PJ Newberg is in recovery for alcoholism. She said she was devastated when her daughter, Paula Nixon, began using heroin at 16.
She held a forum Tuesday night in Glenview. Newberg was prompted by her daughter's addiction and the deaths of several young people in the community.
She cited statistics on heroin use, and her daughter spoke of the effect it's had on their family and her mother.
"She was going to break 24 years of sobriety because she couldn't stand to see me slowly killing myself," Nixon said.
Newberg said she hoped those at Tuesday night's forum would learn to identify the signs of heroin addiction.
