Hidden Harm: The Teen Experience of Opioid Addiction - Chesterfield Public Library

chesterfield.libnet.info·Jun 8, 2026

Hidden Harm: The Teen Experience of Opioid Addiction - Chesterfield Public Library

📍 Midlothian Library

TL;DR: Chesterfield Public Library hosted a panel discussion featuring authors, recovery experts, and students to address how opioid addiction impacts teenagers and families across Virginia.

Quick facts

Who: Panelists including author Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Chesterfield Recovery Academy facilitator Darien Kay, nonprofit founder Jill Cichowicz, a Recovery Academy graduate, and moderator Cheryle Walters Rodriguez (Virginia Department of Health)
What: Panel discussion addressing the teen experience of opioid addiction, covering family impact, personal struggle, and recovery resources
When: Friday, June 5, 2026, 6:00–8:00 PM
Where: Midlothian Library, Chesterfield County, Virginia

The story

On June 5, 2026, Chesterfield Public Library's Midlothian branch brought together panelists, survivors, and advocates to confront a crisis that often goes unspoken in schools and families: how opioid addiction silently reshapes the lives of teenagers and their families. The panel, titled "Hidden Harm: The Teen Experience of Opioid Addiction," featured author Jarrett J. Krosoczka, whose acclaimed graphic memoir "Hey, Kiddo" chronicles his childhood with a mother battling heroin addiction and a father he never knew; Darien Kay, a facilitator at Chesterfield Recovery Academy; Jill Cichowicz, founder of the nonprofit 2 End the Stigma; a current Chesterfield Recovery Academy graduate; and moderator Cheryle Walters Rodriguez from the Virginia Department of Health.

The event highlighted the scope of the challenge facing teenagers in Virginia. Adolescents who use opioids are at significantly higher risk of developing substance-use disorder than adults, with the risk increasing the earlier they begin using. Nationally, opioid overdose deaths among ages 15–24 declined by 41% from 2023 to 2024, a marked improvement but one that masks the ongoing struggle for thousands of young people in recovery. The panel discussed how addiction rarely arrives alone—it brings trauma, family disruption, and deep shame that prevents teenagers and their loved ones from seeking help.

Chesterfield County's response to the crisis has been distinctive. In August 2022, Chesterfield County Public Schools opened Virginia's first recovery high school, Chesterfield Recovery Academy, designed specifically for students recovering from substance-use disorders. The program requires students to be drug-free for 20–30 days before enrollment and provides on-staff substance abuse and mental health counselors alongside academic teachers. With 14 students currently enrolled out of 50 available spots and 60 students having graduated since its opening, the Academy demonstrates both the scale of need and the county's commitment to ensuring that recovery is compatible with finishing high school. The program has expanded its reach through partnerships with Richmond and Henrico County, securing grant funding from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to support student transportation and outreach.

Broader county initiatives extend beyond the classroom. Chesterfield County's Prevention Services department operates Project Recover, a partnership in which peer specialists ride alongside police to connect individuals overdosing with wraparound care, and a mobile outreach program serving individuals who use drugs with a focus on harm reduction. The library system itself distributes naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl test strips, and medication disposal kits for free. The panel discussion underscored a shift in how the county approaches addiction: not as a moral failing or personal weakness, but as a treatable health condition requiring compassion, education, and resource.

Key players

Jarrett J. Krosoczka — Author of graphic memoir 'Hey, Kiddo' about growing up with family opioid addiction
Darien Kay — Support facilitator at Chesterfield Recovery Academy
Jill Cichowicz — Founder of 2 End the Stigma nonprofit; sister of opioid overdose victim
Chesterfield Recovery Academy — Virginia's first recovery high school, serving students in early recovery from substance-use disorders
Cheryle Walters Rodriguez — Moderator; representative of Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority — Program supporter and funder of Chesterfield recovery initiatives

Key dates

2026-06-05 — Hidden Harm: The Teen Experience of Opioid Addiction panel discussion at Midlothian Library (event occurred; registration closed)
2022-08 — Chesterfield Recovery Academy opened as Virginia's first recovery high school
2017-02-28 — Scott Zebrowski (Jill Cichowicz's twin brother) died of fentanyl poisoning; sparked founding of 2 End the Stigma nonprofit

The case for

Panel discussions like this one reduce stigma around opioid addiction and recovery, helping teenagers and families recognize they are not alone—a powerful first step toward seeking help. Public programming by libraries makes recovery resources and peer support visible to the community and signals institutional commitment to addressing the crisis. Featuring authors like Krosoczka alongside local recovery specialists connects readers to firsthand accounts of addiction's impact on families, which research shows increases empathy and reduces shame-driven isolation. The event also validates the work of Chesterfield's Recovery Academy and harm-reduction programs, potentially building voter and donor support for their continuation and expansion.

The case against

Critics may argue that a single evening panel, while valuable, reaches only those motivated to attend—typically those already aware of or directly affected by opioid addiction. Teens struggling most deeply with substance use may not attend a library program, nor may parents in denial about their child's risk. Public events centered on addiction's "hidden harm" may also inadvertently discourage families from seeking early intervention if the messaging emphasizes how pervasive and difficult the problem is. Some community members may view library resources spent on opioid education as better directed toward prevention messaging aimed at younger teens before first use, or toward funding treatment directly rather than awareness-raising.

Why it matters: For families in Chesterfield County, the hidden reality of teen opioid addiction means recognizing that addiction can strike any household and that recovery is possible with institutional support. The county's Recovery Academy and harm-reduction partnerships are among the most concrete responses available to residents facing substance-use crises—and public awareness of these programs directly shapes whether teenagers and families know where to turn when crisis arrives.

Places

Development timeline

2017-02-28
Scott Zebrowski dies of fentanyl poisoning: Twin brother of Jill Cichowicz dies in Los Angeles Starbucks parking lot from fentanyl-laced drugs, prompting creation of 2 End the Stigma nonprofit [[source]](https://www.2endthestigma.org/)
2018-10
Jarrett Krosoczka publishes 'Hey, Kiddo' graphic memoir: National Book Award finalist graphic novel chronicling Krosoczka's childhood with a mother battling heroin addiction [[source]](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37822650-hey-kiddo)
2022-08
Chesterfield Recovery Academy opens: Virginia's first recovery high school begins serving students ages 14–18 in early recovery from substance-use disorders [[source]](https://www.chesterfield.gov/m/NewsFlash/Home/Detail/6599)
2024
Virginia reports 44% drop in opioid deaths: Virginia experiences one of the largest declines in opioid overdose death rates among U.S. states from 2023 to 2024; ages 15–24 see 41% decline [[source]](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drug-overdose-data/)
2025-06
Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority funds Chesterfield Recovery Academy expansion: OAA approves grant to fund Chesterfield Recovery Academy Outreach and Transportation Project, expanding reach to regional partners [[source]](https://www.chesterfield.gov/4117/Opioid-Response)
2026-06-05
'Hidden Harm: The Teen Experience of Opioid Addiction' panel at Midlothian Library: Chesterfield Public Library hosts discussion with author Jarrett Krosoczka, Recovery Academy facilitator, 2 End the Stigma founder, and recovery graduate; complimentary copies of 'Hey, Kiddo' distributed [[source]](https://chesterfield.libnet.info/event/16376432)

Sources

#teen opioid addiction#Chesterfield Recovery Academy#substance-use disorder#harm reduction #Chesterfield County Public Library #mental health#recovery programs#Virginia opioid crisis

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