BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A coalition of addiction recovery and healthcare leaders from the community met for a discussion on harm reduction in Inez Tuesday. Citizens were encouraged to attend in person and virtually via Zoom.
Panelists included Steve Ward, director of Martin County Health Department; Dr. Lesley Dotson with Big Sandy Healthcare; Carmel Cline, BSW, Lead Family Mentor with START (Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams); and Fred Mills, LCADC, specialist with UK Targeted Assessment Program Opioid Use Disorders Project.
“Now is a time we need to focus on harm reduction more than ever.” Dr. Dotson said referring to the 30 percent increase in overdose deaths during the pandemic.
Ward explained the MCHD needle exchange program. Ward affirmed that the program was ”one-to-one,” one clean syringe is given in exchange for one used syringe, but that the Health Department provides a small number of clean syringes upon the patient’s first visit.
“People who exchange needles are far more likely to seek help and seek recovery,” said Ward.
Dr. Dotson pointed out that millions of dollars are spent each year on emergency medical care in our area for drug overdoses and drug-related infections, much of which can be prevented through harm reduction programs like syringe exchange programs.
Dr. Dotson and Mills both stressed the benefit of delivering opiate abuse education and recovery support information on a regular basis. It can make a world of difference in someone’s journey to recovery.
Virtual attendee Brandy Stafford said, “This can show people who are in active addiction that there are humans who actually care about them. They see that they are human and deserving of hope and love!”
“We have to love a person where they’re at,” said Mills.
Carmel Cline agreed and stressed the difference between loving and enabling. “It’s just about having open conversations,” said Cline.
Narcan availability programs were also discussed. Narcan is a low-risk drug that can be administered to save an overdose victim’s life by effectively flushing the opioids out of their system, sending them into a state of withdrawal.
Mills advocated for significantly increasing the presence of Narcan in the community. “It’s no danger to children if they get ahold of it. So it’s no risk.”
Dr Dotson agreed and confirmed that Narcan produces no reaction in the body if opiates are not present.
“We use harm reduction in every other part of our lives,” said Mills. “We wear sunscreen when we go to the beach.”
The meeting concluded with an instructional video from the NIH Heal Initiative that shows how to administer Narcan to an overdose victim.
For more information on addiction treatment go to findhelpnowky.org.