Greenville, North Carolina, is a charming city in Pitt County. While Greenville is proud of its business sectors and its vibrant culture, it is also home to a serious and growing drug problem. The opioid epidemic in Greenville NC is no laughing matter, and fighting back against the epidemic will be a challenge. Take a closer look at Greenville’s opioid epidemic and explore some of the ways that it can be overcome.
Increased Opioid Prescriptions
There is no denying that there is an opioid epidemic in Greenville NC. Sadly, opioid use has increased across most of the country, and Greenville is no exception to the rule. One of the reasons that opioid use is up is just that more prescriptions are written and filled.
In Pitt County alone, there were 10,641,769 opioid pills prescribed to local residents in a single year. That’s a shocking number, and it points to the problem of overprescription. For a whole host of reasons, too many doctors are prescribing opioid drugs to their patients. This can often be the start of an eventual opioid abuse concern.
Transition to Heroin Use
Prescription opioids can and do have a legitimate medical purpose. Many individuals take prescription drugs to manage pain, for example. The problem is that over time, drug use can become drug abuse. As the body becomes dependent on prescription drugs, some individuals consume more substantial amounts for the same effects.
Over time, it may become difficult to obtain prescription drugs. When this happens, many users turn to less expensive alternatives. Heroin is one example since it is a readily available substance in Greenville. Most people who use heroin in Greenville started by consuming prescription opioids.
Opioid Overdoses in Greenville
One way to measure the scale of the opioid epidemic in Greenville is to look at the number of opioid overdoses. Greenville Fire and Rescue responded to 292 overdoses in the last year, a significant uptick from the year prior. That shows that more users are abusing opioids in the area.
Fortunately, emergency response teams are often able to give overdose victims medical care. In Greenville, a nasal spray version of Narcan is administered to overdose victims. While it can stop an overdose from becoming fatal in some cases, it is not always effective. The best defense against an opioid overdose is to end opioid addiction once and for all.
Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in Greenville NC One Client at a Time
Education and awareness are the keys to overcoming an opioid epidemic. Serenity House Detox & Recovery battles painkiller addiction one person at a time and wins. Clients will get around-the-clock medical care as they start their path to recovery. Serenity House Detox & Recovery offers all of the following to clients:
- Medical detox and supervision
- Medication management as needed
- Addiction counseling
- Appealing facilities in Florida
- A holistic approach to long-term recovery
There is a severe and concerning opioid epidemic in Greenville NC. Fortunately, help is available at Serenity House Detox & Recovery, which offers two locations in Jupiter and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Learn more about your recovery options by calling 866-294-5306.
