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Haunted house raising awareness about substance abuse

BATESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – A haunted house in Batesville is on a mission to use the attraction to spread a message and raise awareness.

The topic is about substance abuse. Fear Factory started seven years ago after Karen Adams lost her daughter to a drug overdose. 

“There’s nothing we can do, when you’re dead you’re dead,” said Adams.

Her life’s reality is what haunts her every day.

“It’s the worst thing you could ever, ever imagine. It’s with you every day, all day long for the rest of your life. That’s why I try to tell these kids, it only takes once. Only takes once and you don’t get a second chance, even with Narcan, you don’t know if it’s going to work,” she added.

Adams said her daughter Cierra died on July 16, 2011 on her 18th birthday. She was with friends when they decided to go to Cincinnati to buy heroin. Cierra’s mother said it was the first and only time her daughter had done the drug.

“I guarantee you she would tell everyone of these kids out here that it’s not worth it. It’s not worth taking a chance and losing you’re life. I know that she would want me to try to help these younger people out here to keep them from making the same mistakes that she did,” she added.

After her daughter’s death, she wanted to do something to make a difference. That is when Cierra’s Club was started. The mission is to provide safe, drug free activities for kids and teens alike. Fear Factory is put on by Cierra’s Club.

“It’s been a lot of fun to do this but there’s such a dramatic underlying lesson for everyone throughout Fear Factory we have words and descriptions, and exhibits that relate to education about substance abuse,” said Cierra’s Club President Mary Ellen Rippe.

Organizers hope the messages seen throughout the haunted house hit home for the attendees. 

“I think everyone knows the problem of substance abuse and as a small town everyone is so aware of it but you kind of don’t know what to do about it. To listen to kids and people who come through and see our posters and hear our posters, they’re like ‘this haunted house is great but wow this is such a great cause,’” Rippe added.