Press Release
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III has begun distributing a new children’s book written by a local author that aims to open up the lines of communication with children who are living in a home with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The book, entitled, “A Sickness You Can’t See,” was authored by Bristol County’s own Laura Washington, who has worked in the addiction field for many years and has been a longtime community partner of the district attorney’s office.
Author, Laura Washington and Bristol County District Attornry Thomsas Quinn hold up copies of Ms. Washington’s book tht will be distributed to schools in Bristol County. Submitted photo.
The book was written to help educators, police, physicians and others that come into contact with children who are unfortunately living with someone addicted to drugs. Often times the children are forgotten about when it comes to addiction and many people do not know how to even broach the subject of a loved one’s substance abuse addiction with a child.
Ms. Washington wrote the book based on true stories and true events that her family members went through loving someone with an addiction.
Unfortunately, given the ongoing opiate epidemic impacting our country, more and more children are having to deal with family members in the throes of addiction. Children are truly the innocent victims of the opiate crisis and this book is just one way our office hopes to help stem the tide.
District Attorney Quinn decided to use a small portion of the office’s drug forfeiture funds to purchase 200 copies of the book with the goal of getting it into every school district in Bristol County.
During recent weeks, District Attorney Quinn, with the assistance of Community Affairs Unit Program Manager, April Funches, and the author herself, have begun to embark upon an effort to reach out to school superintendents and principals to get the book into their schools. Thanks to this ongoing effort, the book is already being utilized by the Henri Yelle Elementary School in Norton, the Quinn School in Dartmouth and the Elizabeth Pole School in Taunton.
The book will soon be brought into more of Taunton’s elementary schools and plans are in place to continue to distribute the book to schools in all 20 cities and towns in Bristol County during the coming weeks and months. The goal is to make sure every school district in the county has several copies. Our office will deliver or mail them to any elementary school that wants them and is willing to share it with students in need.
“I am very pleased to be able to provide these books to schools throughout Bristol County. It is very important for us to support children who are living in a home with someone who is battling addiction,” District Attorney Quinn said. “My office has spearheaded a number of initiatives over the past several years aimed at combatting the ongoing opiate epidemic plaguing our communities and families. I am hopeful that more and more schools will support this initiative and utilize this book during 2020.
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