Packed house takes part in community discussion on drug abuse from dad’s perspective

Around 250 took part in a community discussion on substance abuse Tuesday night in downtown La Crosse.

The crowd listened to three fathers who experienced different stages of drug addiction.

One of those speakers, Bill Lenardson, endured his son Chris dying in 2009 at 24 years old. He said Chris started using drugs and alcohol at 12. Lenardson talked of how self guilt was tough to overcome.

“I could have done more. I could have done something different,” Lenardson thought at the time of the tragedy. “But, it wasn’t my fight. And it wasn’t my failure.

“I know as a parent there’s a temptation to believe you’re, at least, partially responsible. You’re not.”

Lenardson added that his wife’s support and his faith helped him heal. Two other father’s also shared their stories.

A second panel focused on community services for people dealing with addiction, and how those services can be accessed.

The event was put on by the Coulee Council on Addictions and hosted at the Radisson Center. Last fall, the community discussion focused on the mother’s perspective of substance abuse.