Coalition Striving for a Healthier County

America is in crisis, with high numbers of people — across all ages and socioeconomic status — dying from preventable opioid overdoses.

Opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, fentanyl, tramadol, morphine and heroin. More and more people die each year from prescription drug overdoses than from all other drugs combined. The misuse of and addiction to such opioids can be traced back to the 90s when prescription opioids became widely available, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health at nih.gov.

Fatal overdoses from opioids have been rising steadily over the past two decades,” said Hernando Community Coalition Executive Director Tresa J. Watson. “And recently, we received data from the Overdose Response Strategy* (ORS) indicating an alarming spike in opioid overdoses here in our county,” she said.

“Now fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s many times more potent than heroin, is seeping into our county where even the smallest amount of fentanyl could inadvertently get into our systems and plunge someone into an overdose situation,” said Watson.

Watson, who has been with the coalition since 2003, explained it is a countywide behavioral health partnership where efforts are focused on combatting substance abuse and overdose through various outreach strategies. The coalition is grant-funded and uses volunteers to achieve its goals.

“The coalition is made up of representatives from schools, law enforcement, local businesses, groups and organizations, as well as local youth and families, said Watson. “I like to think of us as grassroots, good health advocates working to prevent and reduce substance and other misuse to improve the health and wellness of the county’s residents.”

One successful method the coalition uses is to provide up-to-date information about overdose prevention via TV, print and social media advertising and to offer free Naloxene kits — also known as the brand name Narcan®.

“These nasal spray kits save lives and can almost instantaneously reverse a potentially deadly opioid overdose,” said Watson. “And we are working hard to place as many Narcan® dispenser stands in as many locations as possible in Hernando County.”

So far, the coalition has placed six Narcan® dispenser stands in the county through various community organizations and churches; the locations are listed here.

Watson explained the need to combat any stigma surrounding Narcan® and to emphasize how important it can be for everyone in an overdose situation, not just substance misusers. The coalition aims for Narcan® to be introduced into first-aid kits as a harm-reduction measure, just like sunscreen or wearing your seat belt or having a fire blanket in your kitchen.

“The biggest benefit of it being available in first aid kits alongside your sunscreen or cough and cold medicines is that it would help normalize any stigma about addiction. It sends the crucial message that addiction is a disease and that people overdosing deserve our care and compassion,” she said. “Everyone should have Narcan® in their homes or medicine cabinets,” said Watson. “And those who are around people at high risk for overdose should carry it with them always.”

“We have already distributed thousands Narcan® kits and there is a growing demand for more,” said Watson. “We also want people to know that administering Narcan® is protected by the Good Samaritan law. The law’s purpose is to encourage people to help others in emergencies without fear of being sued.”

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Also working within the coalition is Jennifer Bliska, the coalition’s project director.
“One coalition campaign carries over into county schools where students can join positive action change teams called “imPACT” focused on improving their health and wellness,” said Bliska.

ImPACT is a youth-led leadership program in K8, middle and high school where students work to raise awareness, educate and participate in a solution-based initiative that will encourage healthy behaviors and prevent negative acts such as substance misuse or bullying, for example.

“Our campaign helps students develop leadership skills, giving them a sense of purpose and wellbeing and that in turn helps reduce substance abuse among them and their peers,” said Bliska. “ImPACT is all-inclusive, easy to join and we encourage every student to consider joining,” she said.

“Another of our efforts is the Dose of Reality campaign, which educates students about the dangers of drug use through pledge cards and positive messaging,” said Bliska.

Medication Disposal
“It’s not just young people we focus on; we also engage senior citizens on safe medication disposal,” said Watson. “We routinely visit retirement and assisted living facilities in the county to give presentations on proper prescription medication management and disposal,” she said. “We work closely with the activities directors at these senior communities to coordinate the educational sessions and distribute informational materials.”

