NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Sunday, July 16, 2017, 10:54 PM
Margherita was certain that her son was going to die.
It was an October afternoon, and the Staten Island mother had been summoned to the home of her opioid-addicted 29-year-old.
She found him in the basement, ranting and raving, his eyes a scary shade of gray.
I knew this was the last day of his life, Margherita recalled.
Alicia Palermo-Reddy shares stories of opioid addiction
Her familys first call was to 911. The second was to a Staten Island nurse named Alicia Palermo-Reddy.
Margheritas family had first reached out to Palermo-Reddy for advice just a few days earlier.
To Margheritas surprise, Palermo-Reddy showed up at the emergency room and coached her on how to get the struggling young man into treatment.
Three days later, Margheritas son, who had resisted intervention attempts for years, was on a plane to an inpatient drug program in Texas.
A health bill retreat from opioid crisis
That was eight years ago. Margheritas son, who has remained drug-free, now has a steady job, a wife and three children.
She saved our lives, Margherita said of Palermo-Reddy.
Since then, Palermo-Reddy has helped hundreds of Staten Island families like Margheritas.
Working in her spare time and free of charge, shes quietly become the unofficial coach, mentor and therapist to an ever-expanding network of parents and addicts touched by the citys opioid crisis.
NYPD says calling 911 during drug overdose won't lead to arrest
Shes responsible for my son and so many others, Margherita said. I dont know what her reasons are. I dont know what drives her. Thats why I say shes an angel.
Growing up in Staten Islands Huguenot neighborhood, Palermo-Reddy never imagined that she would become a one-woman addiction help line.
Palermo-Reddy was working as a dental assistant before she landed a job as a registered nurse at a Staten Island hospital 12 years ago.
The 47-year-old mother of two, now known as the addiction angel, was shocked by what she saw when she started picking up overtime shifts at the hospitals detox unit.
NYC doctor busted for writing unneeded painkiller meds
When I heard about heroin growing up, I thought about people in trailer parks with no teeth and black feet, Palermo-Reddy said. Seeing these young, beautiful kids with sores on them and heartbreaking stories was very disturbing to me.
The more and more that I saw it, I realized theres a big problem out here that nobodys talking about.
Word of her work with addicts spread quickly in the tight-knit South Shore.
Soon, Palermo-Reddys phone was lighting up with desperate phone calls and texts from friends and friends of friends who had relatives battling opioid addiction.
Anti-overdose drug Naloxone to be offered at N.Y. state courts
Many of the callers were in the same seemingly hopeless situation: an adult-aged son or daughter who was resisting intervention attempts.
These are mothers saying, Were at a loss. We dont know what to do, said Palermo-Reddy, whose three nephews suffered from addiction. How do you not help these people?
In those early days, Palermo-Reddy would guide the callers as best she could and urge them to attend local support groups.
Several parents told her they had tried meetings but were turned off by them. So Palermo-Reddy began organizing her own support groups in the backyard of her mothers home.
Doctors provide enough opioids to drug up all Americans for weeks
Demand was so great she moved them into a local school. Then she started a Scared Straight program for young people that regularly draws more than 100 people.
As her reputation grew, Palermo-Reddy realized she needed to arm herself with more information. She went to a local courthouse to learn about restraining orders. She talked with cops to understand the circumstances under which they will remove someone from a home. She went to detox centers to find out about admission policies and insurance issues.
Along the way, she honed her own tough-love approach.
Palermo-Reddy believes family members often enable the addicts drug use by setting red lines and then failing to act on them.
Family angry at dentist who gave addict painkillers
An addict doesnt want to be an addict. Hes allowed to be an addict, Palermo-Reddy said. I dont want you to bury your kid, so Im going to tell you like it is. With this disease, you dont have time to waste.
Palermo-Reddy has developed a reputation for being available at all hours of the day and dropping everything to help a family in need of counseling.
One Staten Island mother recalled reaching out to Palermo-Reddy on a Friday night last year.
My son had just called me and said he had relapsed, said the mother. (Palermo-Reddy) was out to dinner and still she said, Ill meet you in Staten Island. Ill meet you at the house.
U.S. to crack down on opioid treatment programs: Bloomberg
In that late-night meeting, Palermo-Reddy mapped out a plan to send the 26-year-old son to a 30-day drug-treatment program in Florida. Hes now 14 months sober.
Alicia was with us every step of the way, the mother said.
Among the many recovering addicts Palermo-Reddy has helped is a 46-year-old former Cond Nast business director.
If I failed, I would rather tell my parents, my girlfriend, anybody but Alicia, said the man, who has been sober since last May. I know how much she cares about me and she has no reason to.
Cops bust Staten Island heroin ring that sold deadly dose
Palermo-Reddys all-consuming role hasnt always been easy on her husband, Dennis, and children, Frank, 23, and Jacquelyn, 27.
Shes gotten better, said Jacquelyn. At my bridal shower, she was on the phone texting with parents. I had to tell her to put her phone away. Thats how bad it was.
On a recent Thursday night, about 30 people gathered in the auditorium of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Church for one of Palermo-Reddys monthly meetings.
There was a retired firefighter whose 30-year-old son was in the throes of opioid addiction, the parents of a 23-year-old who had been sober for three months and a burly recovering addict who had been clean since March.
Emotions were raw.
You get to the point where after 15, 20 years of this bulls---, you say, Wont you just die already, one father said.
Another father recalled having to threaten a doctor who kept prescribing his drug-addled son pain pills.
I told the doctor, You give him another pill, Im going to beat you to death, the man said.
Palermo-Reddy conducted the meeting like a hard-edged Dr. Phil, offering uplifting messages of personal empowerment and sharply worded pieces of advice.
As long as you remain weak, the addict is going to remain sick, she told one parent. You need to learn to stay two steps ahead of the addict and never allow him to manipulate you again.
At one point, Palermo-Reddy explained that one of her recovering nephews lives with her.
Hes 35 years old. I cannot prevent him from relapsing again, Palermo-Reddy said.
I support him. I encourage him. We love him. If he relapses, his bags would be packed before he would even have to tell me. He would know to pack his bags. Hes out.
The meeting ended after 9 p.m., and Palermo-Reddy walked out with a family she had never met.
The son had relapsed multiple times before finding out that he had cancerous brain tumors. He beat the cancer, then relapsed again, but was newly sober.
You have a powerful story. Get yourself clean, Palermo-Reddy told him. I want to see six months, and then Ill have you come speak with me.
The man nodded his head and smiled.
Whether he knew it or not, the odds were small that six months would pass before Palermo-Reddy would be seeing him again.
Original post:
Nurse dedicates life to helping hundreds beat drug addiction - NY ... - New York Daily News
- MB Shuffle: X1N0 Places Self-Empowerment in the center of Superstar - More Branches - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Oops! I called my boss 'dude.' Career coaches weigh in on tricky ... - NPR - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Servant leadership and AI: Agility and empowerment for the CLO - Chief Learning Officer - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- New Book You Were Born for More Offers a Transformative ... - Digital Journal - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- New academic year, new faces on campus - Central Michigan University - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Vanilla perfumes: the 8 best and long-lasting - Marie Claire UK - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Now, CCTV cams must at coaching centres - Times of India - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- What would have happened if Billie Jean King had lost to Bobby ... - The Boston Globe - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Discover the synergy between biotech and medtech in Ghent - Labiotech.eu - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Offtrack: The Long Road to Asylum for LGBTQ Refugees in Greece - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- The rise of solo dates: Why Gen Zs are embracing 'Me Time' - Nairobi News - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- Libra to Pisces: 4 Nurturing Zodiac Signs Who Prioritize the Needs ... - PINKVILLA - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- 2023 Northwest Indiana Women's Leadership & Innovation Summit ... - Purdue University Northwest - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- How Hinewehi Mohi uses te reo and music to bring Aotearoa together - New Zealand Herald - September 17th, 2023 [September 17th, 2023]
- The 20 Most Anticipated Sequel and Reboot Movies Coming in ... - MovieWeb - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- What Taylor Swift teaches girls about taking control of their lives and ... - Morningstar - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- Report Points To Growth Of Asian-American Businesses In ... - iHeart - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- Empowering Women: A Day of Firearms and Firearm Safety | P ... - NewsBreak Original - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF AFRICAPITALISM: CATALYSING ... - The Tony Elumelu Foundation - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- The best albums of the year so far (2023) - The Vinyl Factory - June 22nd, 2023 [June 22nd, 2023]
- Benton County Sheriff's deputies train to help kids avoid bad situations - Westside Eagle Observer - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- Too Much Seduction: How to stay pure in a culture that glorifies sex, lust, lewdness - EEW Magazine - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng review tragedy in the tropics - The Guardian - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- More Than Just A Game How Dungeons And Dragons Is Making ... - IFLScience - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- GoodHeart | 25-y-o Leneka Rhoden is a beacon of service and ... - Jamaica Gleaner - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- FemTech: technology empowering women's health and well-being - Lexology - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- NBA Foundation: Uplifting Memphis youth through music - NBA.com - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- Greek film 'Behind The Haystacks' to be featured at Sydney Film ... - Neos Kosmos - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- Grants approved for groups in Wellington North exceed budget - Wellington Advertiser - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- Self-Empowerment: 7 Ways to Empower Yourself | Maryville Online - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- When you take all that we encompass and the drive that we have, it's ... - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Code of Ethics: English - National Association of Social Workers - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- All children deserve arts and music programs in schools, thats why Prop. 28 should be approved - San Bernardino County Sun - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The Body Positive Sex Talk Empowering Women On TikTok - Women's Health - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- TCL Announces Exciting Collaboration with TCL Brand Ambassador Shyla Heal to Elevate #TCLForHer Platform and Inspire Women to Redefine Greatness -... - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The good employer: Creating and living-out a culture of empathy, empowerment and understanding - Digital Journal - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- International Day of The Girl: Rotary District 9125 Empowers 850 School Girls In Kano THE AUTHORITY NEWS - THE AUTHORITY NEWS - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- MEET THE CANDIDATES: Charleswood-Westwood-Tuxedo - Winnipeg Sun - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Ruth Radelet (ex Chromatics) discusses the inspirations behind her debut solo EP - Brooklyn Vegan - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Here to stay! How this OG Tagaytay wellness spa survived the pandemic, is stronger than ever - Rappler - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Set to Consider $3.2M in Awards to Local Organizations as Part of the Community Priority Fund -... - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- FEMALE INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE SPEAKERS - News - htafc.com - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Graphic designer works his way to the top - The Herald - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Foundation coaches in Tanzania attend in-person training sessions - Real Madrid - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Jade Helliwell releases first EP since 2018 in upbeat celebration of women - Music Talkers - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Competing interests: protection of transgender rights and freedom of religious beliefs - the Australian perspective - Kennedys - Kennedys Law - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Adam Levine and The Try Guys: Cheating scandals hit different right now - Vox.com - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Championing the value of time and a future-proof healthcare plan for women - Malaysiakini - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Seattle Rep Announces October Programming Featuring WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME & More - Broadway World - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Who are the actors playing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X? - New York Daily News - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- "One Of A Million" by Softcult - Northern Transmissions - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Aesthetic Gynaecology and Regenerative Medicine Training held in Delhi by IASRM (International Association of Stemcell and Regenerative Medicine) -... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- 6 Teens Who Make The World A Better Place - Forbes - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Earn Your Leisure Partners with Steve Harvey to Assemble an All-Star Financial Lineup for Innovative Festival at London's Historic Royal Albert Hall -... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- KNUST-Obuasi campus honours Dr. Love Konadu and 25 others - BusinessGhana - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Back-to-the-office moves leave tech uneasy - Axios - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- FEMALE INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE - News - htafc.com - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Neustar and LiveVox Join Forces to Improve Outbound Customer Contactability - Business Wire - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- 5 Organisations We've Teamed Up With to Empower Africa's Young People - Global Citizen - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- What is Witchcore? The Aesthetic Gaining Popularity on Social Media, Explained - The Mary Sue - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- After 10 years of swiping right, what have we gained from Tinder? - Sydney Morning Herald - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Sisters of the revolution: the women of the Black Panther party - The Guardian - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- ANALYSIS | Only SAs elite benefits from black economic empowerment and Covid-19 proved it - News24 - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- 'We need to be aware of the power of touch' - Nursing Times - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Students reminded of University resources to support mental health and wellness - Pennsylvania State University - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Boudoir photographer Amanda Robb helps 'terrified' women love their bodies - Stuff - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Super Girl Surf Pro returning to Oceanside with global surf stars like Bethany Hamilton and a music festival - The San Diego Union-Tribune - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- 5 Business Experts to Learn from in 2022 - The Australian Business Journal - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Stealthy state crimes during times of disaster - Mail and Guardian - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Neha Mujawdiyas Personal Journey In Accessing Basic Education Inspired Her Startup - SheThePeople - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- The Experience of Pregnant Women in the Health Management Model of Int | IJWH - Dove Medical Press - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Men are more prone to suicide than women, reveals NCRB data - The New Indian Express - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- 25 Empowerment Anthems: Songs for an Extra Boost of Confidence - Billboard - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- 40 years later, business of healthcare changed in very personal ways PharmaLive - PharmaLive - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Setting boundaries in your daily life can protect you from 'harmful experiences': Here are 3 tips to get you started - CNBC - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- I Tested PUMA's New Frida Kahlo Collection Honoring the Iconic's Legacy - mit - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- The Activist Offering: Lessons from Kansas - Progressive.org - Progressive.org - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- 'The Majnu Ka Tilla Diaries' Reveals Tibetan Empowerment in India - The Wire - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- Kentwood Players announces open auditions for 9 TO 5 the Musical - Culver City Observer - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]
- 'They/Them' Review: A Slasher That Isn't as Scary or Subversive as Real Life - CNET - August 15th, 2022 [August 15th, 2022]