Jessica Crooks has been taking Suboxone every day for the last five years.

"It comes in a little film, and you put it under your tongue and it dissolves," said Crooks.

She takes it in the wake of a long-time addiction to heroin.

"Being addicted to heroin pretty much ruined my life in every way you could probably imagine. So, when I went into detox, they gave me the option to begin taking Suboxone," Crooks said.

What You Need To Know

  • A national drug survey found millions of Americans have an opioid addiction

  • Several counties across the state have teamed up to help combat the issue

  • A mainstream and social media campaign is now underway to educate the public about medication-assisted treatment

It has since taken away her craving and the thought of it altogether.

"I can't even really put it into words, honestly. It's just been a complete life changer," said Crooks.

"One of the most effective ways of addressing, on an individual level and on a public health level, opioid use disorder is the use of medication," said Steve Kilburn, program director for Healing Communities Study.

Chautauqua County joins a host of others in the state, part of a federal healing communities study to address addiction.

Steve Kilburn and a coalition of others are in the midst of a communications campaign, through social and mainstream media about the effectiveness of Suboxone, Methadone and Vivatrol.

"Effective in reducing the use of illicit opioids which are inherently dangerous even deadly, and then consequentially reducing of course risk of overdose death," said Kilburn.

The Centers for Disease Control says fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for adults 18-45. Over the past couple of years, the county has averaged one fatal overdose a week.

"That's one family every week grieving the loss of a son or daughter, a mom or dad, brother or sister. So raising awareness is very important to us," said Kilburn.

Crooks is supportive of the campaign which she says aims to help break the stigma associated with medicated assisted treatment. 

"You can be successful while taking it. People should not be ashamed to take it. It's much better for me to be taking Suboxone every day than doing what I used to do," said Crooks.

What she does now is work for the Mental Health Association helping others in recovery or still using. She runs the Strong Starts Chautauqua program working with women who are pregnant or have children younger than 5.

"It's the most amazing feeling to be able to help someone who is struggling like I was. It's ironic to me that the job I have now I have because of what I experienced in all those years of addiction. It's all come full circle to me," said Crooks.

The education campaign for this phase of the study runs until May 5.

In addition to Chautauqua County, other counties across the state that are part of phase two include Broome, Cortland, Genesee, Monroe, Orange, Sullivan and Yates.