew set to build, Pandemonium, the high capital of Satan and his peers.... Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light.

John Milton, Paradise Lost

Vivian Percy

In collaboration with Anna Badini, PhD

Radius Book Group

New York

Distributed by Radius Book Group

A Division of Diversion Publishing Corp.

443 Park Avenue South, Suite 1004

New York, NY 10016

www.RadiusBookGroup.com

Copyright 2018 by Vivian Percy

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

The author writes under the nom de plume Vivian Percy. She holds a JD, passed the bar, and is an attorney in good standing in the State of New York.

For information, email .

First edition: June 2018

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-68230-999-5

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63576-521-2

eBook ISBN: 978-1-63576-423-9

Cover design by Marina Drukman, Marina Drukman Design Studio

Interior design by Scribe Inc.

Cover illustrations: Close up of a girl crying used by permission from Rebecca Nelson Arcangel Images; A broken and cracked window used by permission from M. Brodie Alamy Stock Photo

I have tried to recreate events, locales, and conversations from my memories of them. In order to maintain their anonymity, in all instances I have changed the names of individuals, institutions, and places. I may have changed some identifying characteristics and details, such as physical properties, occupations, genders, locales, places of residence, and employment. Any resemblance to real people or places is coincidental. This book is designed to provide information and motivation to its readers and is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. It is sold with the understanding that in all cases individuals should seek their own personal legal and medical advice.

The main character in this book is a composite character representing all the young people who have suffered from opioid addiction and suicidality in todays America. This is their story.

Vivian Percy, July 28, 2017

In loving memory of all the young people who have died in this atrocity

And with a call to save those still battling against it

And to Jenny, my daughter and my heroine, whose courage, honesty, and love inspire me every single day

I wrote Saving Jenny with the goal of saving lives. Reflecting, researching, and writing a book with this broad of a scope was very demanding, and it would have been impossible to bring Saving Jenny to light without the assistance of many people. I chose to write under the nom de plume, Vivian Percy, to protect the anonymity of all who were involved, due to the sensitivity of the material and the unfortunate fact that women, and even men, are still blamed and sometimes persecuted for being victimized and traumatized in our world. This incredible injustice and the lack of charity need to change.

First, I want to thank Dr. Anna Badini, a wonderful and brilliant psychoanalyst and friend, for her generous collaboration from the very beginning and throughout. This was especially helpful as we reviewed the accuracy of my descriptions of therapeutic practices within psychiatric/rehab facilities.

In addition, I am extraordinarily grateful to Mark Fretz, of Radius Book Group, who first had faith in Saving Jenny and in what the book was trying to achieveto give validation to suffering individuals and families and empower everyone in society to call for the therapeutic, institutional, educational, political, economic, social, and cultural reforms necessary to defeat this scourge. It is thanks to Mark and his indefatigable devotion, guidance, and vision that Saving Jenny will have the opportunity to assist in the rescue of others afflicted by addiction and suicidality. And as Mark has told me so many times, This country is full of millions of Jennies. Special thanks also to marketing guru Christine Saunders, of Christine Saunders Public Relations, for sharing with me that she read the entire manuscript in one sitting, and her heartfelt sympathy for its story. Christine championed Saving Jenny from the outset, believing that its voice must be heard. I am so appreciative, as well, that I was blessed to work with David Aretha, editor extraordinaire and encourager, who gave so generously of his time and caring. David restructured the raw chapters, bringing them into a cohesive whole, and confronted me (in a good way!) with constant important suggestions, constructive intellectual challenges, determination, and rigor. Then it was the wonderfully talented Marina Drukman who distilled the horrors of the epidemic that our young people face in her brilliant conception and artwork, giving us our compelling book cover. And S. A. Sam Jernigan of Renaissance Consultationsthank you for your creative contributions and sharing of the message of Saving Jenny.

I must also express my deep gratitude to all of Jennys friends who came forth as outstanding Good Samaritans and saviors. On so many occasions, they went above and beyond the normal call of duty to aid me in safeguarding Jenny. And thank you, Cora, Ivan, Jennifer M., Maria, Rob, and Sharon, for your true friendship and support. Also, many thanks to Dr. G and Dr. L for their insights and humanity and to the countless therapists, physicians, pastors, counselors, members of law enforcement, and others whom I have never met but whom I know are battling this epidemic, in the trenches, with their total dedication.

In retrospect, I would like to thank my grandmother, Vivian, a sincere believer, who taught me that when something is wrong, you never give up fighting against it and you never give in. And with my deepest love and admiration for my own Jenny, thank you for all your love, faith, caring, strength, and generosity of spirit and for teaching me the meaning of true bravery of heart. Thank you for just being you, and I am so proud that you are my daughter.

Finally, there is no way that Jenny and I would have survived this all on our own, and I give thanks to God for saving us and bringing us through this tremendous ordeal with His infinite compassion and mercy and the power of prayer.

First Moloch, horrid King,

Besmeared with blood of human sacrifice,

and parents tears;

Though, for the noise of

drums and timbrels loud,

Their childrens cries unheard

That passed through fire

To his grim idol.

John Milton, Paradise Lost

If Society is tranquil, it is not because of its strength and its well-being, but because it fears its weakness and infirmities.... Everybody feels the evil, but no one has courage or energy enough to seek the cure.

Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 183540

It is 10 oclock on a muggy July morning in 2017. I am slowly suffocating under the stifling suburban splendor of Round Bridge, New York, when I receive a heartrending text from my daughter Jennys friend Emily that pierces my senses: