TESTING WILL START AT 1130 THIS MORNING. ANYONE WHO HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR 11 SHOULD COME
BY 11:30AM.
>>LAUREN VERNO: JUST LAST WEEK JACKSONVILLE CITY OFFICIALS CONFIRMED DRUG OVERDOSES ARE
RISING SHARPLY DURING THE
MANDATORY SELF-ISOLATION
FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO
NEARLY
436 OVERDOSES IN MARCH, A 20%
INCREASE JUST
FROM FEBRUARY IN STATES LIKE
FLORIDA, THE ARRIVAL OF THIS
PANDEMIC HAS MEANT MANY HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS ARE
NOW COMBATING EPIDEMICS ON
2 FRONTS SO JOINING US ON THE
PHONE THIS MORNING TO TALK MORE
ABOUT BATTLING THE ADDICTION
AND HOW IT MAY WORSEN THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC AS A WHOLE
DOCTOR CHRISTINE
CHRISTINE CAUFFIELD CEO OF LSF
HEALTH SYSTEMS GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US. GOOD MORNING. MY PLEASURE
YOU KNOW I IT’S SO ACCURATELY
PUT THEIR THAT WE’RE FACING 2
EPIDEMICS RIGHT NOW.
YES, WE’RE FIGHTING THE FRONT
LINES BUT IT KIND OF THE
OVERDOSES IN THE OPIOID OPIOID
EPIDEMIC IS WHEN THAT MAYBE WE
JUST DON’T GET TO HEAR ABOUT
THIS MUCH.
>> THAT’S VERY BUT A VERY SAD
REALITY IS FLORIDA IS REALLY AT
THE FOREFRONT OF
THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE THE SECOND
HIGHEST NUMBER OF DRUG-RELATED
OVERDOSES IN THE COUNTRY
FOLLOWED ONLY
BY CALIFORNIA. AND WHAT’S EVEN
MORE SHOCKING IS THAT THE
ANNUAL AMOUNT OF DRUG OVERDOSE
DEATHS AND OUR STATE IS HIGHER
THAN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS
RESULTING FROM HOMICIDE AND
SUICIDE COMBINED.
WELL.
>>LAUREN VERNO: DO WE BELIEVE
THESE NUMBERS ARE FROM PEOPLE
ARE JUST HOME AND THEY’RE STUCK
INSIDE OR THAT MAYBE THEY DON’T
HAVE ENOUGH THEY ARE THEY’RE
NOT HAVING ACCESS TO NOR CAN
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE THE REASON
BEHIND
IT IS.
>> WELL MOST
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ADDICTED
TO DRUGS HAVE AN UNDERLYING
MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUE. AND SO WHEN WE
ARE FORCED TO
ISOLATE AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
GET OUT AND BE WITH OTHER
PEOPLE. IT CAN REALLY FOR FOLKS
SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION.
IT CAN REALLY TRIGGER. THE
DESIRE TO
2 USED TO MANAGE THEIR PAIN AT
THE VERY END HEALTHY COPING
MECHANISM. BUT IT. WHAT
WE’RE FINDING ATTIC STAR.
OUR REPORTING. THEY’RE NOT ABLE
TO GET TO A OR AN A MEETING.
ALTHOUGH THEY’RE AVAILABLE
VIRTUALLY WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.
THEY YOU KNOW HAVE NOT STAY
CONNECTED TO THEIR SPONSORS.
AND
THEY ARE TURNING TO ON HEALTHY
COPING MECHANISMS
TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
>>EMILY BOYER: YOU KNOW AS
WE’RE ALL SELF-ISOLATING AT
HOME
IS IT EASIER OR HARDER OR ARE
NOT REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE
FOR AN ATTIC MAYBE TO HIDE.
THERE ARE ARE THERE PROBLEMS
BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE
YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THE
HOUSE
MAYBE GO RUN AROUND FOR A
LITTLE BIT SO YOU GET TO HIDE
THAT FROM YOUR FAMILY ARE ARE
YOU NOTICING
THOSE TRENDS.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY NOTICING
THOSE TRENDS AND THE DANGER OF
THAT IS IF THE
LIVES ALONE AND THEY OVERDOSE.
THERE IS NO ONE THERE TOO CALL
EMS TO GET SOME
HELP SO A VERY DANGEROUS
TO BE USING AT THIS TIME, I’M
JUST USING ANY TIME BUT
PARTICULARLY IF YOU’RE
ISOLATED AND LIVING ALONE AND
THERE IS NO ONE THERE TOO TO
HELP YOU WITH AN
OVERDOSE SITUATION.
>>LAUREN VERNO: SO LET’S TALK
ABOUT YOU KNOW A POSSIBLE
TREATMENTS OR EVEN HELPING A
LOVED ONE 1ST OF ALL HOW DO YOU
GO ABOUT HELPING A LOVED ONE IF
YOU ARE NOTICING THESE
TENDENCIES WHAT IS BEING
OFFERED OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU KNOW YOU REALLY
NEED TO AS AS A FELLOW FRIEND
COLLEAGUE CHECK IN WITH THIS
PERSON CALL THEM SET UP A
VIDEO CHAT. I’M TRIED TO DO AN
ACTIVITY WITH WITH YOUR LOVED
ONE.
VIRTUALLY YOU KNOW WHETHER IT’S
DOING YOGA TOGETHER A
VIRTUE LAYER. SETTING UP AN AT
HOME PAIN STUDIO TO CREATE ART
AT THE
SAME TIME. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO
TO INCREASE YOUR CONNECTION TO
THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS REALLY
STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW. IT’S
REALLY PARAMOUNT FOR YOU TO
DO THAT AS FAR AS ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
MEETINGS THEY ARE NOW DONE
VIRTUALLY AND THAT IS THE GOOD
NEWS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO
THERE’S HOPE AND ALSO THERE’S
TREATMENT IF YOU’RE FINDING
THAT YOU ARE IN A PRECARIOUS
SITUATION AND YOU’RE READY TO
RECEIVE THE TREATMENT. OUR
PROVIDERS ARE OPEN. THEY ARE
RECEIVING PEOPLE TO GET HELP.
SO PLEASE KNOW YOU’RE NOT
ALONE.