It’s no secret that our community, our region, indeed our nation, are in the midst of a daunting opioid crisis. It seems that not a day goes by without disturbing headlines about the latest overdose tragedy. The statistics are sobering, even overwhelming. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that every day more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. Approximately one-fourth of patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and nearly 10 percent of those develop an opioid use disorder, many involving heroin. From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 people died from a drug overdose. Beyond these stark numbers are real lives, including those who suffer from addiction and those whose lives they touch. In this segment we hear from George O’Toole, who shares the wise insights he has gained from his up close and very personal encounter with the opioid crisis.
George O’Toole is manager of the Anchor Recovery Community Center’s hospital emergency department program. He is set to become executive director of The Blessing Way, a recovery house and reentry program in Providence, Rhode Island.
Anyone seeking substance use treatment or referral information can contact the Rhode Island Hope and Recovery Support Line (401-942-STOP) or the Massachusetts Substance Abuse Hotline (800-327-5050).
