I’m Sick of the Opioid Crisis

sick of the opioid crisis

The amount of fentanyl being found throughout the United States is beyond comprehension. While the problem was bad enough years ago, all it’s done is gotten worse and worse by the day. Whereas fentanyl was being found sporadically mixed in with heroin in different cities around the country in the past, now huge police busts are yielding pounds and pounds of the killer drug on an almost regular basis because, quite frankly, it seems like we want it. Strung-out opioid addicts actually seek it out on purpose because of its strength and potency, rather than searching for heroin. Lately, I’m seeing more and more addicts come into drug rehab whose drug of choice is fentanyl, which sounds insane to most people but as an ex addict, I totally get it. I mean, when you’re deathly sick and need to find something to make it stop, pure fentanyl sounds like a godsend. Whether or not you’re going to survive that shot plays no part in your decision to knowingly use fentanyl. All you want is your legs to stop cramping, the nausea to go away, and force your nagging guilt and shame back into the dark recesses of your mind. At least if you stick it there for a while, you can keep pretending that everything is okay. Even though nothing is okay. Not even a little bit. As long as users demand fentanyl the Chinese chemists and importers are going to keep flooding it in through our borders by the barrelful.

Recently, in the Miami Valley in Ohio, a police raid found 20 pounds of fentanyl getting ready to hit city streets. A drug task force accompanied by local police busted down the doors of a stash house in Clark County, resulting in multiple arrests of Mexican nationals. Mike DeWine, Ohio Attorney General said at a press conference, “What you’re looking at here is enough fentanyl to kill every man, woman and child in the Miami Valley. In fact, even beyond the Miami Valley. I think this is enough to kill 3 [million] or 4 million in the state of Ohio.”

Ohio has long been known as one of the main epicenters of the opioid crisis. People in the state are dying from fatal drug overdoses every day and Clark County alone had 103 deaths in 2017. These numbers for the county are staggering and the situation is only seeming to worsen.

It’s unfortunate that I’ve found myself completely desensitized to these kinds of news headlines. It’s heartbreaking that all that fentanyl could have easily killed countless addicts who didn’t need to die. Any addict who dies as a result of their drug use is unacceptable and unnecessary. No one needs to become a statistic, but if you die of an overdose, that’s all your life gets reduced to. A number. You’re no longer a son, no longer a daughter, mother, or father. You become a number representing the war that’s being fought across our nation and responsible for tearing our society at the seams.

Aren’t you sick of it? Don’t you want to go out and do something to make a difference? If you’re sick of this crisis, speak out, have a voice, and shout as loudly as you can!


Sources Used:

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/ohio-police-seize-enough-illicit-fentanyl-to-kill-millions

AUTHOR

Peggy Cote, RN

Peggy Cote is a registered nurse with over 40 years of experience in the medical and addiction field. Her practice has also focused on holistic and naturopathic healthcare, looking toward natural solutions first before allopathic interventions. Peggy has devoted her career to helping people better themselves, their health, and their lives. Connect with Peggy on LinkedIn.

NARCONON SUNCOAST

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION