Recently, a team comprised of members from Ten16 Recovery Network, Clare- Gladwin Recovery Court, and Mid Michigan Community College, came together to create a public service announcement (PSA) about the opioid crisis.
To illustrate the effects of this crisis on our community in a powerful way, the PSA features stories from local residents who are in recovery from opioid addiction. Amy Goethe, Student Wellness Coordinator at Mid, worked with Noah Lueke and Brian Humm, Mid’s Multimedia Production team, to interview individuals who are participants in the Clare-Gladwin Recovery Court program. These participants courageously shared their stories in order to help raise awareness of the high opioid addiction and overdose rates in our area.
“I would like to personally thank these individuals for sharing their firsthand accounts of addiction and recovery so that our community can continue to work on prevention programming for those who are at risk and recovery efforts for those who are in need,” said Goethe.
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose deaths. In 2016, nearly 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose. At 174 people each day, this is more than the number of lives lost in car accidents or gun-related homicides. An overwhelming majority of these overdose deaths involved an opioid. While no corner of the country has gone untouched by this issue, the opioid epidemic has hit rural America particularly hard.
"Opioid addiction is affecting every segment of our community. We are on the front lines of this problem and are witnessing the devastating effects on families in Clare and Gladwin counties. The Clare-Gladwin Recovery Court team is proud to partner with Mid and the Ten16 Recovery Network to provide our community with the information and tools necessary to begin the recovery process. By utilizing a comprehensive, team approach we are helping individuals transform from addiction to sustained recovery," explained Hon. Joshua M. Farrell, Presiding Judge, Clare-Gladwin Recovery Court.
The USDA elaborates that the opioid epidemic is devastating to its victims and their families. It has a compounding ripple effect throughout communities, affecting quality of life, economic opportunity, and rural prosperity. No corner of our country has gone untouched by the opioid crisis, but the impact of this issue on small towns and rural places has been particularly significant.
“In 2017, for the first time in 15 years, more people in Clare County were treated for opiate dependency than alcohol. It is a troubling trend that is leading to a lot of accidental overdoses and wrecked lives.Fortunately, there is help here in our community. Recovery meetings, educational programming, sharing times, treatment services, and social activities are scheduled each week and we are here to help people through the journey of recovery,” shared Sam Price, President and CEO of Ten16 Recovery Network.
For more information about the PSA, contact Amy Goethe at agoethe@midmich.edu or 989-386-6622 x256.
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