Older adults and persons with disabilities are among the groups most impacted by the opioid crisis because they use prescription opioids to cope with acute pain, such as after surgery or ongoing pain from chronic conditions.

To safely dispose of unused or expired medications and to prevent them from ending up in the wrong hands or contaminating the water supply, the coalition provides safe disposal Deterra bags free of charge.

“Instead of flushing old meds down the toilet or sink, put the pills in the Deterra bag, add a cup of water, shake it all about and put it in the garbage,” said Bliska. It’s totally biodegradable.”
The coalition also provides locking pill bottles to seniors to help them keep track of their medications and prevent accidental misuse or ingestion by others.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office operates permanent drug drop-off boxes. Locations are listed here.

Pregnancy and Opioids
Perinatal substance use is another public health issue in the US — the most frequently used substances in pregnancy are tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and opioids. Both opiates and opioids can harm unborn
babies.

“Pregnant and parenting people who use substances face tremendous stigma and judgment when they seek medical care,” said Watson. “That’s why we have the Hernando SEN (Substance-Exposed Newborns) Taskforce. It’s our goal to promote the overall health and well-being of pregnant people who use substances and their families. The task force provides the support, services and understanding necessary so that Hernando substance-exposed newborns and children may thrive and develop.”
Visit hernandosen.org to learn more and find local support services.

Another resource provided by the coalition is the Hernando Cares Behavioral Health Resource Guide, now in its 8th edition. This comprehensive guide helps link county residents in need of mental health and/or substance abuse and support services to an agency or organization that can help. Visit www.hernandocares.org for more information. The guide is downloadable. To obtain print copies, if available, contact HCC at 352.596.8000 or [email protected].

The ORS is a public health-public safety partnership between the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) whose mission is to reduce overdose deaths across the nation.

Sue Quigley writes regularly for the Hernando Sun. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 727.247.6308.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office operates permanent drug drop-off boxes located at these three locations:

Main office
18900 Cortez Boulevard,
Brooksville (Regular Business Hours)

District 2 office located at
7499 Forest Oaks Blvd.
Spring Hill (Regular Business Hours)

Hernando County Detention Center located at
16425 Spring Hill Drive
Spring Hill (24 Hours)
http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Programs/
Dropbox/Default.htm

You can safely dispose of your unused or expired medications at the following Solid Waste & Recycling locations:

Northwest Solid Waste Facility
14450 Landfill Rd
Brooksville, FL 34614

West Hernando Convenience Center
2525 Osowaw Blvd
Spring Hill, FL 34607

East Hernando Convenience Center
33070 Cortez Blvd
Ridge Manor, FL 33523
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Hernando Community Coalition (HCC) installed its first Free Standing Naloxone Distribution Box in Hernando County at People Helping People’s, 1396 Kass Circle HELP Center.

The box offers free access to the overdose-reversing drug Narcan®. The aim is that, by providing Narcan® in such a convenient way and at no cost, will encourage all people, whether or not they personally use substances, to carry the life-saving drug.

Over-the-counter naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan®, is an inhaled medication used to reverse an opioid overdose while it’s happening. Accessing the medication and administering quickly can reduce someone’s risk of dying from an opioid overdose.

People are dying every minute of the day due to opioid overdoses. Narcan® Distribution Boxes are going to be an important asset in Hernando County’s uphill fight in the opioid crisis. For more information, call 352-596-8000.

Narcan Stands in Hernando County

People Helping People in Hernando County
1396 Kass Circle
Spring Hill, FL 34606

Frederick Kelly Elks Lodge #1270
510 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Brooksville, FL 34601

Bethlehem Baptist Church
661 S Brooksville Ave
Brooksville, FL 34601

Hernando County Fire Rescue
Fire Station 10
85 Veterans Ave
Brooksville, FL 34601

Nativity Lutheran Church
6363 Commercial Way
Spring Hill, FL 34613

Baycare Behavioral Health
15311 Cortez Blvd.,
Brooksville, FL34613