Release Me

About the Book

Release Me is a book written from the perspective of a mother (rather than as an educator) over the course of the ten-year drug addiction of her older son, Tyler, and prior to his accidental heroin/Xanax death on 1-30-14. The book consists of a series of letters that Vicky writes to Tyler as well as some to her younger son, Seth, in response to the events that occurred as a result of Tyler’s drug usage. Tyler was an artist from a very early age (around three), and so the book consists of several letters written by him, his drawings that depict how he felt, including being guilt-ridden and shamed, as well as some photographs. The book also includes some letters written by teachers and camp kids (to whom Tyler was a counselor) with the hope that readers will understand that this deceased young man was a lot more than just an addict. He was an artist who thought and cared deeply for others and was intelligent, creative, and sensitive. He was also tortured and crippled mentally, emotionally, and physically by his depression and anxiety, which led to his self-medication and, ultimately, his addiction and death. Vicky’s passion in life is to help other children/families as a teacher and school psychologist, so her letters describe her feelings about Tyler bringing the “dark world” into the family as well as her inability to “fix” Tyler and his problems. One of the other important points about Release Me is that Tyler came from a good family with two working parents who care deeply about him and his brother. Addiction, particularly opiate addiction, impacts people of all ages and in any socioeconomic and educational level. Vicky is attempting, by writing this book, to help other people/families with addiction.

About the Author

Vicky is a fifty-seven-year-old semiretired school psychologist. She is currently working part-time as a school psychologist in Arizona, where she, her husband, and her son recently moved to less than a year and a half ago. Prior to that, Vicky and her family lived in Ohio their entire lives. Vicky worked as a regular and special education teacher for several years in addition to a workshop for developmentally disabled adults prior to earning her master’s degree in science at the University of Dayton and becoming a school psychologist. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. As a school psychologist, Vicky was trained in mental health and addiction. She, prior to her son’s addiction, opted to take a six-week optional drug/alcohol class (Street Smart) provided by the Columbus Sheriff’s Department. At age five, Vicky knew that she wanted to go into education and help children and their families. It has been her lifelong passion.