Taking Action During the Opioid Epidemic
By: Isabel Prunés November 4, 2018
community answers for a community problem
How is the opioid epidemic being “handled” and what ways have communities in Philadelphia sought to help people addicted to opioids? Specifically, are there are any programs or tools in our city that promise to address this epidemic? This investigation uncovered a few ways people and organizations are helping our community and those effected by drugs.
Rising Insights
Librarian,Librarian Chera Kowalski ,achieved national attention after repeatedly having to administer Narcan spray to people experiencing an overdose. Her use of Narcan, and the push to train librarians to administer Narcan, proves Philadelphians are looking for solutions in unusual places since the epidemic has reached serious level.
According to research opioid overdoses deaths grew by 10 percent last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The AMA is working on having a program that will promote recovery.
Prevention point Philadelphia
Heroin is not new to Philadelphia. This article, from 2014, highlighted Prevent Point, a needle exchange program that decreases HIV in drug users. “Some people come in one day a week, one day a month, one day every few months and some people come every single day that we’re open.“
"This is a ‘no questions asked’ place. We take people as they are,” explained the Director of Programs Silvana Mazzella, on giving out clean needles.
Clean needles decrease Hiv
If you are totally against giving out clean needles click this hyperlink for a reminder that giving drug addicts free clean needles are really worth it.