Resident Deroia Returns Thursday to Continue Presentation on Addiction
Aurora local, Rosie DeRoia discussed the disease of addiction and the struggles that come along with it to Aurora High School students this past week.
Strong-willed and full of courage, she delivered her personal story about her oldest son, Tommy’s, overdose and death. First and foremost she wanted to neutralize the stigma that addicts are judged with. She said, “Addiction does not make someone a bad person - it means you're held captive by something greater than you.”
This powerful message resonated with high school students during the presentation because the tragedy happened so close to home- many are affiliated with the Deroia family (Dino Deroia is a senior at AHS), and even those who are not close to the family were affected because they live in the same community.
Deroia mentioned, “Speaking at high schools is new for me, but I know so many of you - so it felt necessary.”
Students of all grades commented on the presentation once it was finished.
“She had a good combination of her own personal story and facts which made it really powerful,” said Senior Lucas Krupinski.
Junior Connor Bizjack mentioned, “I didn’t expect it to be so real but it was definitely good.”
She highlighted this notion of neutralizing the stigma by describing Tommy as a kind soul- which many students at AHS concurred.
“He was always there to look out for Dino and I. I never would’ve expected this to happen to him,” said Junior Colin McNamara.
Tommy’s mom would talk about how much a protective family-man he was, and how the drugs never changed that. “[Tommy] was a risk taker but always looked out for others - especially his younger siblings.”
In fact he even chose not to take a professional MMA fighting opportunity in Los Angeles so he could protect his family from difficult situations at home.
When discussing the addiction itself, Deroia mentioned that the addiction started with prescription Xanax. However, to clarify, she wanted her audience to understand Tommy did not choose to be addicted. She stated, “Addiction is not a choice, addiction behaviors are the manifestation of the drug, not the cause… No one chooses to be addicted.”
In conclusion, she summarized this lesson by attempting once again to get rid of the stigma against drug addicts. She wanted people to remember her son for the way he was, not the way the drugs affected him. She concluded, “The disease never defined my son, his heart and kindness defined him.”
Deroia is now working/speaking/volunteering at locations such as: Pharmacist at Cardinal Health Does Crisis Intervention Training for Portage County, speaker for the Catholic Medical Association as a part of a professional forum in communities on addiction, works directly with First Step Recovery and those in recovery along with their families, and has piloted a welcome program at Park Recovery in Warren.
She will be returning to Aurora High School to deliver the same presentation during white block on Thursday, September 28th.
