A personal story about the DEATH of a charming, caring and intelligent
young man from the use of heroin and how it has affected the ones
left behind to pick up the pieces.

~~As told by his sister and friend, Marci A. Chase

Newspaper Articles Curing Addiction is Very Difficult Sister Devotes Time For Pete's Sake Awareness Rally Website Shares her Story Drugs Can Kill Anybody Posted on The Web For Pete’s Sake Dear Marci Sister warns children

My name is Marci Chase and I live in Norwalk, Ohio. Seven years ago, my younger brother Pete R. Rinner, began using heroin and overdosed on March 1, 1999. He was a student at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio at the time and was to graduate later that year. Pete was an awesome young man with charm and sensitivity. He was a beautiful person with an amazing future ahead of him. He was only using heroin for a short time before he overdosed. Although we had seen warning signs, we had no idea that he was using heroin.

After several years of heartache and sadness, I was approached by a Norwalk Middle School teacher, Kim Lawrence. She asked me if I would share ‘my side’ of Pete’s story to make the students realize that drug use not only affects the person using them, but all of the people around them that love them. She advised that the kids get a lot of drug prevention information at school and from police, etc., but hearing a real story from a real person would have a greater effect on them. After several months of considering this, I decided to try.

I began sharing my story locally in December 2001 and I have spoken to over 5,000 students/children/adults in my local area. Each school that I have spoken to has asked me to come back the next year for the next class of students. I have also spoken to church youth organizations and for local police departments for drug awareness programs. 

I do not speak to my audiences about any technical features of drugs nor do I use any statistics. I give them a background of our family life growing up and share with them pictures of Pete throughout different stages of his life. I try to paint a picture of his great personality. I then tell them all of the details about the morning we found out he overdosed. I share with them the heartache that I experience along with my family during the funeral. I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter at the time Pete died and I also share with the students how difficult those following months were. I try to make them understand that if this tragedy can happen to my brother, than it can HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

Pete was intelligent and knew the dangers of drugs. He had everything going for him and decided to mess around with heroin. I have no doubt in my mind that he thought he could ‘handle it’. I call this ‘Superman Syndrome’ and try to make the students realize how easily this can happen. I also share with them how his friends (although I use no names) were aware of his drug use and chose not to help him or contact me/our family about it. I use this as an example for them to apply to their lives. I want them to understand how serious drug use is and how they may have to step in and help someone they love. I would have turned this world upside down to help my brother but I had no idea how deep he was in.

I get very personal in each talk that I give and I try to make them see how I have to deal with this tragedy each and every day. It does not go away and it does not get easier. I ask them to put themselves in my shoes or in Pete’s shoes and think about everyone one around them. I let them know that the self-destructive drug use is NOT JUST ABOUT THEM.

I also tell them how Pete used marijuana prior to using heroin for the first time. I let them know that if they decide to use ‘Gateway’ drugs / alcohol, they need to realize that they are playing a dangerous game with their lives.

I wanted to say something to the kids that they could remember (especially the younger kids) and take with them after I was done giving my talks. I ask them to remember 3 questions and ask themselves these questions anytime someone puts a drug into their hand. 1) What’s in it? 2) Who made it? 3) Is it enough to kill me? I assure them that they will never be able to answer any of these questions.

I break down the peer pressure scenario and let them know that using drugs and alcohol is really as SIMPLE as Yes and No. They can decide to put drugs into their bodies OR they can decide not to. It really is that simple. I tell them to remove themselves from the situation and to make decisions for themselves and not based on what their friends’ are doing. I ask them to think about their future and what lies ahead for them. I ask them to think about what is important to them and think about losing EVERYTHING.

After I gave my For Pete’s Sake presentation for the first time and after seeing the response from the teachers and students, I feel very strongly about do this. I am not naïve enough to think that I will save the world, but if just one person listens to my story and decides to steer themselves away from drug use, then I have done something positive in a very tragic situation. My brother was an awesome person who never had an enemy. When he died, I realized how truly wonderful he was and I have decided to dedicate the life that I have been given to help others. I can’t sit back and feel sorry for our family another day, I need to do something positive and this is what I have decided to do. I have hundreds of letters and emails from students that I have talked to and I feel very blessed to be able to stand up in front of hundreds of people and share my story. If only 1 person walks out of that room and remembers something that I have said, then I have made a difference, for Pete’s sake.