By Charlotte Smith
The Bladen Opioid Task Force is checking accomplishments off the list, but is continuing to work hard to end the opioid crisis in the mother county. The group met last Tuesday and announced more services are now offered in Bladen County to assist opioid and alcohol addicts.
Anyone struggling with alcohol or drug detox, relapse, recovery, or experiencing mental health issues now has more choices for assistance here in Bladen County.
The Carter Clinic opened their doors this summer at 1104 West Broad Street in Elizabethtown. Their services include Medication Assistance Treatment (Suboxone), Substance Abuse Intensive Out Patient (SAIOP) Program, Substance Abuse Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment (SACOT) Program, Medication Management, Outpatient Therapy, and peer support available for individuals with Eastpointe Medicaid. For more information contact the clinic at 910-991-3070 or visit their website at www.thecarterclinic.com.
RHA Health Services is now offering Hilltop Comprehensive Substance Use Services at 106 4th Street in Bladenboro. The services offered at the facility is a RHA Health Services program specializing in providing wraparound support, advocacy, and various levels of treatment of people who struggle with addictive diseases. The services offer outpatient rehabilitation service groups, and individual services designed to provide additional structure, guidance, and support to people trying to achieve and maintain recovery from substance use and addiction. For more information about these services contact 1-800-848-0180 or visit their website at www.rhahealthservices.org.
The Opioid Task is also proud to announce if anyone is in need of a support group like Narcotics Anonymous, there is now a group meeting in Elizabethtown. The group is a fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. The recovering addicts meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 137 Mercer Mill Road in Elizabethtown. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, which is you must have the desire to stop using. Anyone interested in joining the meetings can attend the next meeting.
The Opioid Task force is also working toward organizing an Alcohol Anonymous support group and a support group for families with loved ones addicted to alcohol or drugs. Anyone interested in attending a support group or help leading a support group may contact the Bladen County Health and Human Services Opioid Task Force Corrdinator Dr. Cathy Gantz at (910)872-6256.
The task force wants to help end the stigma associated with drug addictions and Dr. Gantz announced more forums to collect information from stake holders about the opioid crisis.
The thoughts, opinions, and suggestions related to the opioid crisis will be collected at each forum. The community outreach efforts being made through the forums is to glean information from Bladen County citizens about the opioid crisis. This information will assist the Task Force in making a strategic plan to combat the issues of substance abuse with long-term solutions.
There are two meetings being held today and two more coming up on September 19th. One community the task force is struggling to communicate with is the school systems. Today there will be a meeting with the School Counselors, however the task force is asking if anyone is affiliated with the schools to please fill out the survey linked below.
School survey
https://tinyurl.com/Bladenschools
If you are a concerned citizen, please fill out the survey linked below:
Community survey
https://tinyurl.com/Bladencommunity
The upcoming forums are as follows:
September 17th- 3:00 p.m.- Bladen County Schools-School Counselors, Social Workers, School Nurses, and School Resource Officers (Board Room)
6: 30 p.m.- Religious Organizations (Elizabethtown Baptist Church)
September 19th- 3:00 p.m.- Substance Abuse Providers (Bladen County Health Department)
6:30 p.m.- Sheriff’s Department (299 Smith Circle)
Please take a moment to complete this questionnaire for the betterment of our community: Bladen County Opioid and Other Substance Use Community Survey
http://app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?C6E28E96CE819191C1
Related Articles:
https://bladencounty.org/september-2019-is-national-suicide-prevention-month/
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