COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The holidays are a particularly tough time for those living with addiction.
After their own family tragedy, one mom and dad are working to provide a place for those who are struggling.
“This is a haunted movie, only you’re in it,” Michael Owen said.
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Michael and Missy Owen know too well, the impact addiction can have one people. They lost their son Davis in March 2014.
“He had a neck injury, and during that neck injury he was prescribed oxycontin. He took it as prescribed,” Missy said. “And he started taking the opioid prescriptions in our medicine cabinet.”
It’s the story of so many at The Zone, a place started by the Davis Direction and started in Davis’ honor.
The Zone’s goal is giving those with addiction a place to turn.
“What if your addiction came calling Tuesday at 3 p.m., where would you go? Well there wasn’t anywhere to go,” Missy said.
This time of year is a particularly difficult time for the hundreds who use The Zone on North Fairgrounds Street NE.
“Holidays are hard for people in addiction and recovery often times because it’s a time when families gather. And a lot of times they’ve been ostracized from their families even if their families aren’t doing it to them. They’re doing it because they don’t feel worthy to be a part of their family,” Missy said.
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To combat the loneliness, they’re extending their hours at The Zone.
“We have what we call our 36 hour rooms. We open our doors and we provide the home, the space and the feast.”
They believe connection is the opposite of addiction and the Zone is the place to find it. The Owens hope a holiday connection, can help save lives.
“This place is the front windshield on the rearview mirror,” Michael Owen said.
The Zone’s hours are extended on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at their location on 32 Fairground St NE, Marietta, GA 30060. They start at 9 a.m. and go through 9 p.m. on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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