Apex task force engages community to talk about substance abuse, resources

The task force is made up of 12 volunteers including town police officers, clinicians, clergy and people who’ve experienced addiction in their lives.

"You either get control of it or let it run crazy and sooner or later it will land on your doorstep," said Pastor Kevin O’Brien.

O’Brien and fellow task force member Brenda Steen first came together when her son, Hollan Steen, was battling drug and alcohol abuse as a teenager living in Apex.

"I didn’t know where to turn," said Steen. "There’s so much shame as a parent."

O’Brien created One Step Healing Ministries to help people after he recovered from alcohol addiction.

"I have walked that walk, and I know the level of desperation it can bring to a life and the brokenness," O’Brien said.

"People in Apex, a highly affluent, suburban community, have children overdosing. People will talk about it. And the more people talk about it, the more we can navigate change," said Steen.

"Even if it’s someone we don’t know directly, what could I have done or how could we as a community come around this situation and maybe prevented this tragic loss?" said O’Brien.

The task force is taking a community-wide approach to break the cycle of addiction. The task force is working with its police officer members in Apex so people with substance misuse are taken to rehab instead of jail.

"The system is broken. We need to do something," said Steen.