Father Describes Finding His Son Dead of a Heroin Overdose (Video)

Brian Kirk witnessed his son Matt descend into drug addiction until he died of a heroin overdose at age 18, despite attempts to help him. He told his story at the Blink of An Eye seminar.

Brian Kirk knew something was wrong. He walked into his Homer Glen home and saw his son Matt's backpack lying on the floor. School was still in session, and Matt was supposed to be there. Kirk looked all over the house, calling Matt's name, until he found him in the basement, lying on the floor in the fetal position. After Matt's death in 2009, he started speaking with Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield in the Blink of An Eye seminars, to teach other what he learned in a very difficult and painful way. Kirk shared the experience on July 18 at a Blink seminar, held at the Orland Fire Protection District Administration Building, along other people who lost friends and loved ones to drugs and other risky behavior. Sign up for Orland …

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Fire Chief Urges Parents, Teachers to Talk to Kids About Drugs Now (Video)

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield shared what he has seen in about 30 years of fire service in regard to heroin and drug abuse, including recent rises in use.

Mike Schofield saw a specific type of heroin user as a firefighter in Chicago. The individuals he encountered were usually unhealthy looking, strung out and living in dire conditions. Today in Orland Park and nearby areas, the Orland Fire battalion chief and former Homer fire chief has seen heroin users that are accomplished students and athletes. And drug use is happening among even younger people, he said.  As a result, Schofield decided to create the Blink of an Eye seminar; using actual stories of loss from drug abuse through speakers, vidoes and 911 recordings.  Schofield spoke on July 18 at a Blink seminar, held at the Orland Fire Protection District Administration Building, along other people who lost friends and loved ones to drugs…

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Lockport Grad Recalls Friends Lost to Drugs (Video)

Lisa, a Lockport Township High School graduate saw several peers succumb to drugs, some before they could graduate high school. She shared her story for several teens and adolescents at the Blink of an Eye seminar.

Lisa has opportunities. The former Lockport Township High School student completed college, and will soon be traveling to Ghana, Africa to further her goals. When she was a teenager, she drank at parties along with several of her friends. But she decided to quit. Not all of her peers did the same. Some have not made it college, and have trouble holding down a steady job. Others have since died because of drugs. She spoke on July 18 at a Blink seminar, held at the Orland Fire Protection District Administration Building. Sign up for Orland Park Patch breaking news alerts.  Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter. Looking for more from the Blink of an Eye seminar?

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911 Audio: Mother Calls While Son Overdoses on Heroin

The recording of a woman calling for medical support after finding her son unconscious was played Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield during the Blink of an Eye seminar about risky behavior, including drug use.

The call itself is only about five minutes. According to Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield, Orland firefighter-paramedics can get to anywhere in Orland Park, Orland Hills and a section of unincorporated Cook County in about that time. But as a mother screams into the phone, panicked after finding her unconscious son and they wait for an emergency crew to arrive and save him, the call seems to be longer. Audio from this 911 call was played during the Blink of An Eye seminar, held on July 18 at the Orland Fire Protection District Administration Building. Looking for more stories about the Blink of An Eye drug, alcohol and risky behavior seminar? Sign up for Orland Park Patch breaking news alerts.  Follow us on Facebook and on …

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Rear View

In the Rear View: A Marathon Man and 11 New Firemen

We look back at a week of traffic detours, a possible U-turn in the hearsay rule in a court case, the roadblock that drugs and alcohol cause and how the Olympics can pave the way to more local swimming success down the road.

MONDAY 143rd Closed at Southwest Highway/Metra Crossing Until Aug. 20 The village is providing detours to try to ease the woes for construction in that area.   TUESDAY Orland Park Man Ran Marathon In Every State Runner first declared the ambitious goal with best friend in 2003, and finished with a race in Hawaii last month.   WEDNESDAY Orland Fire Board OKs Hiring 11 New Firefighters The Orland Fire Protection District is now one step away from adding a new roster of firefighters for the first time in five years. State Doesn't Want Alleged Elderly Sex Abuse Victim to Face Accuser A prosecutor asked that a statement uttered immediately after the alleged sexual assault by Robert Phelan, 57, be admitted as an exception the hearsay rule. …

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Mother Recalls Son's Drunk Driving Accident That Claimed Lives of Teens

Tami O'Brien spoke at Blink of an Eye seminar about her son Jason Casper, an aspiring Chicago police officer who killed two Carl Sandburg High School students in a drunk driving accident, to educate people about risky behavior.

