With overdose, authorities try new approaches to combat substance abuse during pandemics. the latest news

Worth Worth — Due to a sharp increase in county drug overdose during the pandemic, authorities and community leaders are trying to stop the wave of opioid abuse.

Overdose of drugs more than doubled during the pandemic compared to the same time frame last year, according to statistics from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. From March 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019, authorities responded to 41 suspected overdose calls. This year, this number increased to 91 over the same period.

Between March 1 and August 5, 2019, the Rockingham County EMS administered 111 Nalcan (overdose) doses to 111 patients. The first responders this year administered 212 narcane doses to 143 patients in Rockingham County.

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said substance abuse and mental health problems often coexist, aggravated by the stress of recent home orders.

“The necessary isolation during the COVID-19 crisis could have contributed to an increase in suspicious overdose, as opposed to the same period last year,” Page said in an email. “Some people may feel lonely. Others may simply not have other outlets that focus their attention.”

Isolation, depression, fear of getting sick, and anxiety about unemployment could also contribute to the increased telephone burden for departments on drug affairs, Paige said.

Rockingham County is accustomed to drug problems, especially the abuse of opioids. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has reported 74 opioid overdose emergency visits in Rockingham County as of July 15.

In a 2019 study published by The Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 91,000 counties were classified as “opioid high risk” counties. It is one of 41 classified counties in North Carolina.

However, there are “overall successes” in the opioid epidemic in Rockingham County, said Stewart of RCEMS. Mortality from suspected opioid overdose is decreasing. Stewart said Wednesday that there were 25 deaths from opioid overdose in Rockingham County in 2019, but only nine so far this year.

As a cause of his decline, EMS workers and law enforcement agencies have received more training on Narcan’s management, all of which are being carried in the first response.

The county also saw the opening of the first treatment center door in October, when the ALEF Behavioral Group opened its first facility in Eden.

Law enforcement agencies also provide drug take-away and carry-on box locations for those who are trying to take the drug home.

We also worked with treatment providers, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies to set up a county opioid task force dedicated to awareness, prevention, and treatment.

Recently, the Task Force has launched a pilot program called the Post-Overdose Response Team. The group consists of peer-support treatment providers and plainclothes officers who follow up on overdose patients 48-72 hours after the incident, provide information, and encourage addicts to seek treatment. ..

Jeff Pruitt, RPD’s opioid safety program coordinator, said Lizville Police launched a trial team on July 1. By the last week, I had contacted four people. Pruit wants to increase participation from treatment providers and spread the program across the county.

Often, 6-7 visits are required before the patient enters treatment. The real difference is made by providing one-to-one contact to substance abusers.

“A peer support specialist is someone who has, and probably has direct knowledge of, what happened to that individual,” says Pruitt. “You have someone with sympathy and empathy that can work with that individual. We don’t just hand someone over and leave. There is someone out there who can talk to them. Must show that you care.”

“Courts, mental health systems, health professionals, addiction clinics, law enforcement agencies, our faith community leaders, and others must work together to help people address drug and alcohol addiction in Rockingham County. “” said the page. “Law enforcement involvement alone is not the answer. Addiction and recovery are long-term commitments for individuals, families and communities.”