Rhode Island has faced many crises over the years, but few compare to the opioid epidemic that has thousands of families under siege. Alongside the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, fatal overdoses in Rhode Island continue to rise.
Prevention is the Key and It Starts with a Conversation
To help connect the community with necessary resources, Rhode Island PBS and CODAC Behavioral Healthcare present Opioids in Our Community: A Neighborhood Conversation on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The virtual event brings Newport families and residents together with local prevention and treatment professionals to open channels of discussion about opioid use disorder, and includes screening of the Rhode Island PBS documentary, The Fix: Examining Rhode Island’s Opioid Epidemic. The screening will be held on OVEE (Online Viewing and Engagement Experience), a safe and secure media viewing platform used by public media stations across the country.
Following the screening will be a conversation with Linda Hurley, president and CEO of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare; Rebecca Boss, COO and vice president of strategic development of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare; Jon Brett, PhD, Lifespan Physician Group and program director of the Partial Hospitalization program at Newport Hospital; and Lieutenant Michael Naylor, Professional Standards at the Newport Police Department.
Documentary Illustrates Complex Issues in a Powerful Way
According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Rhode Island. Fast and unrelenting in its grip, opioid addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that can develop in as a little as one week of repeated exposure to opioids. There are strong genetic, situational, and societal factors that increase the risk of developing opioid addiction. The effects of addiction on individuals and their families are devastating in terms of physical, emotional, social, and financial costs, with death being the ultimate, tragic price. Combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, access to local resources is key.
Youth and adults who are at higher risk for substance use disorders do not knowingly or willingly intend to put themselves at this risk. Knowing this, vital conversations that help build crucial skills are needed within families to ensure the risks of opioid use are understood. It is essential to reach adolescents before they start experimenting with opioids.
In The Fix: Examining Rhode Island’s Opioid Epidemic, interviews with individuals in active recovery and their families, counselors, community leaders, emergency responders, doctors, and advocates at prevention organizations, illustrate the toll this epidemic is having on our community, and what is being done to combat this crisis. Due to the sensitive subject matter, this film is rated PG-13 and parental discretion is advised.
The virtual event is free, but registration is required for the screening link. For more information, visit www.ripbs.org.
Strong Support Network is Essential to Success
Opioids in Our Community: A Neighborhood Conversation is made possible by support from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.