Overdoses are on the rise in Charlotte County

Overdoses are on the rise in Charlotte County

ACTUALLY LED TO THIS MISHAP, BUTWE KNOW THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE ONBOARD THE SMALL PLANE AND NOINJURIES WERE REPORTED.OVERDOSES ARE ON THE RISE INCHARLOTTE COUNTY.AUTHORITIES SAY THE INCREASE INDRUG USE HAPPENED SOON AFTER THEPANDEMIC HIT.NOW, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ISPROMOTING A PROGRAM THAT CAN GETPEOPLE HELP, FOR FREE.FOX 4 REPORTER ROB MANCH SPOKEWITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TOLEARN MORE.(47-52)RIGHT NOW, THE CHARLOTTE COUNTYSHERIFF’S OFFICE IS GETTING MORECALLS FOR DRUG ABUSE THAN EVER."14 OVERDOSES IN THE LAST 5WEEKS."(4S)DOWN THE ROAD AT CHARLOTTEBEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, CEOVICTORIA SCANLON SAYS, THEY’RESEEING THE SAME THING."BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JUNE OFTHIS YEAR WHEN COVID BEGAN, WESAW A 200% INCREASE IN CHARLOTTECOUNTY’S INVOLUNTARY MARCHMANACTS THESE ARE NUMBERS WEHAVEN’T SEEN BEFORE."(13S)WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CHARLOTTECOUNTY IS PART OF A NATIONALTREND.THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONREPORTED LAST MONTH MORE THAN 35STATES ARE SEEING INCREASES INDEATHS FROM OPIOID USE.THAT’S WHY SERGEANT CRAIGBRANDON SAYS THE SHERIFF’SOFFICE IS PROMOTING A PROGRAMTHAT CAN GET PEOPLE HELP."EVEN IF THEY HAVE A USER AMOUNTOF DRUGS WITH THEM, ON THEM,THEY WILL NOT GO TO JAIL.

THEYWILL GO TO DETOX, THEY WILL GOTO WHERE THEY CAN GET SOMEHELP."(11S)"AND WHEN PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITHADDICTION COME TO THE SHERIFF’SOFFICE LOOKING FOR HELP, THEY’RETAKEN HERE, TO CHARLOTTEBEHAVIORAL HEALTH, JUST DOWN THEROAD IN PUNTA GORDA, WHERE THEYCAN DETOX AND GET TREATMENT, ALLFOR FREE."(13S)"THIS IS ALSO FOR THE FAMILYMEMBERS TO, AND FRIENDS, TO SAYTO THEIR LOVED ONES, HEY LISTEN,YOU NEED TO GET SOME HELP.

THESHERIFF’S OFFICE OFFERS THISPROGRAM, THEY’LL HELP GET YOUHELP.

IT DOESN’T COST YOUANYTHING, AND IT CAN HELP SAVEYOUR LIFE."(16S)THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY GRANTSFROM THE NON-PROFIT ARCHWAYINSTITUTE.SCANLON SAYS THE PROGRAM ISN’TNEW, BUT IT’S MORE NECESSARYTHAN EVER."WE’VE HAD THIS PROGRAM FORSEVERAL YEARS, BUT I WOULD LIKETO SEE MORE PEOPLE USING THISPROGRAM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERINGTHE EXTENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE