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‘Gateway to Hope: Overcoming Heroin’ documentary to be shown May 11

Those involved with the documentary, “Gateway to Hope: Overcoming Heroin,” are encouraging the public to attend the May 11 screening at East Liverpool Junior-Senior High School (from left) co-producer John Smith, Service-Safety Director Brian Allen, Producer Josh Menning, Mayor Ryan Stovall, Family Care Ministries Vice President Josh Lytle and police Chief John Lane. (Photo by Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The locally-produced documentary, “Gateway to Hope: Overcoming Heroin,” will be screened at 7 p.m. May 11 at the East Liverpool Junior-Senior High School auditorium, and promoters are encouraging the public to view what they say is an inspiring story of recovery.

Produced by Menning Photographic Films, the documentary focuses on those who have battled addiction and recovered, talking frankly about the toll those journeys have taken not only on them but their families and friends, as well as officials who talk about how the drug epidemic is affecting the community but how there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

“If you want to see what’s made the difference in East Liverpool, watch this documentary,” Service-Safety Director Brian Allen encouraged, with police Chief John Lane saying, “It’s about hope. Everybody has problems.”

Josh Lytle of Family Care Ministries is one of the recovered addicts who speaks honestly in the film about his own 12-year battle with drugs, who emphasized, “This is not just a film for drug addicts. It’s for everybody.”

And, while the documentary is faith-based, Allen stressed, “It is not all about religion. It’s about people bettering themselves.”

Producer Josh Menning said that, with the success of the March 16 premier at the Columbiana Theater, “A lot of places have requested a showing,” and others are planned following this initial screening in East Liverpool.

At the conclusion of the screening, a question and answer period will be held with those involved in the production. At the premier, one young woman stood and asked for help; Lytle said she is currently enrolled in the Teen Challenge recovery program and doing well.

Tickets for the evening are $10 and are available online at http://www.gthdocumentary.com, Family Care Ministries on Sixth Street; East Liverpool City Hall; Marty’s Pharmacy in LaCroft; and at the door if seats are still available.

Promoters encourage purchasing tickets in advance to ensure a seat. The premier screening resulted in a packed house.

Half of the proceeds from this screening will go to the East Liverpool Police Department toward funding its second K-9 unit.

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