The Bladen County Substance Misuse Task Force reports during the COVID-19 Pandemic, substance misuse and overdoses have increased. This July, there was a 50% increase in Bladen County EMS administering Naloxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of a drug overdose, compared to July 2020. According to David Howell, EMS Director, every month in 2021 shows a significant increase in drug administration to prevent overdoses over the 2020 data.
Dr. Teresa Duncan, Director of Bladen County Health and Human Services, announced data shows 17 unintentional opioid-related overdose deaths in the county in the year 2020 involving drug classes such as opioids, heroin, and synthetic narcotics like fentanyl-analogs.
The task force changed its name from the Bladen County Opioid Task Force to the Substance Misuse Task Force because, according to Bladen County data from 2016 to 2018, there were more Alcohol-Attributed deaths compared to Opioid Poisoning deaths. According to Dr. Cathy Gantz, Coordinator of the Bladen County Misuse Task Force, the task force’s mission is to ensure Bladen County organizations work together to help reduce opioid abuse and addiction, prevent overdose deaths, assist more people in getting treatment and recovering from drug addiction, and in improving the quality of life in Bladen County.
Therefore, the task force has a strategic plan to guide subgroups and focus groups. They are starting by targeting churches to help educate the community. This past Sunday, one of the leading groups of the task force presented information to Dublin First Baptist Church. Dr. Duncan, Dr. Gantz, Rev. David Foster with the Bladen Baptist Association, and Sergeant Daniel Clark with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office offered information to those in attendance at the church.
After Dr. Gantz and Dr. Duncan reviewed the data on local overdose deaths and Alcohol-Attributed deaths, and the task force’s mission, they explained drug misuse affects the whole community.
Dr. Duncan shared the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported in 2019 an estimate of total lifetime costs of Medical and Work Loss from medication and drug fatalities amounts. The economic impacts were reported as follows:
Total Medical Costs in Bladen County in 2019 – $42,798
Total Work Lost Costs in Bladen County in 2019 – $9,245,914
Cost per Capita in Bladen County in 2019 – $284 per person
The task force noted these estimates only include fatalities and do not include additional costs associated with non-fatal overdoses, treatments, recovery, and other costs associated with this epidemic.
According to the NCDHHS report, Bladen County dispenses 6.76 Controlled Substance prescriptions per resident. Dr. Duncan pointed out the North Carolina analyses includes all residents, and Bladen County’s average is higher than the state average. The NC average of Controlled Substance prescriptions is 5.92 per resident. Sgt. Clark explained that the doctors are not the only ones to blame for drug abuse in our area.
“Addicts are the most manipulating people!” Sgt. Clark said. “They will say whatever they need to say to get what they want.” Parents, family members, and others need to be aware of this fact and not enable an addict, Sgt. Clark explained.
Next Sgt. Clark commented on his work busting drug dealers. “They don’t care what they sell you,” Sgt. Clark stated. Currently, the drugs the dealers are selling as heroin is not heroin at all. Sgt. Clark reported the drugs are now more fatal because they mix fentanyl with horse tranquilizers and other types of drugs.
The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office has ongoing investigations involving overprescribing doctors and street drug dealers. Sgt. Clark announced the Sheriff’s Office has also joined forces with Columbus and Robeson County to create a tri-county task force against the drug problems.
If an addict wants help or a community member wants to report suspected drug abuse, they can reach out to Sgt. Clark at the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office by calling 910-862-6960.
Sgt. Clark challenged the church members to get more involved in the fight against substance misuse.
“9 out of 10 drug addicts state they were brought up in the church,” Dr. Duncan noted, “So what do we need to do differently?”
Rev. David Foster addressed those in attendance, saying, “We have heard a lot, and you may be overwhelmed, and I think, well what can I do?”
Then he suggested that the members pick one thing that impacted them the most and seek ways in that area to help.
Dr. Gantz explained that the task force has launched a billboard campaign and became a part of the NC ABC Board’s coalition, and Bladen County Schools’ middle and high school students were provided with a substance misuse program through the NC ABC Board. The task force is also asking the following questions to serve the county better.
- What else can we do as a task force to prevent substance misuse in our community. (The number one answer so far has been to encourage churches to be more involved.)
- How can we decrease the stigma that comes along with substance misuse?
- What can parents do to prevent substance misuse with their children?
- What would have prevented you or someone you know from substance misuse?
The task force is asking for opportunities to share with churches, schools, and civic groups about substance misuse updates. To schedule a date and time for Bladen County Substance Misuse Task Force to share information with a group, contact Dr. Gantz at 910-872-6256.
In closing Rev. Foster stated, “We need to see the people around us that are lost and hurting.” Then he read Matthew 9:35-36, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
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