ABILENE, TX — The startling truth is that almost everyone in their life has had access to an opioid or was prescribed one.
“.. It could be anything from a toothache or you had shoulder surgery or you broke your arm you are most likely going to get some sort of painkiller ..that’s an opioid," says Ashley Simpson.
Opioids… a prescription for pain…but when abused becomes a crisis.
But what exactly makes this issue a crisis? What is a crisis?
The textbook definition is “a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger”
Or “a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.”
With over 8,666 Opioid-related deaths in Texas alone since 2010 would we consider this crisis to be an epidemic?
“a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.”
Peer Recovery Coach Justin Uphill says he spoke with DPS…
“They’ve noticed more opiates coming to the area to the Big Country. From the different interstates in the area”
I asked the big question.. how is it getting into peoples hands?
“Doctors prescribing it..a lot of kids find it in their parent's medication cabinets…friend gets it from a friend ..drug dealers” says Justin Uphill.
According to the national institute of drug abuse.. Every day, more than 115 people in the united states die after overdosing on opioids.
It's easy to ignore at a national level. But what about in your own community?
Taylor County is one of our hot spots we have what we would consider being a high number of opioid-related deaths ..since 2010 we have had over 40 just in Taylor County.
According to region evaluator Ashley Simpson…this statistic is increasing…
"We've seen a continued up rise…trending to more and more overdose and more and more overdose deaths," says Simpson.
One of the reasons for this problem -- the number of opioids available...over 80,000 schedule 2 drugs were prescribed in Taylor County alone in 2016.
Our population is about 135,000..so we are talking more than half the population had access to an opioid or a schedule 2 drug.
Who are these users? And is there a common denominator...? According to peer recovery coach Justin Uphill.. It could be anyone.
People think that this race, or this ethnicity or this age group that they are more prevalent to use opiates…it doesn't discriminate" says Uphill.
Abilene regional council (ARCADA) offers help to anyone who wants to seek treatment..and offers drop boxes to dispose of opioids safely.
"We have two placed here in Taylor County where you can take any unused or unwanted or expired medication and drop that off and its off the streets", says Ashley Simpson.
To find out what programs are available in Taylor County as well as how to help a loved one who may be using visit their website. ARCADA