Opiod abuse reaches epidemic level in La.

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Opiod abuse reaches epidemic level in La.
By Caitie Burkes/Manship News Service
BATON ROUGE — Shedding light on an issue Capital Area Human Services Executive Director Jan Kasofsky labels a “terrible epidemic,” attendees at a town hall meeting on opioid abuse and prevention Thursday night were faced with, among others, these startling facts:
Louisiana is one of eight states that issues more opioid prescriptions than it has residents. That was followed by a recovering opioid user stating doctors still will prescribe these pain-killers if he requests them.
“The first step of any epidemic is to make sure the population is aware of what’s going on,” Kasofsky told the audience at the BREC Administrative Center in Baton Rouge before a viewing of “Chasing the Dragon: the Life of an Opiate Addict.”
The DEA and FBI video documents stories of recovering opiate addicts and their loved ones, five panelists with ties to the local medical and law enforcement communities discussed ways to raise awareness, implement practices within the medical community and enforce criminal punishment.
Panelists included East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William “Beau” Clark, Louisiana State Police Crime Lab chemistry manager Rebecca Nugent, Asst. Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Baton Rouge District Office Brad Byerley, Baton Rouge Treatment Center Director David Laxton and recovering addict Anthony Pierre Jr.
Byerley noted the DEA has witnessed an “unbelievable” increase in the state’s abuse of opioids, which Kasofsky calls a gateway drug to heroin. “We’re seeing heroin like we’ve never seen it before.”
According to a Capital Area Human Services fact sheet, there are 1.03 painkiller prescriptions per resident in Louisiana. Byerley added that, on average, more people die from opioid abuse than from car accidents.
In 2015, opioid abuse was responsible for more than 33,000 deaths nationally. Louisiana did its part in this statistic: Opioid-related deaths in the state jumped 12 percent from 2014 to 2015, the most recent year’s figure.
Nugent identified a new opioid synthetic – fentanyl – is on the rise. She warned that drug dealers often mix it with heroin and give to their clients who may be unaware of the synthetic addition.
In an effort to put an end to potentially lethal drug mixing, Nugent said her lab is working to facilitate an initiative in which the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals would alert health care communities when it detects an increase in fentanyl presence.
Laxton discussed the possible positive outcomes medication-assisted treatment could bring. The process involves a personal assessment by a medical professional and regular family and group sessions to keep the person in recovery on a successful path.
Clark stated that in the multitude of cases of overdosing he’s seen the victims’ addictions began with a opioid prescription for a minor injury which progressed to dependence and, eventually, heroin addiction.
Such was the case with Pierre, who has been sober for a little more than a year. After recreationally smoking marijuana in high school, Pierre acknowledged he stole his ailing father’s prescription painkillers – 95 pills in one week. His father later went into cardiac arrest and died without the medication he needed.
On his death, Pierre said he withdrew $400 from his father’s bank account to buy more heroin. “My illness did not discriminate against who I loved.”
When he discovered he would be a father, Pierre said he realized he needed to get his life on track. He went to CAHS and sought treatment, still noting several problems he witnessed within the medical community.
“I’ve been sober 388 days and I have tried and been prescribed more opiates than I have in my entire using career,” Pierre said. “I’m here to get help from the pain, not an FDA-approved solution to my problems.”
CAHS provides addiction recovery programs in addition to mental health and developmental disability services for a seven-parish area. The organization serves approximately 12,000 people annually.
“We feel like we need to be responsive to community needs,” “When we saw the rise in opioid deaths, we felt like we really needed to come together as a community and start having some conversations about how we can prevent and treat opioid abuse problems.”
A couple of pre-filed bills on the subject await the Louisiana Legislature’s regular session, which convenes Monday.
CAHS Prevention Division Director Vivian Gettys said CAHS supports the various efforts the state has undergone to raise awareness about the issue, including the recent availability of opioid reversal medication Naxolone in pharmacy stores that can be obtained without a prescription.
A couple of pre-filed bills on the subject await the Louisiana Legislature’s regular session, which convenes Monday.
Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, sponsored HB490, which would create an advisory council on heroin and opioid prevention and education. And fellow Democratic New Orleanian, Rep. Helen Moreno’s HB192, would limit opioid prescriptions.
The measures are a step in the right direction, Clark said.