The Opioid Epidemic, Let’s Talk About It!
175 lives are lost every day in this nation due to Opioid overdoses.
Beginning in January of 2017, there are more than one overdose a day in Greater Prince William County. In 2016 we had 52 deaths from overdose.
In Greater Prince William County the largest numbers for overdose visits to the emergency room occurred in the 15-24 and 25-34 year-old age range. Drug use had started earlier for these individuals.
In Virginia, there were 803 deaths in 2016. November of 2016 Dr. Levine, the State Public Health Commissioner declared a public health emergency. She granted an open order of Naloxone also known as Narcan which is a drug to bring an individual back from an overdose.
Addiction to opiates can start in just a few uses of a prescription of an opiate. Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate, is 10 times more potent than heroin and is now being laced with other drugs including marijuana. A lethal dose of Fentanyl is the size of only a few grains of salt. This can transmitted through the skin and can cause an overdose on a first responder as well, which can be a loved one.
Please come and educate yourself and loved ones so that you can be educated and can educate others. Education is the key to prevention, take advantage of this, you could save a life!
