"It's our local version of an opioid task force," said Tammy Nicholl.
The group uses a four-prong approach, dividing the groups into teams. One team is prevention, another treatment and recovery. There's the medical team and the legal and advocacy team. Each team reports to the group on their successes and needs. What they're doing seems to be working, the number of overdose deaths is going down. In 2016 the county registered 13 overdose deaths. In 2017 there were 8 in the county. The numbers are small, but the impact is great. "We are trying to offer hope through treatment and prevention. If nothing else to let them know we're going to win this battle and that the future looks better," said Marshall. A breakthrough for this community as they come together to tackle this crisis.
Those stories of hope came at the Community Coalition for Opiate Relief Efforts’ first EMS Recognition Dinner on Thursday evening.
“It was amazing. I really never thought I would get to meet them,” Bellefontaine resident Rick Anderson said of his encounter with three of the members of the Bellefontaine Fire and EMS Department’s A shift. Anderson shared his story in front of the audience and when the squad members heard he was the one who overdosed during the Super Bowl they knew they were the ones who responded and administered the overdose reversal drug. “It’s a great feeling because normally you don’t get to see the end result,” firefighter Doug Hager said. “Usually we take them to the hospital and drop them off and that’s the last we hear about them.” “It kind of gives you a little rejuvenation to be part of something like this,” firefighter Randy McColloch said after learning that Anderson has been clean and sober since that day, Feb. 9. A 37-year-old Indian Lake mother, Jennifer Monroe, also shared her story and said her 18-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son would have had to grow up without a mother if not for the response of an Indian Lake squad during her overdose of 2015. She shared that she has been sober 228 days through local sober support groups and the Logan County Common Pleas Court’s Adult Recovery Court. A litany of other speakers, including CORE co-chair Tammy Nicholl; judges Kim Kellogg-Martin, Ann E. Beck and William T. Goslee; Bellefontaine Police Chief Brandon Standley; and Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds also addressed the group and thanked the first responders for going into unknown situations and saving lives even when it may seem like a lost cause. “At times, it truly can seem like a thankless job, and it can make you question your own sanity,” Nicholl said. “But then there are times when something happens, someone notices, someone thanks you and you feel validated and appreciated enough to gear up for the next disaster. And you can’t imagine doing anything else.” Judge Goslee, who now oversees the Adult Recovery Court and the recovering addicts it serves, said while working as Logan County Prosecutor he posed a public policy question to a nine-person grand jury on whether taxpayer money should be used to provide Narcan shots to drug addicts. While the initial vote was 7-2 in favor of letting the addicts “go meet their maker,” by the end of a discussion, “all nine would have thanked you for doing what you do,” Goslee told the paramedics and EMTs. The event concluded with a group prayer, in which nine local pastors formed a circle and recited the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and then all assembled united in a Prayer for Safety. Local pastors pray for first responders and police officers at the conclusion of the event. “Such a huge part of recovery is finding a faith in a higher power; that is why we wanted to close with this,” emcee Ross Cunningham of the Recovery Zone told the first responders and law enforcement officials present. “Faith, spirituality and finding a higher power is important in recovery, but it is also important in the work you do saving lives.”  Got Drugs? Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine Police Department, and Community C.O.R.E. in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency, encourage all Logan County citizens to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication to reduce access to prescription drug misuse in our community. Drop off medications during our spring medication take back day, Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 11am-1pm at Mary Rutan Hospital. Dropping off medication is easy - pull up, pull through the canopy at the hospital, and dispose - you don't even have to get out of your vehicle. Pills, patches, and sharps will be accepted. Please place sharps in a covered container to reduce the risk of puncture. No inhalers or liquids will be accepted. For more information call 599-7005 or 465-1045.
Can't make it on the 29th? Use our permanent drug drop boxes for disposal year round. Drop boxes are located at the Logan County Sheriff's Office, 295 Co. Rd. 32 S., Bellefontaine, available 24/7/365 and Russel's Point Police Department, 433 Orchard Island Rd., Russell's Point, available Mon/Tues/Thurs/Friday 9am-4:30pm.  These photos are from a Community Dinner that the Logan County C.O.R.E. Coalition had back in September of this year. The Dinner was held on 9/29/16 at the First Church of God in Logan County. It was a 2- hour long event that featured Dr. Brad Lander as the keynote speaker. There was over 300 people in attendance. There was recognition of those in recovery and are leading successful lives after going through addiction and the recovery process. Also, each team within CORE spoke about its efforts in community to make Logan County Drug-Free and to help those struggling with addiction. The purpose behind the dinner was to bring a community of people together for education and awareness of what is happening in Logan County. Among residents in attendance, we had judges from other counties, local law enforcement, and even state representative Robert Sprague came to the dinner and spoke. It was a successful night full of emotion!! |
News & Local UpdatesArticles and stories that reflect and highlight the work of the Logan County Joint Drug Task Force and other local organizations. Archives
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