Opioid Abuse: Fighting the Epidemic of Epidemics

It's a grim statistic: substance abuse or misuse has led to more deaths in America than firearms and traffic accidents combined. The fastest growing drug category among OD deaths is synthetic opioids, which kill more than 136 people in our country every day.

Leading the nation in opioid overdose deaths is West Virginia, which continues to struggle to quell the surge in opioid addiction. It’s been called the “epidemic of epidemics,” one that is dismantling families and devastating communities.
While the U.S. has begun to see is a decrease in opioid overdose deaths, West Virginia's continues to rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

In West Virginia, United Way of the River Cities has been mobilizing health and financial resources to create solutions around substance abuse. Of note is their work through the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership (CCSAPP), a coalition fighting to reduce substance abuse via partnerships and community ownership. Through CCSAPP, United Way is raising community awareness; promoting efforts to decrease risk factors; increasing protective factors for youth; and developing youth leaders to be a positive influence in the community, and to educate their peers through environmental change and evidenced-based strategies.

In New Hampshire, Granite United Way has worked in a collaborative effort with local fire departments, social service providers and community leaders to address the substance misuse issue. This program, called “Safe Station,” encourages those struggling with substance misuse to walk into any firehouse in Manchester for immediate connection to the recovery treatment they need. Granite United Way has also made significant strides in the areas of preventative prescription drug take-back initiatives, Narcan dispensing and education, and 211 New Hampshire is positioned as a statewide resource for those seeking information on treatment and recovery services.

And in Indiana, United Way of the Wabash Valley is supporting United Against Opioid Abuse, a three-year statewide effort to prevent opioid abuse and support those in recovery. United Way will host a trained AmeriCorps member who will coordinate a local landscape scan to gauge the extent of the opioid issue locally, as well as help document the efforts currently in place to combat the problem.

The fight to end the opioid epidemic is a formidable one, but with the concerted efforts of United Way and community partners, hope is on the horizon. 

If you or someone you know is dealing with substance abuse, please call 211 or visit www.211.org to get connected to a local counselor.