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Local Coalition responds to opioid emergency

Posted 9/6/17

Over the summer, Governor Doug Ducey declared an opioid state of emergency for the state of Arizona. Moving forward, Fountain Hills Coalition director Shelly Mowrey said that this will be a major …

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Local Coalition responds to opioid emergency

Posted

Over the summer, Governor Doug Ducey declared an opioid state of emergency for the state of Arizona. Moving forward, Fountain Hills Coalition director Shelly Mowrey said that this will be a major focus for the local organization dedicated to youth substance abuse prevention.

Mowrey spoke to the recent declaration from Governor Ducey during a Coalition meeting, pointing out that opioid deaths in the state have been on the rise since 2012.

Back in June, Ducey stated that, based on the most recent findings from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), a rapid response was necessary.

“As the number of opioid overdoses and deaths increase at an alarming rate, we must take action,” Ducey stated in his official statement. “It’s time to call this what it is – an emergency…We must do more. I’m declaring a statewide health emergency because we need to know more about the epidemic, including enhanced data that illustrates when and where these overdoses occur so that we can develop real, targeted solutions.”

Those findings from ADHS paint a grim picture, with opioid deaths in the state increasing steadily over the course of the past four years, moving from 454 in 2012 to 790 in 2016. Between June 15 and Aug. 25 of this year, 272 suspected opioid deaths have been reported with 2,138 suspected opioid overdoses.

According to ADHS’ map of affected areas, Fountain Hills is pegged as having between one and four opioid deaths this year with none reported in the neighboring Fort McDowell community. That puts Fountain Hills on the lower end of the spectrum for opioid-related incidents, but surrounding communities are displaying a higher volume of incidents. More detailed information can be found at azdhs.gov.

Despite those findings, Mowrey said the community of Fountain Hills should not consider itself in the clear.

“While Fountain Hills has not seen as many opioid-related deaths as some areas of the Valley, our families are still very much impacted,” she said. “Four out of 10 Arizonans now know someone who is struggling with opioid addiction. Even one opioid death in a community is devastating.”

Mowrey offered a selection of precautions for local families to help prevent opioid misuse, including:

*Clean out the medicine cabinet and get rid of all of the unused, expired or unwanted medication.

*If you know someone who has an opioid disorder, make sure that person and their family knows about Naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose death.

*If there is someone you know who is ready to go to treatment, there is help. Look for programs that are certified Opioid Treatment Providers.

Mowrey added that it is important to call around and explore all options for treatment, with a list of opioid treatment providers in Arizona available at dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/directory.aspx.

Mowrey said that the Coalition is currently planning a “Take it to the Box” campaign encouraging Fountain Hills residents to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of unneeded medications via the permanent drop box located within Town Hall. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s office and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation police department will also be hosting a prescription drug “take back day,” on Oct. 28, encouraging folks to drop off their unneeded medications between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. More details will be provided as those events draw near.

“We will also be working with pharmacies and doctors’ offices to address the epidemic,” Mowrey said. “the community is encouraged to reach out to us. We provide free presentations to community groups, parents and faith-based organizations.”

More information on the coalition and contact information can be found at safehomesfh.org.