Butler County saw nearly 1,000 drug-related hospital visits over a three-year period of time.
Nearly 700 people were sent to prison, probation or parole because of drugs, and almost 80 students were disciplined at Butler County schools.
Over 900 people were arrested on drug charges. More than 30 people were injured in drug-related car crashes.
And 40 people died from causes that involved drug use.
These numbers capture the real life problem of all drug-related incidences reported to state officials in 2014, 2013 and 2012, the most recent data available.
Community partners will hold the fourth Missouri Opioid Summit on Tuesday in Poplar Bluff, to address the specific problem of heroin use and prescription pain reliever misuse.
The free event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church, 1875 Speedway Drive.
Opioid abuse has been identified by state officials as one of the most pressing drug problems facing the state today, reaching what they have described as epidemic proportions.
These summits are designed to be a collaborative effort across the state to bring awareness, spur action and address problems specific to individual communities, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Butler County Health Department has partnered locally with the agency to hold this event.
"A lot of us are awfully naive about what is going on in our community, and this is a real opportunity to start working on it, addressing it," said Robert Hudson, administrator of the BCHD. "We've got to work on getting the word out and making these things stop happening."
All community partners are invited to attend this event, Hudson said, including health care and school professionals, prevention and treatment workers, law enforcement, social services agencies and faith-based groups.
The first half of the morning will include state and regional speakers, discussing the history of the opioid problem and current trends.
The conference will also include personal stories from local residents affected by opioid use, including those battling addiction, family members and others.
Missouri Speaker of the House Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) has been invited to provide a legislative update, Hudson said.
A panel of local experts will help conclude the summit with a discussion on problems and needs they see in the community. It will include Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley, Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, David Ross of Butler County EMS, and representatives of treatment, hospice and medical professions.
"(The summit) is clearly to bring awareness to the opioid issue, but it's not intended to be one meeting and then we quit," Hudson said. "Our role as the health department is to convene those partners together and start the dialogue of what are you doing, what are we doing, where can we augment things and start working toward solutions."
Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, which provides medication assisted treatment, will also participate in the panel discussion.
"Our participation and role in this crisis is that there is immediate, effective medication treatments coupled with psych-social services that can save lives by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths regardless of any insurance or ability to pay," said Clif Johnson, director of clinical compliance and physician services for the agency.
Participants can pre-register for the event at www.eventbrite.com/e/missouri-opioid-summit-tickets-37693872387.