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When Covid-19 struck, the U.S. was already in the grip of an expanding drug-overdose crisis. It has only gotten worse since then. Counties in states spanning the country, from Washington to Arizona and Florida, are reporting rising drug fatalities this year, according to data collected by The Wall Street Journal. This follows a likely record number of deadly overdoses in the U.S. last year, with more than 72,000 people killed, according to federal projections. The pandemic has destabilized people trying to maintain sobriety or who are struggling with addiction during a time of increased social isolation and stress, according to [...]

Join us for a discussion on following CDC guidelines, challenges in remaining open during this time, ways to work together, and additional challenges with the recovery and community at large that the faith community can work to help address. Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 10:00am Panelists: Father Bob Stec - Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish, Pastor Daren Brake - The House of The Lord, Pastor Betsy Schenk - Glenbeigh Hospital, & Pastor Jonathan Price - Hope Over Heroin REGISTER HERE:  us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n9Y-ZJf0SbWSdbFiyj8jhQ

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga County had 52 opioid overdose deaths in May, second only to the 60 overdoses reported in February of 2017, County Medical Examiner Tom Gilson said Tuesday. With cocaine overdoses included, the toll for May rises to 68, the deadliest month ever, said Gilson, who was providing an update to the County Council’s Public Safety and Justice Affairs Committee. Gilson gave two likely two reasons for the spike. While drug supplies from China and Mexico had probably been curtailed in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, they began to return in May. At the same time, [...]

MHARS Board offers medication disposal pouches free by mail REQUEST YOURS by filling out this simple online form The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County is offering free Safe Medication Disposal Pouches by mail to residents of Lorain County, until June 5, 2020, or as supplies last. “Since most of us are home due to precautions for COVID-19, we can use this time to assess the safety of our own medicine cabinets,” says Jinx Mastney, Opioid Response Outreach Coordinator for the MHARS Board. “Old and unused prescriptions and medications can be dangerous if left around [...]

At least 2.2 million children had been affected by the U.S. opioid crisis by 2017, with that total poised to grow and the consequences likely to be felt for years to come, a new analysis shows. Parents' opioid use is the primary reason children are affected by the crisis – whether they're living with an addicted parent or have been removed from their home, or their parent is incarcerated or has died of an overdose – according to the report from the United Hospital Fund, a health policy nonprofit based in New York. Still, an estimated 170,000 kids had opioid [...]