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The Bladen County Opioid Working Group met on Tuesday, June 11th to discuss a strategic plan and to welcome the new coordinator of the group.

The meeting was held at the Bladen County Health Department in the conference room. As the meeting started some folks were missing from the group. Local educators, counselors, doctors, nurses and church members were some of the industry and community leaders in need of attending the strategic planning meetings according to some members in attendance.

Syd Wiford led a mini brainstorming session related to the strategic plan. Cathy Gantz, Program Coordinator for the Opioid Task Force was introduced during the session as well.

An estimated 450,000 North Carolinians – 1 out of every 20 — are living with an opioid use disorder. Over the past 20 years, more than 12,000 North Carolinians have died from an opioid overdose. In 2018 alone, there were 6,769 emergency visits due to opioid overdoses. Approximately half of people who are hospitalized with an opioid overdose do not have health insurance.

Mrs. Gantz said, “I’m looking forward to working with the Task Force to develop a strategic plan to address this issue.”

Opioid use disorder is a chronic disease, which requires significant, specialized interventions. Like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers, opioid use disorder requires long-term treatment, which can be quite costly. Stigma, access to treatment providers, and an inability to pay for treatment keep individuals from obtaining the care they need to live, rejoin the workforce and, support their families and communities.

Citizens, education leaders, health care leaders and church leaders are all invited to attend the Bladen County Opioid Working Group. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 9th at 2 pm in the conference room at the Bladen County Health Department.