#Dear America: #FightforRecovery

NORWALK — To work, the message must spread beyond Norwalk … and Sandusky … and Ohio … and the Midwest … and the East Coast.#Dear America: #FightforRecovery requires everyone, whether an addict or not, buying into local grassroots initiatives to raise awareness for what's killing so many in this country.Then and only then can this movement receive national momentum, and potentially gain worldwide exposure, to save lives.Three local men — Curtice resident Nate Kehlmeier, Sandusky resident Antonio Lopez and Clyde resident Richie Webber — fully accept the notion.They've all preached and acted upon this belief, most recently traveling together to the nation's capital. Earlier this month, they ventured to Washington, D.C., shooting scenes for a music video, titled "Dear America," which spotlights the drug epidemic.About 100 people received a sneak peek of the production Wednesday night at the Norwalk Reservoir. It's scheduled for a release at 7 p.m. Saturday on Lopez's TeeLow Facebook page. Lopez, a rapper, goes by the TeeLow moniker.In Washington, D.C., they filmed themselves near landmarks, including the Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, which has a special meaning for Webber."The Lincoln (Memorial) represents freedom to so many different people on so many different levels," said Webber, who's a recovering heroin addict. "It was a really amazing thing to stand there, in front of that memorial, as a free man of addiction."Clyde resident Richie Webber, who's a recovering heroin addict, talks about his role in the addiction recovery movement Wednesday night at the Norwalk Reservoir. He provided a few remarks to audience members before the premiere of "Dear America," a music video spotlighting the drug epidemic he and two other local men filmed in Washington, D.C.Webber called on attendees to take action and stand with him in the recovery movement."I used to ask myself … 'Why doesn't somebody do something about this? These are good people with a bad problem and they need help.'"Webber continued: "Then I looked in the mirror one day, and then I realized that somebody is you. I am that somebody. I can do something about this. You guys are somebody. You can do something about this. It starts coming together right here and right now."People, however, need to realize they don't have to fight addiction alone: There are plenty of soldiers already on the front lines fighting a common enemy, Lopez said."It's all about us coming together," Lopez said. Many people "stay in their homes, huddling around tablets and watching Netflix. We don't come out, and we don't come together. But this is something we need to come together for."Sandusky resident Antonio Lopez welcomes supporters to the premiere of "Dear America" Wednesday at the Norwalk Reservoir. Lopez, under the moniker TeeLow, rapped lyrics in the music video, which spotlights the drug epidemic and how it's killed so many across the country.Predictions show a record 10,000 Ohioans will die this year as a direct result of opiate abuse. This doesn't account for indirect causes, such as drug abuse playing a role in car crashes and violent crimes.Locals must do what they can to curb the staggering number, Kehlmeier said."We need to help those who are struggling," said Kehlmeier, who's also a recovering addict. "If you know a family member that is struggling or know someone who is struggling, reach out to them. Don't judge. Let them know you are here to help them."When "Dear America" does premiere, all three men encourage locals to share the video on social media. They also want people to use two hashtag phrases, #Dear America and #FightforRecovery, in hopes of the production going viral."If we get this trending, more people will see it, and more people will get involved," Lopez said.People come together to watch the premiere of "Dear America" Wednesday at the Norwalk Reservoir.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.