Addicts in recovery tell their stories as state officials launch a campaign to curb overdose deaths. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
As Rhode Island health officials launched a campaign to get more people into treatment for drug addiction, they reported no change in the number of suspected drug overdose deaths from 2013 to 2014.
At least 232 apparent and confirmed deaths in 2014 were attributed to accidental drug overdoses, the same number of deaths reported the year before.
“We were on track to be seeing 360 deaths,” at the start of 2014, said Dr. Michael Fine, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.
He raised an alarm in the opening days of 2014 about a sharp spike in the number of overdose deaths in the state, and launched efforts to provide treatment, including equipping police and other first responders with Narcan, a drug that can counteract the effects of narcotic overdose.
“So its small comfort that we didn’t do as badly as we thought were were going to do, but it is some comfort,” he said, expressing hope that the number of deaths will begin to dwindle.
Friday at Anchor Recovery Center, a drug counseling agency in Pawtucket, Dr. Fine and other state officials announced a public information campaign, including radio and television and billboard and bus ads proclaiming “Addiction is a Disease, Recovery is Possible.”
The three-month advertising campaign was sparked by a $100,000 private grant, accompanied by contributions from a private advertising agency and by members of the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association, at no cost to the state, officials said.
As part of the campaign, addicts will be encouraged to call 2-1-1 for referrals to treatment and recovery services; healthcare providers will be instructed how and where to refer patients for treatment and recovery services, and law enforcement and first responders will be provided with training and other materials about how to administer Narcan.
“Recovery is a reality,” said Dr. Fine. “That there is hope for people who are using, dependant or addicted. And that hope is to get treatment and to get into recovery.”
More information and materials can be seen at the campaign website.
