On Wednesday, December 5, 2018 the Rotary Club of Hanover sponsored a Town Hall Meeting for the community to discuss the opioid crisis in York County and our Hanover area. Approximately 30 members of the community attended. Speakers included Charlene Sciarretta, mother of son who died due to opioids; David Sunday York County DA; Pam Gay, York Co. Coroner; State Reps, Katie Klunk and Torren Ecker.
A few of the many things we learned that night:
- Opioid Use Visored/Opioid Addiction means a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress. Can be legal or illegal use of the drug.
- Initially opioids were widely prescribed for pain relief by physicians and the addictive, dangerous nature of the drug was not realized. That led to widespread misuse and addiction. In 2014 in York Co alone, opioid deaths jumped from 10 to 62 !! This caused an awareness of the crisis and formation of the Opioid Task Force in the County to address the issue. In 2018 so far, we have had 218 deaths due to the drug.
- It affects all socioeconomic levels, all races, though most are caucasian. Roughly 40% are in the city and 60% in the surrounding areas.
- Marijuana is a gateway drug to opioid addiction.
- Those who are cocaine users and those just out of prison or rehab are highly affected.
- Hanover has the 4th highest incidence of overdose in York Co.
We are very grateful for the time and effort of all of the presenters for this this event.