OPIOID CRISIS

In January 2024, Gov. Bill Lee declared March 10, 2024, as Tennessee’s fifth annual Day of Hope. The Tennessee Day of Hope “aims to inspire a collective sense of statewide hopefulness in the face of our state’s significant challenges in the fields of addiction and mental illness.” Events will take place across the state to recognize and overcome addiction and mental illness. You may wonder what this has to do with Rhea County. What if I told you that the Rhea Medical Center Community Health Needs Assessment found that the number one cause of concern here in Rhea County is drug abuse? Would you agree? Would you find it surprising?

This issue isn’t exclusive to Rhea County; it’s not even a new issue. In fact, in 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared opioid abuse and addiction a national health emergency. According to the TN.gov website, 70,000 residents suffer from opioid addiction, and over 80 percent of drug overdose deaths in TN were opioid related in 2021, 5 percent higher than the national average of 75 percent.

Whether it be the criminal justice system, the healthcare system, or anywhere in between, everywhere you look, you can see the effects of drug addiction. The American Medical Association classifies addiction as a disease and lists it as substance use disorder in the DSM-5, which professionals use to diagnose mental disorders. Despite its classification, addiction faces a stigma that other diseases do not. Overwhelming evidence shows that the stigma around addiction is likely because of the deep-rooted belief that addiction is a choice stemming from a lack of control and poor moral values. Most people actively suffering from addiction would, if given the opportunity and tools, walk away from substance abuse. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of or can’t afford the resources to treat addiction, and asking for help can be the hardest part of recovery.

In 2018, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam proposed legislation and budgeting for what is now known as TN Together. It included about $30 million in state and federal funding to increase access to opioid use disorder treatment for Tennesseans as well as funding for addiction prevention and law enforcement. TN Together was a multi-agency initiative which included the Departments of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Correction, Safety, Health, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of TennCare. The first product of this collaboration was Prescription for Success, which addressed the supply side of the opioid crisis by cutting the excessive amounts of prescription opioids that were available and increasing treatment resources so people could attain new lives in recovery.

In 2022, Rhea County reported 24 fatal overdose deaths because of opioids. That number may seem small when you consider the population of Rhea County, however it is alarming when you find that only 25 out of 95 counties in Tennessee had higher numbers, most of which are much larger counties such as Hamilton and Knox. What is even more alarming is that 24 is only the number of fatal overdoses in Rhea County. When you look at overdose statistics that did not result in death, that number climbs to over 386 people per 100,000. In fact, Rhea County had more non-fatal overdose instances than Hamilton or Knox.

It’s clear that there is an issue here in Rhea County that needs addressing, but what can we do? Where can someone who is in active addiction turn to for help? First, it’s important that we remove the stigma surrounding addiction. Next, we need to have an easily accessible resource for people who want and need help to overcome addiction.

On a statewide level, Tennessee REDLINE can be utilized for those seeking substance misuse treatment and resources. The Tennessee REDLINE is the 24/7/365 resource for substance misuse treatment referrals, which anyone can call or text for confidential referrals. You can contact Tennessee REDLINE at (800) 889-9789.

Luckily, we have something here in Rhea County that offers education, prevention, and treatment resources in one easily accessible location. The Rhea County Coalition is a community outreach that “fills gaps in services, provides education, prioritizes resources and reduces overlap.” Through the services and resources provided, “every Rhea County resident can access comprehensive substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and other resources quickly, easily, and without judgment.” The Rhea County Coalition is located at 1475 Market St, Suite 101, in Dayton. They can be reached by phone at (423) 647-2417.

While there are no in-patient treatment centers within Rhea County, there are multiple rehab centers in the surrounding areas. CADAS, a non-profit treatment center in Chattanooga, has eight programs geared towards addiction recovery ranging from medical detox to sober living apartments. Debbie Loudermilk, the Director of Outpatient Services, said that the number one issue patients within the programs at CADAS are facing is addiction to opioids. CADAS works with both public and private insurance programs as well as has resources for those who are uninsured. Debbie said “regardless of circumstances, still call!” You can find more information on CADAS at www.cadas.org or by calling (877) 282-2327.

Another in-patient treatment facility called Providence Recovery Place has both a men’s program in Pikeville, Tenn., and a women’s program in Dalton, Ga. The men’s treatment program, called Our Masters Camp, is a faith-based 28-bed intensive in-patient treatment program with an 80 percent completion rate in 2023. Ben Parrish, Facility Director, said that 50 percent of all program participants are battling addiction to opioids. While the program is private pay and does not work with insurance companies of any type, the cost is affordable. Ben said there are no formal scholarship programs but “we will work with people and help them find a way.” The women’s program is a 20-bed faith-based intensive in-patient treatment program with an 86 percent completion rate in 2023. Like the men’s program, the women’s program is a private pay program, however, Cynthia Barton, program director, said that there are some scholarship opportunities when available and that even if you aren’t in a place financially to pay for treatment “call anyway, we will work with anyone who wants and needs help.” You can find more information on Providence Recovery Place at www.providencerecoveryplace.org or by calling women’s recovery at (706) 519-0404 or men’s recovery at (423) 447-2340.

While Rhea County has no in-patient treatment facilities, there is an out-patient program within Rhea County called the Transformation Project. Transformation Project is a faith-based program whose mission is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ by transforming the lives of addiction-related offenders, their families and future generations through the power of God, thereby reducing repeat offenses and crime.” You can find more information on the Transformation Project at transformationproject.org or by calling (423) 899-4770 ext. 305.

Besides treatment options, Rhea County has access to a harm reduction program. Harm reduction programs are “an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs and equipping them with life-saving tools and information to create positive change in their lives and potentially save their lives.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, harm reduction is a key pillar in overdose prevention strategy. StepTN, a harm reduction program organization, will be in Rhea County every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Logan Family Medicine, located at 8845 Rhea County Hwy in Dayton. Step TN offers free HIV/Hep C testing, Naloxone distribution, syringe trade services, and more. Services, with the exception of HIV/ Hep C testing, are anonymous. For more information, visit CEMPA.org/StepTN or call (423) 834-7374.

In addition to the programs listed, the Rhea County Coalition will be holding a free community outreach educational conference on March 23, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Graysville Church of God located at 662 Harrison Ave. in Graysville. The conference will offer Overdose Awareness and Prevention Training and certification, mental health basics training, and person-first language and stigma training. For more information on this event, you can contact Kendall Morgan by calling (423) 647-2417 or by emailing Kendall.Morgan@hccoalition.org.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, there is help.