Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 Source: News-Herald, The (Southgate, MI) Copyright: 2015 Heritage Newspapers Contact: http://www.heritagenews.com/lettertoeditor/ Website: http://www.thenewsherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4015 Author: Jim Kasuba, The News-Herald MOTHER OF HEROIN OVERDOSE VICTIM FROM WYANDOTTE WARNS OF DRUG ADDICTION PERILS, BROKEN TREATMENT SYSTEM Penny Ashley knew her son had a heroin addiction problem and did everything in her power to get help for him, but it still proved to be not enough. She along with other family members and friends are grieving the loss of Jacob Charles Ashley of Southgate, who died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at the age of 21. Born in St. Marys, Ohio, on Oct. 26, 1993, he moved to Wyandotte in 2004. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and then went on to Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn where he participated in Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training. The ASSET program is a 24-month, six-semester associate's degree training program that provides students with skills to succeed in the automotive industry. He graduated from the program and was working in the body shop at Southgate Ford. Penny Ashley, who described her son as "outgoing and charming," said he had plans of continuing his education, but drug abuse put a quick end to his dreams. She said she was devastated upon finding him unconscious Sunday afternoon in his Southgate apartment. "It's an epidemic," she said of heroin addiction. "One time and you're hooked." Ashley said she found out about Jacob's addiction in November after he wrecked his car in Wyandotte while under the influence of heroin. He spent three days in jail after that incident, which proved to be a wake-up call. He was placed in a hospital and given what his mother referred to as a "concoction of prescriptions" to treat his addiction. "There is no good support," Ashley said. "He was on a waiting list of hundreds of people to see a therapist, and I had good insurance. There are so few groups you can talk this stuff out." Through her son's addiction, Ashley became aware of what she said is a problem with young people selling prescription drugs. "They fake symptoms to get drugs they want from urgent care," she said, adding that in some cases physicians may not know what prescriptions a drug-addicted patient has been given by other doctors. "It's enabling these kids to work this poor system we have," she said. In addition to his mother and stepfather, Don Hubbard, who reside in Wyandotte; Jacob is survived by his father, Thomas Ashley of Richmond, Ind.; his sister, Lorynn Riley of London, England; and brother Tyler Ashley; as well as grandparents Thomas and Shirley Ashley. Also surviving are his aunts and uncles Garrett Kitchen of Saint Marys, Ohio; Leslie Kitchen of Saint Marys; Lynn Lightle of Wapakoneta, Ohio; Theresa Risner and O'Rina Ashley. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Charles and Colista Kitchen. "Jake," as he was known to friends and family, enjoyed drawing, hunting and fishing, playing cards and video games, and spending time with his family. His life will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2015, at the Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home, 314 West High Street, St.Marys, Ohio. Visitation took place on Thursday. Friends and family in Michigan are invited to attend visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Czopek Funeral Directors, 2157 Oak St., Wyandotte. Condolences may be sent to the family at Millerfuneralhomes.net. Ashley said she is telling her son's story in the hopes that those with an addiction problem can learn from it, so that other young people don't go down the same road that led to her son's death. "They are not themselves (after becoming addicted,)" she said. "They are unable to bring themselves back. It's very horrible. These kids are making poor decisions." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D