Local governmental agencies,
including the Snohomish Health District, Snohomish County Human Services, and
local police agencies, have been conducting public forums to educate about and
discuss the heroin epidemic in Snohomish County. Recently, a forum was held in
Arlington.
The forums provide a background
about heroin and opioids in Snohomish County and their effects on our
population. The meetings are intended to educate the public on the epidemic and
in a way, a call to action. Local government agencies can take action, but they
need the public’s help and support in order to be successful.
According to a Snohomish Health
District handout, four things need to be done toward fighting the heroin/opioid
epidemic:
1. Increase
detox capacity. More detox beds are needed in Snohomish County.
2. Expand
Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) opportunities. This includes more methadone
clinics, use of buprenorphine and naltrexone.
3. Educate
the public on Washington State’s Good Samaritan Law (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.50.315).
Up to two weeks ago, 56 lives have been saved since the beginning of
distribution of naloxone.
4. Implement
evidence-based practices. This would include alternate sentencing and medically
assisted treatments in place of incarceration. Offer services to addicts.
Other actions suggested that the
government and the public can take include:
·
Build healthy, resilient families-
o
Educate children about drugs.
o
Involve children in healthy activities
o
Get unused prescription drugs out of homes. (Go
to http://www.takebackyourmeds.org/what-you-can-do/locations/temporary-drop-off-locations
for where you can take your unused prescriptions)
o
Improve access to naloxone (http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/naloxone).
o
Create syringe exchanges.
·
Individuals can-
o
Learn more about the problem (This link is a
good start- http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/heroin/index.html).
o
Take action in the case of an overdose:
§
Learn how to recognize an overdose (http://www.snohd.org/Portals/0/Snohd/Diseases/files/VH-OpioidBrochure_CD.pdfFINAL2015.pdf)
§
Increase heroin/opioid awareness, reduce the
stigma, take the judgement out of addiction.
§
Support recovery:
·
Of the individual
·
Recovery programs
The next public forum will be on
October 13, at Edmonds Community College at 6:30pm.
Snohomish Health District:
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