Tammie Hetzer-Womack
The Independent
GREENUP —
A single mother of three, Tawanna Talbert’s life flew into a tailspin, learning from her son’s pediatrician that her 1-year-old baby has cerebral palsy. She started enduring panic attacks, but sought help. Doctors prescribed Xanax to help her cope.
Now 35, she describes how the habit-forming anti-anxiety drug grasped her. She couldn’t let go. Before she knew it, she was addicted.
“Sad to say, at this point, I was stealing, shoplifting, telling lies after lies to my family and friends to get them,” Talbert admitted.
When physicians wouldn’t prescribe anymore, she doctor-shopped, going from offices to clinics, coming up with fake reasons she needed the powerful drug. When that didn’t work, she paid others to go to the doctor for her, acquiring multitudes of pills.
High most of the time, Talbert got her first DUI in Ohio in 2004, the second in Kentucky in 2006. She was under the influence of drugs both times when stopped by cops.
When arrested in Ohio, she was on her way back from visiting her dying dad in Columbus. She was pulled over by police six separate times that night as fellow motorists saw her swerving and called 911. Finally, in Portsmouth, they arrested her.
“My life had become unmanageable. But, at this point, I was way out of control,” the Wurtland woman said. “My mother had tried to get me into rehab but no one was able to take me because of the amount of Xanax I was taking. I was taking anywhere from 20 to 30 a day.
“I was skin and bones and really didn’t care about anything in life other than getting high and where I was gonna get my next pill.”
In late April 2008, Talbert went to a doctor and was prescribed 90 Xanax tablets. A day later, they were gone, so she bought 50 more. The next day, April 23, she was so desperate she phoned her own prescription into the Flatwoods CVS Pharmacy.
The pharmacist knew her voice message was suspicious. When she arrived at the drug store to pick up the prescription, they stalled her until law enforcement arrived.
“Of course, I was out of my mind,” she said, adding she was arrested that day on charges of prescription fraud. That was the last Xanax she ever swallowed.
“I was in jail for 20 days. I wasn’t a Christian, but I knew God was my only hope. I prayed every day and night. I never once got sick from coming off the drugs.”
Understanding she was facing five years in prison, Talbert opted for Greenup/Lewis County Drug Court.
“I knew I wanted to change my life. I just wasn’t sure how to.”
On Thursday, Talbert graduated from the program. She’s grateful for the support of family and friends, Greenup Circuit Court Judge Robert Conley and officials who stuck with her. She completed her GED while participating and intends to go back to school. She’ll start a drug court alumni association next month for folks like her.
“They’ve done so much for me they don’t even know. I know it’s just their job, but they go above and beyond to help the people in drug court,” she continued. “It’s by far not an easy program. It has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but it’s taught me how to overcome a battle I thought I would never win.”
Talbert’s mother, Lowise Jenkins, was with her daughter through it all, driving her to meetings and making sure she made it to drug tests, support group sessions, and court dates. Her kids, ages 17, 12 and 8, perform community service right alongside their mom.
Clean for two years now, Talbert is especially thankful for former Greenup Circuit Court Judge Lewis Nicholls. His Sunday morning recovery group church meetings were a godsend. Paying it back, she now has her own meetings.
“It was there. I knew I needed God in my life, and without God by my side, I might still be in jail. Drug court is a place to give addicts a second chance and to recover their lives,” Talbert said. “I know drug court isn’t for everyone and I know there are a lot of people who couldn’t make it.
“But that’s not because drug court doesn’t work. It’s because they didn’t want to change their lives. I believe if you want things in life, go for it. No one ever said life was easy or would be easy.”
