An archway of purple and black balloons created a solemn memorial for victims of opioid overdose deaths as part of National Black Balloon Day Monday afternoon in Gettysburg’s Lincoln Square. About 50 visitors stopped by, and 25 Naloxone kits and spray applications were distributed to help prevent some of those deaths.
Naloxone, a prescription drug found in a nasal spray or injectible form, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and has been shown to save lives.
The Adams County Overdose Awareness Taskforce has noted a recent reduction in the number of deaths in the county due to opioids and fentanyl, a synthetic form of the drug. “In fact, we have zero deaths so far this year,” said Lisa Lindsey, data and prevention specialist for the Center for Youth and Community Development. There were five deaths in 2022, marking a decrease from the 14 deaths the previous year.
Adams County Commissioner James Martin, who attended the event, called it “A very successful evening connecting with the community. Thanks to Collaborating for Youth staff and Overdose Awareness Taskforce for a great project,” he said.
Commissioner Marty Qually also attended, saying “I’m proud that our community has embraced the ideas that prevention and recovery are key parts to tackling the opioid epidemic. Simply punishing and stigmatizing those who use illegal drugs will never solve the problem.”
National drug overdose deaths are up about 30 percent each year, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. Nearly 4,500 were recorded in Pennsylvania in 2021, about 72 percent higher than the national average. Although many overdose deaths are attributed to illegal drugs, 20 percent of those deaths result from taking prescription opioid medications.
Headed by Matthew Moon, the Overdose Awareness Task Force, in association with the Center for Youth and Community Services, provides education and information to raise awareness of the local problem. The priorities of the task force are to increase access and utilization of naloxone to save lives, ensure a continuum of care for county residents, reduce the supply of opioids in the county, and provide education regarding the signs of substance abuse, opioid use, treatment options, and recovery programs.
Featured image caption: Nearly 50 people attended Black Balloon Day to remember those who have died from opioid overdose deaths. From left, James Martin, Adams County Commissioner; Matthew Moon, Chairperson of the county’s Overdose Taskforce; Marty Qually, Adams County Commissioner; Odila Marimba, Respective Solutions; Meghan Riordan, Community Impact Coordinator, Center for Youth; Andrea Dolges, Executive Director, Center for Youth; and Chad-Alan Carr, Gettysburg Councilmember At-Large [Judi Seniura]
We were wondering if there are any other currently scheduled events revolving around substance use disorder and/or overdose awareness. Also, I’ve personally been asked several times in recent months about the status of Gettysburgs Mercy House and if there has been any progress in finding another partner to operate it with? Sitting empty, losing very temporary employment opportunities and seeing an end to the Warm Handoff program has been incredibly disheartening for the local actively addicted community. I have actually been contacted 3 times in the past several weeks by acquaintances, on the behalf of their friend or loved one. I have no active social media and each of these people had to actually work to get my phone number. This is because I don’t really know any of them well and the person they were advocating for, never had met me. Each of them asked me if I would be willing to come up to the hospital, where their loved one was located in the ER and just sit and speak to them. They had no hope and nobody to advocate for the rights of the patient and human being in question. They received no empathy from hospital staff as they’re bitter for having to once again take this role on with no end in sight and very little info available on any progress. The patients treatment and the amount of disregard for their current reality is what lead to me being contacted in place of the missing Warm Handoff coordinator that was to be based out of the Mercy House and affiliated centers.
Fortunately, I was able, willing and available. Those factors in combination of my personal and professional experience in that role seen two of the 3 be taken to an inpatient rehab for intake and admission same day. With the 3rd of 3 making into an opening within 24 hours.
Just this week, I was contacted again at 6:45am for a person whom had just overdosed. This human being had actually been revived and his pulse had ceased along with respirations, at one point. In his very confused, scared, delirious and malnourished state he had declined treatment within minutes of being revived. He declined, not really being offered the time to even be capable of informed consent or denial. They processed his discharge and made him leave under duress and it was logged as leaving “against medical advice” which can have detrimental effects with one’s insurance in the future, if similar treatment is ever needed and desired. This was despite him asking to stay and stating he didn’t understand what he was turning down and he needed help. He was told it was too late, like a parent says to a young child.
I was asked to come to the hospital and talk to him in my car and seeing if I could calm him back down to the place where he had the willingness required to save one’s life from active opioid addiction. I know all too well how forgotten and ghost like this portion of our community is, because of this and understanding there is no other resource they could turn to, I went to sit in the hospital parking lot. After about an hour or so, they agreed to treatment and within 2 hours from that, they were already sitting inside an intake being processed into an into a timer facility in Harrisburg.
This is the exact kind of thing the warm handoff coordinator would be hired to do, on an on-call basis. It’s also a form of serving our community that I would hope the head of an overdose prevention task force would understand and see value in. I would also hope this individual(s) would have an open yet intimate relationship to those that are actively at risk of suffering the very thing they’re task force exists to mitigate. But this is unfortunately not the case. I am an active advocate that has networked with our other local advocacy organizations, have attended their events revolving around substance use disorder and it’s effects. I attended the Open House and subsequent trainings at the mercy house and was in the process of obtaining a requirement for this Warm Hand Off position. Sadly, they closed down before I could receive the re-certification as a Certified Recovery Specialist. I am a part of the local recovery community, meaning being in contact with actively using people and give out Narcan for free, monthly. I have organized several events to support individuals and family members of those who suffer from this affliction. I had no clue he was the head of this task force and I’m unsure of what else they offer the addicted community and their loved ones, outside of things involving police and the courts. I’d love to have someone to forward people in need of an advocate for this purpose. The gentleman who was kicked out and refused treatment is the common experience without an advocate. Most addicts do not have one and this issue needs addressed. Census data can show why the decline in overdoses more than this task force can prove they’ve affected this changed in a positive manner.
Collaborating for youth is an incredible organization and my comments are not to be applied to them or their participation. They improve any setting they’re in and add real value to real people’s lives.