#FightODinCC

#FightODinCC
It’s the almost daily frantic 911 phone call about a loved one who has stopped breathing.

It’s the family whose home has been robbed likely by someone they know in desperate need of a fix.

It’s the family ripped apart and young children who have been taken out of a home where a parent is using.

It’s the 43 year old mom who is on probation after an arrest for possession of heroin.

It’s the 13 year old girl on life support because she decided to experiment and OD’d on old pills she found in her grandparent’s medicine cabinet.

It’s the 35 year old who died in Cumberland County in August, 2014 of a heroin overdose.

It’s the heroin overdose death rate that has doubled nationally and quadrupled in recent years in Cumberland County.

It’s everywhere.

It’s affecting everyone.

It’s an epidemic that we can’t afford to ignore.

Heroin and prescription drug abuse are costing Cumberland County. It’s costing money, it’s costing resources, it’s costing time, but most importantly, it’s costing lives. If we as a community do not take a stand, the impact will be more costly than we could ever imagine.

This blog was created by the Cumberland Opiate Overdose Prevention Coalition, COOP, as one of many tools to help the Cumberland County community fight back against prescription abuse and heroin use. Here you will find information from experts, community members, and recovering addicts, access to help if you or someone you know is struggling with opiate addiction, and the opportunity to share your story. You can also join our initiative on social media by using the hashtag #FightODinCC.

COOP is a Coalition comprised of various government and community partners including criminal justice, emergency services, public health professionals, and human services representatives working cooperatively towards a common cause – confronting the heroin and prescription opiates epidemic to reduce overdoses through effective outreach and education, raising awareness of the alarming increase in drug use and drug related deaths, preventing drug use and addiction, promoting treatment and recovery, and reducing overdoses through effective outreach and education.  

COOP also wants the Cumberland County community to R.E.E.E.D. or:

·         Reduce the number of drug related deaths and drug related crimes in the community

·         Educate community on the dangers of opiate use through tailored programming for target audiences

·         Enrich the community with resources to prevent and treat addictions and promote recovery

·         Engage the community by raising awareness of the personal, social, economic and environmental impacts  

·         Diminish the supply and demand for heroin and prescription drug abuse

We hope you will join us in this fight against prescription drug abuse and heroin use in Cumberland County. Check back weekly for more posts and new information. Share our blog to help spread the message and don’t forget to #FightODinCC on social media.