Tami O'Brien stayed quiet as long as she could about the car accident involving her son, Jason Casper. On Feb. 12, 2005, Casper was driving through 159th Street and Harlem Avenue when he struck a car. Casper had been drinking before, and 16-year-old Ahmad Shaban as well as 17-year-old Mohammed Shuaibi died as a result of the accident. Casper was later sentenced to 12 years in prison.  About a year after he started his sentence, O'Brien began speaking openly about her son's accident, most recently with Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield's Blink of an Eye seminar. The hope is to educate people about what can be lost through risky behavior. She spoke on July 18 at a Blink seminar, held at the Orland Fire Protection District …

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In the Blink of an Eye: Stories of Lives Lost to Drugs and Alcohol (Video)

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield led a seminar last week showing teens and parents the dangers of risky behavior, including texting or drinking while driving and drug use.

Mike Schofield wanted to raise awareness about rising drug use trends, especially heroin overdoses. Over time the Orland Fire battalion chief developed the Blink of An Eye seminar, combining the playing of an actual 911 call for a heroin overdose with true stories told from the people who lost a friend or loved one to drug or alcohol-releated circumstances. Tami O'Brien's son Jason Casper is serving a 12-year prison sentence for the death of two teens caused by his intoxicated driving. Brian Kirk found his son dead of a heroin overdose in his home. Lisa, a Lockport Township High School graduate saw several peers succumb to drugs, some before they could graduate high school. Schofield held a Blink of an Eye seminar with O'Brien, Kirk and …

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First-Hand Views on Drug-Related Death, Addiction at Seminar Tonight

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield is holding a “Blink of an Eye” program where a 911 tape from a heroin overdose will be played, stories from people who lost loved ones will be told and other from-the-source information will be offered.

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield was surprised himself when he started encountering the rise in heroin use among teens and young adults in Homer Glen and Orland Park. The shock only grew when people started dying from overdoses, and similar reports came from nearby towns. “I had no clue we had an issue until we had multiple fatalities,” said Schofield, during an interview in November 2011. “It takes an average of six stays in rehab to kick heroin. But before that can even happen, parents miss it because these kids are functioning. They are getting good grades, and still showing up for classes.” He decided to start showing people what he saw as a firefighter and emergency medical technician, instead of just telling. On Wednesday …

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Fire Chief on Mission to Show Teens Harsh Reality of Drugs and Alcohol

Mike Schofield's In the Blink of an Eye program exposes students to real stories of drug abuse, death and loss to prevent more drug-induced tragedy.

Mike Schofield wasn’t all that surprised to encounter heroin in parts of Chicago while on emergency calls in the 1980s. But he didn’t expect to see them as frequently as he did about two years ago, working as a fire chief in Homer Glen and Orland Park. The overdoses had an added disturbing factor that Schofield also didn’t expect.  “To see the resurgence here, and to see it targeted at young kids in high school, that’s what took me by surprise,” said Schofield, fire chief of the Homer Township Fire District and battalion chief with the Orland Fire Protection District. “I had no clue we had an issue until we had multiple fatalities.” From what Schofield learned, heroin was affecting teens so much because the pushers were operating near …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Heroin is a Terrorist Attack on Our Young People

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield shares his perspective on the drug from a career working emergencies.

Over the past several years our area has seen the reemergence of the drug heroin. Though this time around it is more pure and potent then it was many years ago. Heroin is a cheap, highly addictive drug and has no clinical/medical use. As the use of this drug increases so does the impact in our communities. The devastation of families, increase in crime (to fund the addiction), robbing our young of their innocence, making some a lifelong prisoner to addiction and in the most extreme cases death. One of the most shocking things is how accessible this drug is. In almost any high school students know a user or supplier. Heroin can be smoked, snorted or shot into your veins. It is relatively cheap and surprisingly easily to get. This drug is …

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