64 opioid-addicted babies born in past 9 months
Opioid-addicted babies continue to be born at an alarming pace at Reid Health's Mother-Baby Care Center.
Through the first four months of the year, 23 babies were born with an opioid addiction, according to statistics presented by Lisa Suttle during a Heroin is Here meeting last week.
In 2015, there were 13 such births through the first seven months before the number skyrocketed to a total of 54 for the year.
All told, there have been 64 babies suffering from opioid withdrawal born in the past nine months, the length of a pregnancy.
Last year's total was a 74 percent increase from 2014's 31, which itself was a 181 percent increase from the 2013 total of 11. Before that, 15 addicted babies were born in 2012, four in 2011 and just one in 2010.
Suttle, the director of Reid's psychiatric service line, said the Mother-Baby unit also is seeing methamphetamine and marijuana problems impacting babies.
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Reid representatives are meeting with Cross Road Christian Recovery Center for Women, located just south of Richmond, to establish a program for addicted mothers to receive treatment, Suttle said.
She said April showed a slight downward trend, offering a glimmer of hope for the rest of the year.
Efforts to combat addiction
Those gathered at Reid's Lingle Hall for Thursday's meeting heard about several other efforts to combat heroin and addiction in the community.
Suttle said a pain management breakout group of Heroin is Here has created a flow to evaluate patients that includes a triage team. The goal is to find ways to treat patients' pain without prescribing opiates. Opiate pain relievers are addictive and have led many toward heroin as a cheaper, more readily available alternative to the prescription opiates.
Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman also explained the diversion program he recently announced for those accused of drug possession offenses or shoplifting offenses driven by drug use. Those offenders would be offered an opportunity to voluntarily enter individualized treatment programs implemented by Centerstone or Meridian Health that, if completed, would result in the dismissal of the criminal charges.
Shipman said the program continues to be developed as a carrot-and-stick model. It will include an element of community service where the offenders will clean neighborhoods in an effort to find and dispose of dirty drug needles. A curfew element, he said, also might be added to the program.
Although Medicaid and HIP 2.0 will pay for the treatment programs of most participants who don't have private insurance, a program from the state's Family and Social Services Administration, Recovery Works, has money available to pay for treatments for those not yet enrolled in Medicaid or HIP.
Communal forum seeks to address heroin epidemic
Angie Boarman, the forensic treatment program manager, said those entering or exiting the criminal justice system with a felony charge or with a past felony conviction are eligible. The person is referred by a criminal justice provider into the program, which has Centerstone and Meridian as local treatment options.
Among the services offered by Open Arms Ministries in Richmond is money available for families of people incarcerated or families of those at in-patient treatment facilities that could use some help paying for their needs.
Brianna's Hope
Also discussed at last week's Heroin is Here meeting was the expansion into Randolph and Wayne counties of A Better Life Brianna's Hope, a faith-based addiction support group.
The group honors Brianna DiBattiste of Dunkirk, Ind., a heroin addict who went missing in June 2014 and was found dead three months later.
Founder Randy Davis said an average of about 200 people attend weekly meetings at seven locations around the state. The meetings all are 6:30 to 8 p.m., including Thursdays at Hagerstown First United Methodist Church and Fridays at Union City (Ind.) Wesley United Methodist Church.
Other meetings outside the area include Mondays at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hartford City, Tuesdays at Dunkirk Baptist Church and at Daleville United Methodist Church, Wednesdays at Redkey United Methodist Church and Thursdays at Muncie Tabernacle of Praise.
Prescription drugs kill more than pain
Davis, a pastor, said the group continues to look for areas for expansion, including Richmond. He said two people are needed to take on leadership roles at a new chapter, and one must have a letter of reference from a pastor.
Upcoming events
The Drug Free Wayne County Partnership will have the next installment of its Lunch and Learn Series at noon Friday at MCL Restaurant & Bakery. The topic is "The Truth Behind Richmond Comprehensive Treatment Center."
Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to director Stacey Steele at ssteele@bgcrichmond.org.
The partnership's next regular meeting is 8:30 a.m. on May 27 at the Richmond Senior Community Center.
On June 4, a fundraising 5K run/walk in Liberty will benefit the Union County Opiate Treatment Center. The walk begins at 4 p.m. and costs $25 for those 13 and older and $15 for those 6 to 12. Participants younger than 6 are free. Registration forms are available at the Liberty Bell Restaurant, Union County Health Department and Union County Sheriff's Office.
Other free activities include a car show at 3 p.m. and the band Edge of Addiction performing from 3 to 6 p.m. At 3:30, musician Bobby Hayden Jr., a recovering heroin addict, will speak about recovery.