Addiction.
The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 8.4 million American adults, or 40.7 percent of the population that had a substance abuse disorder, had another mental health condition alongside drug abuse. Additionally, people who reported having at least one mental illness were twice as likely to also use illegal drugs (26.7 percent versus 13.2 percent of the respective populations).
These numbers reflect the relationship between drug use and mental illness, whether the mental illness develops from the drug use or the drug use is a form of self-medication.
On June 29, 2018, our co-founder, Bridget Riepl, is coming together with a group of incredible yoga teachers from the Monmouth County community to raise funds and awareness for Tigger House, a foundation dedicated to increasing public awareness about opiate addiction and to help those struggling with addiction.
Lisa and Rick Stavola founded Tigger House in honor of their eldest son, Richard J. Stavola Jr., known as Tigger to his family and friends. Tigger lost his seven-year battle with addiction and died of a heroin overdose in 2013, at the age 25.
A tragedy for the people who loved him, Tigger’s was one of 557 heroin deaths – more than 10 each week – in New Jersey that year. In 2014 the numbers were worse, with the state medical examiner reporting 664 heroin deaths statewide, 68 in Monmouth County alone, a staggering 51 percent increase in the county. And there’s every indication that those numbers are continuing to climb in 2015. “It’s an epidemic hiding in plain sight,” said Rick. “If someone went into a school and killed 15 people, it would be all over the news all over the world, but yet, just in the Middletown, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver area, 20 kids died from opiates in 2014.”
Even with so many people dying from opiate addiction, “It’s hard to believe because you don’t see it.”
Tiger’s life was absolutely cut short too soon. Far too soon.
Tigger’s family is active as philanthropists in the community. They have courageously decided to honor their son and take a resolute stand to fight the raging opiate/heroin epidemic devastating our youth.
And now they are inviting the NJ yoga community to DO YOGA FOR A CAUSE.
We hope you will join the Stavolas in their mission.
Here are the details:
Time & Location: June 29, 7:00 AM – 8:45 AM (yoga begins promptly at 7:30 AM) at Edgewater Beach and Cabana Club, 1465 Ocean Ave, Sea Bright, NJ
Groups will participate in 1 hour of instructor-led yoga suitable for all yogis – beginner to advanced led by some of the best instructors in Monmouth County:
- Mary Ansell of Open Heart Yoga
- Chrisanne Milko of Monmouth Beach Yoga & Wellness
- Bridget Riepl, Co-Founder of the NJ Yoga Collective and teaching on behalf of AB Fitness in Sea Bright, NJ
- Christian Valeriani, Owner and Founder of EvenFlow Yoga in Red Bank, NJ
- Vanessa Van Noy, Founder and Creator of Headstands for Hunger, a 501c3 charity collecting food, raising funds, and increasing awareness for hungry people and animals
When not on the mat, participants can visit our silent auction, wellness vendors and enjoy light food and beverages.
Questions? Contact carla@tiggerhouse.org.
We hope you will spread the word and join us for the Tigger House practice at Edgewater.
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