The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is working with a number of programs to help those caught in the heroin epidemic, including the East End YMCA.
They are working fighting to break the cycle and help people stay out of jail. A local mother was able to pull it off and shared her story, only with News 5.
"Doing drugs, it numbs you"
Kelly Farinacci said she did not start taking drugs until her thirties, after having children and being in several abusive relationships.
“Abusive mentally, physically, verbally,” she said.
Farinacci used drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain.
“I didn't want to feel that I was going through that, and taking or doing drugs, it numbs you,” she said.
RELATED: Lake County Sheriff's Office working to help former female inmates get back on their feet
Farinacci landed in jail over and over again, straining her relationship with her family and children.
“I got so mad at her, I didn't know what to do,” her daughter said, “I stopped talking to her for a little bit.”
Farinacci is one of many women who have landed behind bars.
Chief Deputy Frank Leonbruno with Lake County Sheriff's Office said the women's population in jail and prisons has risen 715 percent, since 1980.
“We need to return people back into society better than when they came to us,” he said.
According to Leonbruno, two-thirds of those women become repeat offenders.
Farinacci said she was able to break that cycle, through the help she received in jail, and Zumba classes through the YMCA.
“Jumping around, dancing, working out,” she said, “It was like a getaway in jail.”
The East End YMCA offers fitness classes for female inmates every Friday at the jail.
Healthy outlets
Lana Niebuhr has been working as the Healthy Living Director at the East End YMCA for five years. She said the classes help the inmates find a healthy outlet for their stresses and hardships.
“For that one moment, they’re in class,” said Niebuhr. “They're able to escape and forget about whatever problems they have.”
The YMCA also offers a scholarship program for any family, adult or senior in need, based on their salary through a sliding fee scale.
As for Farinacci, she said she is still doing Zumba.
“After I got out, I continued doing it, because it had an impact on me,” she said.
The change helped to heal a rift with some family members. Her daughter said she is now proud of her mother.
“She's been going to AA meetings, and I go with her,” she said, “She's getting into all these programs and stuff, and I just can't say how proud I am of her.” (Story continues below photo)
Breaking the cycle
Mother and daughter now call each other, best friends. Farinacci has been sober for three years now.
“They look at me as mom again,” said Farinacci, “I want everybody out there that is struggling with addiction to know that it's not the end.”
Chief Deputy Leonbruno said thousands of dollars are spent on putting repeat offenders, back through the system.
He said by breaking the cycle, programs like the YMCA are not only helping inmates, but saving taxpayer dollars in the long run.
