CALM to address opioid epidemic
By Sierra Henry
Published in News on August 31, 2018 5:50 AM
To raise awareness and decrease the stigma surrounding opioid abuse and accidental overdose, the Coalition for Addiction and Life Management will observe International Overdose Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to noon today on the steps of Goldsboro City Hall.
"Right now in our country, opioid awareness is vital because of opioid substance abuse and opioid related deaths," said DJ Coles, vice chairman of CALM. "(This is) a collaborative effort within our community to make our community aware of the substance issues that exist but also provide additional services and treatment and more information about the resources that exist."
International Overdose Awareness Day is held every year on Aug. 31 to raise awareness, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose and to spark discussion regarding overdose prevention policies. It was originally started by the Penington Institute, an Australian nonprofit organization, in 2001.
Each year, rallies, memorial services, candlelight vigils and education and training campaigns are held in towns and cities all over the world on the awareness day. This year, CALM will host a "Purple and Silver" awareness and remembrance event for Wayne County.
"No community is immune to overdose, it is time to change the way we looked at drug-related deaths and support one another and spread awareness in Eastern North Carolina and beyond," said Dustin Pittman, CALM chairman.
"We cannot pretend that overdose doesn't happen," he said. "The figures show that overdoses are affecting towns and cities across the country, including our very own (county)."
According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics and Vital Statistics, nearly four North Carolinians die from unintentional opioid overdose every day. The statewide mortality rate for unintentional opioid related deaths from 2012 to 2016 was 9.2 per 100,000 persons.
The latest State of the County Health Report indicated that last year the emergency department at Wayne UNC recorded 486 cases of medication and drug overdose. One of the most recorded diagnoses of overdose was opioids.
Of the 486 cases of unintentional medication and drug overdose, 76 were from opioids.
CALM, formerly known as the Community Substance Abuse Task Force, is charged with addressing the opioid epidemic. International Overdose Awareness Day is one way for CALM to educate the community on the dangers of unintentional opioid overdose and substance abuse.
Coles said one way for family members of substance abuse victims is to stay supportive and understand that everyone responds to treatment diffferently, whether it be through medication, counseling or spiritual guidance.
"We can give them literature and information," Coles said. "Our coalition is a great collection of people who have very tender hearts and very common interests with this epidemic."