A Better Life

The longing to have hope again
To have some peace of mind
Can be a dream so far removed
It becomes the truth that we cannot find
The pain that is found inside the heart
We try to silence with distraction

To find ourselves alone in a crowded place
Imprisoned by these actions
Desperate to change this forsaken path
Needing help to end this suffering and strife
We are reaching out with heart and soul
There is a better life

— Anonymous

Foundation Beneficiaries

In keeping with Jay’s artistic abilities, the Foundation is enabling enhancements to the art therapy program at The McLean Center at Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts. In a peaceful setting with a breathtaking view, The McLean Center at Fernside offers a residential treatment program for people with drug and alcohol addictions. The goal of The McLean Center at Fernside is to help individuals achieve and maintain abstinence, reclaim a sense of self-worth and learn to manage the stresses of an active life without returning to substance dependence.

Tom Irwin/Director, McLean Center at Fernside:

"During the past 20 years, there have been significant advances in the development of treatments for alcohol and drug use disorders. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of individuals with alcohol and drug problems do not seek treatment (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2000).

"There are many factors that influence the lack of participation in treatment for those that need these services, and it is likely that the most important factor is the stigma associated with addiction and addiction treatment. Addiction and the treatment for addiction are often seen as moral issues and those that relapse are looked at as failures.

"For those with other chronic medical disorders, such as diabetes, success in managing blood sugar levels is not expected immediately and treatment is viewed as a process that requires much trial and error before the client/patient is able to manage the illness on their own. Addiction and addiction treatment is not viewed this way by the public in general, by those who have substance use disorders, and often, even by those who provide treatment for addiction.

"Michelle Herlihy was proud of her Godson and continues to be. She is dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with addiction and to honoring the memory of her godson.

"By developing the Jay Kistler Foundation, she has demonstrated her commitment to raising awareness of the reality of addiction and the tragedies that are often associated with it. Because of her efforts, she encourages others who have lived with or are currently living with a loved one with an addiction to step out of the shadows and to speak up to change the negative perceptions of addiction and to advocate for reducing barriers for those that need help."

Stephanie Karlson/Art Therapist, McLean Center at Fernside:

The importance of self-expression through art in the treatment of addiction:

"A major component of good addiction treatment is teaching people how to cope better with emotions, particularly negative emotions, which are often triggers for relapse. Expressive therapy offers those in treatment an opportunity to regain awareness of emotional experiences in ways that are often difficult to articulate verbally.

"One of the challenges of those who are in treatment and in early recovery from substance use disorders is that, for many, substances have subverted or masked their emotional experiences to such an extent that they have difficulty coping with, or sometimes even recognizing, their feelings. Expressive therapy is often a way to open up the process of identifying their feelings and help them to begin dealing with them. For some, art in and of itself becomes a very useful coping tool that they continue to use well beyond the treatment phase of their recovery."

The Foundation is also providing scholarships in Jay’s name to the Belmont Hill School Summer Program. For children in grades 6 to 12, families and staff work together to engage the whole child with a mix of academic classes and athletic activity. For children ages 9 to 18, tennis clinics and a wide variety of art workshops are offered.

Statistics on Addiction

From Tom Irwin/Director, McLean Center at Fernside:

Alcohol and drug use disorders have enormous consequences, not only for those who are addicted, but also for their families and children, their employers, and the larger society. The estimated cost of substance abuse and dependence, including health- and crime-related costs as well as losses in productivity is staggering (NIDA, 2008), with an overall annual total that exceeds half a trillion dollars.

Alcohol and drugs affect all age groups. For example:

Approximately one in four children under 18 years old in the United States is exposed to alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence in the family (Grant, 2000).
More than one-half of American adults have a family member who has or has had alcohol dependence (Dawson and Grant, 1998).
In 2006, about 10.8 million or 28.3% of underage youth, ages 12 to 20, reported drinking in the past month.
One growing concern in young adults (18-25) is that the nonmedical use of prescription drugs, including stimulants and opiates, has increased dramatically during the past ten years.

While alcohol and drug use continues to be a significant problem, funding for treatment has declined, both through public funding (Medicare and Medicaid) and private insurance. During the past 10 years, the number of inpatient treatment beds has dropped by more than half.