For Help: Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health 24/7 Crisis Line 1-800-327-4693
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Support and education for our community. |
Find information on prescription opiates and heroin, addiction, Michigan laws, resources and local stories in the Bay County HOPE Task Force Opiate & Heroin Awareness toolkit. Feel free to share the link, download or print.
| bay_county_hope_toolkit.pdf |
The report below outlines how the heroin and opiate problem has been addressed by the Bay County HOPE Taskforce and what actions are planned for the future.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
Why is Prevention Important?
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Abuse?
What are the Harms and Consequences of Opiate Abuse?
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TREATMENT
Addiction, like any other illness, requires treatment to recover
Families Suffer Too
Reaching Out is Critical
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LAW ENFORCEMENT/SUPPLY REDUCTION
Law Enforcement has been tasked with reducing the supply of heroin and opiates in Bay County through a unique partnership of several law enforcement entities. Although traditional law enforcement must be part of an overall solution, heroin and opiate abuse requires strategies that not only reduce supply but also address the demand.
If an overdose occurs in our county, no matter where the drug is sold or used, law enforcement will investigate to identify the dealer, as well as anyone else involved.
Your local law enforcement is working to give a voice to those who have lost their battle to addiction, but we need your help to investigate and pursue prosecution.
Law enforcement agencies are sharing intelligence and resources around the county. Those who are found to have sold or supplied heroin and opiates to someone who overdoses could face serious charges. Personnel are highly trained, dedicated and experienced investigators with access to the latest in investigative tools. They have taken the unprecedented step to gather intelligence in regards to dealers, overdoses, arrests and are turning that intelligence into useful information so we can act.
It’s our hope that distributing this information will allow the officers responding to calls to be better prepared to intervene with those distributing drugs. This information also assists the medical community and addiction services providers with information on current drug use trends to better help those in need.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
Why is Prevention Important?
- A substance use disorder is a chronic, progressive, relapsing disease, not unlike heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Use and abuse peaks in young adulthood. It is preventable and treatable.
- There are two main factors that lead to substance use disorders – early onset of use while the brain is still developing, and biologic factors.
- The research tells us that those who begin to use substances before the age of 15 are 5 times more likely to develop abuse/dependence in adulthood.
- Children of addicts are 4 times more likely to develop the disease.
- Drug use during pregnancy, especially opiates and heroin, are extrememly dangerous to the unborn child. Children born to mothers who use drugs during pregnancy are born addicted and have to endure withdrawl and long-term health and development problems. The Safe Journey program is a one-time classroom presentation that teaches middle and high school students the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco use before and during pregnancy. Contact Safe Journey today at 989-895-3510 to schedule a presentation, or visit the Safe Journey website for more information.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Abuse?
- Physical: small pupils, shallow or slow breathing, slow pulse/heart rate, analgesia (feeling no pain), tiredness or nodding off, euphoria (feeling high), nausea, vomiting, itching or flushed skin, constipation, slurred speech, and poor coordination. Scabs, sores and bleeding of the arms are signs of injecting drug use. Users may also have a change in hygiene, including bad skin, hair loss and a lack of interest in appearance. Weight loss and lack of appetite are also common.
- Behavioral: changes in friends/grades/activities, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, confusion or poor judgment. Stealing to support the habit, isolation, anxiety, carrying pill bottles with them, and sudden changes in mood or behaviors are also signs.
- Environmental: missing vent screws (for hiding drugs), burned spots on carpet, burnt spoons, foil or tins nearby, cotton swabs with the end pulled off or cigarette filters, pen casings or straws, blackened finger tips, crushed pills or white powder residue, sunglasses cases or other ways to disguise a heroin "kit", folded receipts or small papers for carrying heroin, blood spots on clothing, bedding or in the sink from injecting.
What are the Harms and Consequences of Opiate Abuse?
- Impaired decision-making abilities, inability to regulate behavior, and respond to stressful situations.
- Physical dependence, addiction.
- Respiratory depression, hypoxia, coma, permanent brain damage, death.
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TREATMENT
Addiction, like any other illness, requires treatment to recover
- Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug abuse can occur. Relapse signals the need for treatment to be reinstated or changed. It does not indicate that the individual can’t get better. It may take one, two, or even five attempts for a person to finally stay clean. Don't give up.
Families Suffer Too
- National surveys indicate that 1 in 4 families are struggling with alcohol and/or drug addiction in a family member. Alcoholism and drug addiction affects the whole family – young, teenage, or grown-up children; wives or husbands; brothers or sisters; parents or other relatives and friends.
- Without help, active addiction can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime.
Reaching Out is Critical
- Even when we know there is a problem with addiction and really want to fix it, going to an addiction treatment program for help can be intimidating. Sometimes it seems your calls get you nowhere. Maybe you have tried before and feel like you failed. Or maybe you are not sure what to expect and find it all overwhelming. Don’t give up. There is help available.
Call 1-800-448-5498 to find out about your treatment options.
GET INFO ON
LAW ENFORCEMENT/SUPPLY REDUCTION
Law Enforcement has been tasked with reducing the supply of heroin and opiates in Bay County through a unique partnership of several law enforcement entities. Although traditional law enforcement must be part of an overall solution, heroin and opiate abuse requires strategies that not only reduce supply but also address the demand.
If an overdose occurs in our county, no matter where the drug is sold or used, law enforcement will investigate to identify the dealer, as well as anyone else involved.
Your local law enforcement is working to give a voice to those who have lost their battle to addiction, but we need your help to investigate and pursue prosecution.
Law enforcement agencies are sharing intelligence and resources around the county. Those who are found to have sold or supplied heroin and opiates to someone who overdoses could face serious charges. Personnel are highly trained, dedicated and experienced investigators with access to the latest in investigative tools. They have taken the unprecedented step to gather intelligence in regards to dealers, overdoses, arrests and are turning that intelligence into useful information so we can act.
It’s our hope that distributing this information will allow the officers responding to calls to be better prepared to intervene with those distributing drugs. This information also assists the medical community and addiction services providers with information on current drug use trends to better help those in need.
TESTIMONIALS
The following video testimonials show that heroin addiction knows no bounds of race, religion, level of education or income. Hear stories from individuals and their families about the dangers of opiate abuse.
The following video testimonials show that heroin addiction knows no bounds of race, religion, level of education or income. Hear stories from individuals and their families about the dangers of opiate abuse.
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