Overdoses in libraries. A burgeoning homeless population. Thousands of needles turned in at the Harm Reduction Action Center.
The opioid epidemic has hit the Denver area hard, leaving city officials, residents and treatment centers scrambling to come up with ways to save lives.
The Opioid Crisis in America
First, let’s take a look at the opioid crises across the country. According to PBS, it’s the worst drug crisis in American history, rivalling the number of deaths caused by AIDS in the 1990s.
PBS went on to say that, in 1999, cocaine killed twice as many people as heroin. By 2014, opioid deaths were up 369 percent.
The Opioid Epidemic in Denver
The Denver Needs Assessment on Opioid Use reports that, in 2015, Denver experienced eight opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents and 4.2 heroin-related deaths per 100,000 residents. The report goes on to say that the problem is more severe in Denver than the rest of the state.
And it could have been much worse.
During the first 10 months of 2017, Narcan was used 234 times to reverse opioid overdoses at the Harm Reduction Action Center. The Harm Reduction Action Center also works to reduce the damage from heroin by providing clean needles and access to sterile water.
The report also delves into the issue of where overdoses occurred. Out of the 174 overdoses that occurred in Denver in 2016, at least 20 took place in an alley, public park or business restroom.
Hope and Healing at The Raleigh House
At The Raleigh House, we take a whole-person approach to recovery. That means we don’t just get the heroin or painkillers out of your system. The real work is helping you recover psychologically, mentally, spiritually and socially. We also evaluate—and treat—residents for any co-occurring conditions that may exist, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about the heroin addiction treatment program at The Raleigh House.
