Town hall discusses ways to fight opioid epidemic
Law enforcement officials, elected leaders and addiction specialists offered insight and thoughts on solutions.
THE COST OF HEROIN
Heroin and opioid addiction is tearing families apart at rates never before seen. Some addicts are stitching their lives together with lots of help, while others are seemingly struggling as they look to get clean on their own. Spectrum News explored the issue in an hour-long documentary, The Cost of Heroin, which was followed by a live town hall with experts.
Data: 50% increase in NY heroin deaths in one year
Nearly everyone has been touched in some way by the opioid epidemic.
How can we solve the heroin problem?
New York state is in the middle of a deadly – and costly – epidemic ripping apart families, ravaging communities and filling jails.
Inmate shares struggles of heroin addiction
Heroin and opioid addiction is an epidemic that affects us all.
'Potent' heroin causes sharp increase in deaths
Heroin-related deaths have jumped by 50 percent in New York state alone.
WHAT ARE OPIOIDS?
Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant, including heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and many others.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Opioids can cause people to feel "high" and are very addictive. According to the NIDA, heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids.
Where to get help
If you or someone you know needs help for a heroin addiction, the following phone numbers are resources available in Western New York:
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Buffalo: 716-878-2316
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Chautauqua: 716-240-5983
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Niagara Falls: 716-304-6880
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Niagara-Orleans: 716-478-6992
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - North East WNY: 716-777-4172
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Central Allegany Mountain Area: 814-596-2614
Narcotics Anonymous Hotline - Northern Allegany Mountain Area: 585-307-2562
Erie County Addictions Treatment Hotline: 716-831-7007
Niagara County Crisis Services: 716-285-3515
Council on Addiction Recovery Services, Inc. (CAReS): 716-373-8040
Save the Michaels of the World, Inc.: 716-984-8375
PAST COVERAGE
