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Must do better in opioid fight

To the editor:

Dear community:

I am a person in long-term recovery. What that means to me is I have not used alcohol or taken an addictive substance since the early ’80s. Recovery has given me everything. It has given me my family, my home, my friends and my career. I was quietly living my sober lifestyle with only those closest to me aware of my reasons. This changed in 2014. I found my voice.

My loved ones were struggling with addiction — yes, it is a family disease, and we pass it on. I had always offered help and support when they were ready. I found that the help was not readily available. I became an advocate for recovery and access to treatment.

I was at a forum about addiction recently. This forum had the usual experts and had valuable insights into the cause of addiction. There were the usual horror stories. We all know that active addiction is ugly and terrifying.

To the police officer who told of saving a life with Narcan, only to return in 12 hours to another overdose: Why was this person home in 12 hours after a life-threatening overdose? Why wasn’t this patient admitted for a 72-hour evaluation? Why weren’t the drugs removed from the home?

To the district attorney who is offering Drug Court but some people choose not to participate: Do you ask concerned family members for input? Do you provide peer support to help with the decision? Do you ask for an evaluation for substance abuse and mental health?

To the emergency room physicians who claim patients are not willing: Do you offer to admit these patients and provide diagnosis, evaluation and initial treatment? Do you arrange transfer to further treatment? I have been at the emergency room with willing patients asking for treatment, asking to be admitted, begging for help, only to be turned away. We are told those services are not provided. When we demand help, we are escorted out of the hospital. Laws that prevent prescribing of detox medications DO NOT prevent admitting a patient and dispensing with a protocol.

We must do better.

Sue Martin

Wilmington

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