There has been a recent 5% drop in overdose deaths in Buncombe County, compared to a 40% increase in the state as a whole. Buncombe County’s overall average number of overdose deaths is still higher than the state as a whole. The county’s Community Paramedicine Group has been one of many groups in our county working to decrease overdose deaths.https://wlos.com/news/local/fighting-addiction-buncombe-county-leads-way-in-reducing-opioid-overdose-deaths?fbclid=IwAR0CXAL61qLsCeh1E1WpHAdBkuvMZvOi-kJs0DQsuogZFX69d3zlWXtpEfo
Archive for year: 2021
Overdose deaths accounted for more deaths in 2020 than car crashes, gun violence, and HIV-AIDS combined.
The opioid epidemic has killed over half a million people in the US since 1999. 15 states have agreed to abandon their fight to block the bankruptcy plan of Purdue pharma, maker of Oxycotin. In exchange, Purdue will release 10s of millions of documents and pay a settlement expected to reach 4.5 billion dollars. The Sackler family, the owners of Purdue, will agree to cede ownership, but will not have to admit their responsibility in fueling the opioid epidemic and will also be protected from future lawsuits.
Back to school is just around the corner! Be aware of increased peer influence and stress from school on top of the ongoing stress from the pandemic. Teens may turn to substances as ways to cope with stress. Help your teen find healthy alternatives to relieve stress, such as art, sports, or games with friends.
Learn the signs of stress, stress management, and how parents can help.
https://www.apa.org/topics/child-development/stress
A BIG thank you to our incredible volunteers that braved the rain last weekend for our Medication Take-Back at Asheville Outlets and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. With your help, we collected 43 lbs. of medication! We distributed 6 lockboxes, 3 sharps containers, and 22 packs of Deterra Drug Deactivation System. If you live in Buncombe County and would like any of these items please send us a message!
Thank you to our partners that helped get the word out to our community!
https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/Health/news_detail.aspx?id=19291
“While it will take some time for all the data from 2020 to be released, it’s fair to say the opioid crisis is still ongoing in this community. “The reality is that when our social contact is limited, we tend to get sicker, and that sickness shows up as addictive and compulsive behaviors,” added Nicolaisen.”