Hi everyone,

I’ve been deeply moved by the new comments, stories, and videos shared under the “reasons for signing” section—thank you. Your voices matter, and they reaffirm that this is not just a personal mission, but a necessary fight for accountability and truth in addiction treatment.

Each time I hit “send,” I’m reminded that this message may land in the inbox of a parent who lost their child at a facility they trusted—one that promised healing but delivered heartbreak. While no one expects perfection, we do expect responsibility, especially when families are paying tens of thousands of dollars with the belief that their loved one is safe.

The fact remains: people have been exposed to fentanyl on campus—even if it happened years ago, it's still a devastating and preventable tragedy. And yet, many of these stories are swept under the rug. Vulnerable individuals are often "brokered" into these centers, asked to share deeply personal health and financial information—information that is not only mishandled, but sometimes exposed in real cyberattacks.

Yes, some people receive help. But what happens after intake is far too inconsistent. This should never be a game of chance. These are real lives, real families, real pain.

We’re exhausted by the lack of transparency. We are demanding accountability.

If you’re newly signing this petition and would like to connect, I invite you to friend me on Facebook: Clelia Jane Sheppard, and join a supportive community:

👉 It’s Time for Ethics in Addiction Treatment

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1601249249894958

This group is a safe space to share experiences, support each other, and advocate for real change in the mental health and addiction treatment system.

Thank you again for standing with us. We are stronger together—and we won’t stop until the truth is heard.

👉 Please be sure to add your reason for signing and share your voice on the petition.
Leave a comment, post a video, or simply speak your truth—every voice helps. Your story could be the one that sparks awareness or drives the change we desperately need.    

👉 Please be sure to take the time to read through the petition and the various updates to get a fuller understanding of why it was started in the first place. Please note: some of the reasons shared include difficult and triggering content, such as death and sexual assault. These are the realities that so many families have had to face—and they deserve to be acknowledged, not hidden.

Another day, another reminder of why I started this petition.
It’s not out of spite, but out of a deep need to raise awareness. Mental health and addiction—topics many shy away from due to their painful associations—remain profoundly underserved. And this crisis isn’t just American; it’s global. In recent decades, it's only been magnified by the rise of social media and widespread drug use. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Take a moment to read the voices of those who’ve signed. Getting this petition into circulation has been an uphill battle. The moment people hear the words "mental health" or "addiction," too often, they recoil. The stigma kicks in. The assumption is always: “That’s not me. That’s them—the ‘crazy ones.’”

But the truth is, it could be anyone.
A combat veteran who risked everything.
A mother from New York.
A 21-year-old living out of his car.

These are real people. This is real life. And it's time we stop looking away.

Supporter Voices: https://www.change.org/p/investigate-american-addiction-centers-preventable-deaths-overdoses/feed

Reasons for Signing: https://www.change.org/p/investigate-american-addiction-centers-preventable-deaths-overdoses/c

With gratitude and hope,
Clelia Jane Sheppard

P.S.  Relevant extra—there’s a new documentary called Shuffle that just premiered at SXSW. Of course you can’t watch it yet (ugh!), but hopefully it will be available to stream soon. Keep an eye out—really powerful!