Kevin Roche introduced two past work colleagues and friends for over forty years, George Moore, and Dick Niles, who are on a mission to reduce the adolescence death rate due to opioid overdosing. In recent years the addition of fentanyl laced opioids has created an Opioid Crisis. In Wisconsin over 100 adolescents have died of overdoses in the last 10 years, and a total of 1400 Wisconsinites between 2012 and 2022.
Goerge and Dick are founders of the Addiction Resource Council after the tragic loss of Geroge’s son, George IV. due to an accidental opioid overdose.
“Our son George Moore was 28 when he died from an accidental overdose in 2016. He died 3 days after leaving the inpatient facility. We were so proud of him and his enthusiasm and willingness to seek and continue treatment… to make positive life changes and start his road to recovery. Our world was shattered 3 days later.”
The Opioid Crisis in Adolescents 10 – 19 years of age.
In recent years, fentanyl has been added to marijuana, cocaine, meth, ecstasy, and Xanax to increase the addict ability of those drugs. From 2019 to 2021 there has been a 133% increase in teen deaths due to fentanyl overdoses. Pediatric deaths from fentanyl in 2021 were more than 30 times higher than they were in 2013.
What can be done to address this crisis on the prevention side?... through… “Harm Reduction… by placing Narcan in all schools, municipal sites, businesses, etc.”
Why the need? Fentanyl was involved in 84% of teen overdose deaths. An overdose victim has only 7-8 minutes to live, and bystanders were present during 2/3 of the overdose deaths, but Narcan was administered in only 30% of them. To increase the availability of Narcan in a variety of venues is a goal.
What is Narcan?
- It’s an over-the-counter drug that is safe for all ages including pets used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
- Is an easily administered nasal spray.
- Has no effect on someone who has not taken opioids.
- Has no potential for abuse.
- It wears off in 30-90 minutes.
- Narcan was administered over 30,000 times in Wisconsin in 2022.
George and Dick are actively advocating for prevention and education through Assembly Bill 907. Unfortunately, many schools have not incorporated prescription drug abuse awareness into their health instruction programs. Through the Addiction Resource Council, they hope to continue to provide their Narcan Overdose Aid Kits to schools in their quest to prevent the unnecessary loss of life due to unavailable Narcan during an opioid overdoes event.
How can you help? You can help by visiting www.givrecoveryfund.org and donate to this life saving endeavor.
