Opioid and heroin overdoses caused one in every 66 Missouri deaths for approximately 908 lives in 2016, according to the state's department of health and senior services.
The prescription opioid epidemic has become a crisis across all races, genders and age groups nationwide. To combat the crisis locally, officials at the Butler County Health Department have joined the initiative to reduce pain medication and heroin dependence by increasing access to medication disposal routes, public awareness and education.
"We're pushing out what exactly opioids are," Public health community planner Allie Pattillo said. "A lot of times, people don't understand that opioids are pain prescription medications and that you're easily able to misuse them."
Opioids are pain medications prescribed by a doctor and dispensed among pharmacies. They are available in many forms, including tablets, capsules, liquid and patches. In Missouri, common pain meds prescribed by doctors include hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol, which account for 85 percent of all pain relievers dispensed, according to information provided by the BCHD.
Health educator Jennifer Sheridan said the easiest way to keep opioids off the street is to use Medication Disposal Kits, which are available for free upon request at the BCHD. Sheridan said proper disposal of leftover, expired or unused medication is key.
"If you're flushing it, it's going into the water system and could potentially contaminate the water that's coming back into the community," Sheridan said. "If you're throwing them in the trash, they're going to landfills, so it's getting back into our soil or animals are eating them. If people are truly addicted and looking for things, they start digging and could end up digging through your trash."
The environmentally-friendly kits contain pouches that deactivate up to 45 capsules or tablets, six ounces of liquid, or six patches by adding water. Once sealed, the pouch can then be tossed into the trash without cause for concern.
"You never truly know who's going to be looking at your trash," Sheridan said. "Trying to keep it out of the hands of other people, trying to keep it out of the water, trying to keep it out of the soil is the most important."
Another way folks can dispose of leftover, unused or expired medication is to drop it in the prescription drop-box located inside the lobby of the Poplar Bluff Police Department. The drop-box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1111 Poplar Street.
Pattillo said the BCHD has recently linked with the Generation Rx curriculum aiming to reduce the likelihood of local school-aged children misusing or abusing prescription drugs.
Created in a collaborative effort by the Cardinal Glennon Health Foundation and Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, the Generation Rx program suggests measures, such as: adhering to directions as explained by a doctor, pharmacist, or the medication label; always checking the expiration date and disposing of all medications properly; storing all prescriptions in a secure and safe location; and promoting safe medication practices and teaching others to do the same.
According to the BCHD, treatment for opioid and heroin addiction calls for successful detoxification or cleansing of toxins in the body, behavioral counseling, medication, evaluation and treatment for mental health concerns. Long-term continuation is also a possibility to reduce the possibility of relapse.
Pattillo said though the health department does not offer treatment services, as its main focus is on education, but partners with local organizations centered around assisting individuals with recovery.
"We partner with other organizations in the community: Crossroads Ministries; John 3:16; a lot of faith-based groups; SEMO Behavioral Health and many others," Pattillo said. "If anybody does call us inquiring about services, we give that information out, that way they can figure out what is best for them."
The Butler County Health Department is located at 1619 North Main Street in Poplar Bluff. The phone number is 573-785-8478.