The opioid crisis continues to destroy lives throughout Johnson County.
Since 2017, Johnson County emergency medical responders have had to revive opioid overdose victims 542 times. EMTs have had to save the lives of 131 overdose patients in the county already this year.
The problem isn’t going away, despite increasing attention paid to the opioid overdose and addiction epidemic in recent years. To help the public better understand opioids, addiction and mental health in general, Franciscan Health will host a free series of seminars throughout November in Greenwood aimed at educating the public.
People will have the opportunity to learn about the signs and stigmas behind drug use, as well discover ways to reduce stress and improve mental health. Participants will have the chance to go through official Narcan training to administer doses of Naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.
The hope is to provide a greater base of knowledge about addiction and drug use so the Johnson County community can have better success addressing those societal problems.
"People who attend can then be the source of truth for their friends and their family," said Katherine Hill-Johnson, administrative director for community health improvement at Franciscan Health. "When they hear of someone who has a substance abuse disorder, maybe they find a little more compassion for the family or person who is struggling, so we build friendlier communities that are a little more helpful and compassionate."
The project is part of a collaboration called the Healthy Southside Initiative, in which Franciscan Health Indianapolis, Community Health South and the Baxter YMCA work on improving the health of those on the southside.
Through the initiative’s behavioral health committee, the idea was to reduce stigma and help people understand substance abuse disorder.
"We wanted to provide good information, practical tools and help everyone understand that substance abuse disorder doesn’t happen to just one type of person," Hill-Johnson said. "It’s something that’s happening throughout our communities, and something we need to be aware of."
The seminar topics — basics of substance abuse disorder, Narcan training and mental wellness — are the three areas health professionals throughout the region hear the most questions about.
So organizers have lined up experts to guide people through each of those topics, including licensed clinical social workers, pain management experts and behavioral health therapists. The seminars will be held at Franciscan Health at Stones Crossing, which is located in Greenwood off of State Road 135.
"We had to address those types of questions and offer it in a space that’s non-threatening and doesn’t feel like you’re in trouble," Hill-Johnson said. "It’ll be in a comfortable environment where we can have a conversation, instead of feeling like you’re in a class or being quizzed."
The seminars are open to the public, and free to attend. Though opioid addiction tends to garner the most attention, presenters will focus on a wide array of substances and ways they can be abused.
"We want people to understand the signs and symptoms of what to look for. We want to highlight a wide variety of treatments that are available," Hill-Johnson said. "By addressing substance abuse disorder as a whole, we can help people understand those differences and commonalities."
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Substance abuse disorder seminars
What: A series of workshops looking at substance abuse, opioid overdoses and mental wellness aimed at educating the general public.
Who: Presented by the Healthy Southside Initiative, a collaboration between Franciscan Health Indianapolis, Community Health South and the Baxter YMCA.
Sessions:
"The Basics of Substance Abuse Disorder," 7 p.m. Nov. 4, focuses on understanding aspects of substance abuse, including common signs and stigmas of drug use, and treating addiction as a disease.
"Opioid Overdose and Reversal Medication," 6 p.m. Nov. 11, participants attending this session will undergo official Narcan training, which includes the process to administer the medication.
"Building Mental Wellness," 7 p.m., Nov. 18, teaches participants skills to reduce stress and improve mental wellness, communication skills and other beneficial techniques.
Cost: Free
Information: Contact Caitlin Mark at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>
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