Tisha Lewis Fox59

9:59 a.m. EDT, July 13, 2010
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Bloomington, Ind. —

A Bloomington mother is bringing her grassroots effort from Florida to Indiana.

It's called The Jennifer Act and it's all about intervention, even if the person needing the help refuses to get treated for drug addiction.

Sharon Blair is circulating this Public Service Announcement across the country.  Blair says her daughter, Jennifer Reynolds, died on January 15, 2009 at the age of 29 after overdosing on prescription drugs.

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Since then, Blair has moved to Bloomington and teamed up with Senators Vi Simpson and Sue Errington. The lawmakers drafted the Jennifer Act (IN Senate Bill 380) and introduced it in January. Fox59 has learned it will be reintroduced in the fall.

"Family members are in crisis and they don't know what to do and their loved one is out of control," Blair told Fox59.

"I didn't drop the ball. As a matter of fact, I was screaming at the rooftop of my house for help for my daughter, because I knew she wasn't going to make it if I couldn't get an intervention."

The help never came.

Blair's daughter, Jennifer Reynolds, had battled a drug addiction since she was 16 years old, and Blair says there was no help beyond the traditional 72-hour hold in place in most states.

"A person makes a bad choice to use drugs. After that point, it's not really up to them anymore what happens because once they're addicted, their life just spirals quickly down."

According to www.eLobbyist.com, the Jennifer Act "Provides procedures for the involuntary commitment of a person due to alcohol or drug abuse. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to maintain and operate or contract for alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities, including faith based facilities. Requires the law enforcement academy to provide training regarding persons with alcohol or drug addictions, including training for involuntary commitments for alcohol or drug use. Requires the department of correction and county jails to provide alcohol and drug rehabilitation to all offenders with alcohol or drug addictions."