Changing how we talk about drug abuse and more awareness of overdose remedies could cut down on the 72,000 reported drug-related deaths of the opioid epidemic last year. That’s the opinion of local parents who had children who have overdosed and local prevention experts today during International Overdose Awareness Day.
OVERDOSE AWARENESS CANDLELIGHT VIGIL: FRIDAY, AUG, 31 @ CITY HALL 7:30 PM
Deanna Axe lost her daughter Morgan to an overdose. She found her daughter’s character put on public trial – when her story of trauma wasn’t.
“Morgan was ruthlessly attacked on social media and news outlets. People posted, ‘she deserved to die.’ What people didn’t know is that she had a story. At the age of 17 her boyfriend committed suicide while on the phone with her. While she was thriving in rehab, my father, her grandfather, drowned in Otisco Lake.”
Axe says many victims are people … and shouldn’t’ be referred to as addicts or junkies.
A-C-R Health Overdose Prevention Counselor Kevin Donovan adds language can be deadly because it can prevent someone from seeking help.
“As a recovering injection drug user myself, I can speak for the fact that stigma really affects all levels of society. Active users are judging themselves and that’s making it harder for them to get into recovery. So if I’m blaming myself for the disease I have, it’s a self-defeating cycle and it’s going to keep making it easier for me to go back to that substance.”
ONONDAGA COUNTY OVERDOSE STATISTICS
(source: ACR Health)
- 91 deaths from opioid related overdoses in 2017
- In 1999, zero deaths from opioids in the county.
- 2017 stats show 36% decrease form teh 142 deaths in 2016
- 2002 individuals trained to use Narcan, overdose rescue drug
- 270 voluntarily reported overdose reversals - lives saved - using the rescue drug
Mary Lorini considers herself a lucky parent. Her son was discovered by a passerby moments after he overdosed on fentanyl-laced heroin … and he was revived by Narcan.
“So I am so grateful that there is Narcan, that it’s out there. And I would love for people to know that it’s the one thing that can save a life. And it’s worth everything for me to put that out there and let people know that it works and it saves lives.”
She’s told numerous people to get trained to use Narcan – even her 13-year-old daughter.
A-C-R Health officials say there needs to be more resources for treatment and prevention, as well as Narcan. The agency does training, and notes all New York State pharmacies are supposed to have the overdose remedy available without a prescription. A reported 91 people died of overdoses in Onondaga County last year.
