Baltimore County, MD Hello Baltimore County, 4 Sep 2018

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: What's Up, Doc?

Description

Baltimore County's top doc, Dr. Gregory Branch explains why opioid overdose rates are worse than ever and describes the help that is available.

A

Greetings everyone., I'm dr. gregory branch. and thank you for tuning in to what's up doc?,.

A

Where we teach, talk, and tackle today's pertinent health issues.

A

Today's issue is opioids..

A

You have surely heard by now, that opioid overdose rates have hit historical high,.

A

In and around the country.

A

one thing you may not know is opioid addiction is not new.

A

in the baltimore area,. We have suffered from it since the 1960s.

A

Now I'm gonna tell you what has changed., what has changed is fentanyl and carfentanil.

A

These highly potent narcotics are being added to synthetic heroin in an effort to make a cheaper and stronger product.

A

This is why people are dying.

A

Joining me today to talk about opioids is toni torsch, director of the daniel carl torsch foundation.

A

(Upbeat music).

A

What's up doc?.

A

Welcome, toni. and thank you for joining us today., and it's so good to see you again.

A

thank you, good to see you.. Can you tell us a little bit about the torsch foundation and why you started it.

B

We started our foundation in 2011.

A

And the mission behind that is to.

B

We raise funds to help people get into inpatient, treatment.

B

And we have an overdose response program that includes training and naloxone distribution.

B

And we also now are into recovery, funding,.

B

Helping adults with their recovery, housing.

B

And the reason we started that foundation was,.

B

In december 2010 my son died of a heroin overdose.

B

And you know, when something like that happens, you try to make sense of it or you try to make sure that his death wasn't in vain.

B

And we know there was some gaps that we experienced., so that was really the main reason.

B

Why we started the foundation.? There were gaps where we couldn't have paid for different types of treatment, and we know that other families were experiencing the same thing..

B

So if you had to give some advice to parents today,.

A

Who may have children who are suffering from addiction,.

A

What would your advice, be?.

B

Well, you know, parents, ask me that, in the very beginning it kind of threw me because I thought why are they asking me for advice., I thought, well, I failed at my job.

B

But I've learned a lot since then. I've learned that,. I've learned a lot about addiction.

B

And so now I know that well, we love them.

B

And we provide a safe place for our children to fall.

B

When they need us,, but we can't love the addiction away for them.

B

But we can contribute to the enabling.

B

Of the deferral of a treatment.

B

They have to take responsibility at one point, at some point,, for their treatment and for their health.

B

We also,, I have...

B

Yeah, I'm sorry., I get....

B

I think there are times where I want to say to parents,.

B

That I'm not sure why you're asking me.

B

But if dan were still alive, these are things that I would do now..

B

I believe that I would tell him.

B

That these are things that you have to do,, encourage him, and not to,, not to be the dictator.

B

We can only provide the tools., it's ultimately up to the person suffering with the disease,.

B

In order to make that decision.

B

Thank you for that.

A

I wanted to ask, if there was anything in particular.

A

That you can ask for the society to do,.

A

Or the government to do, or the community to do?.

A

What would you say would be the thing that we need.

A

This to help the ills of this addiction of this disease.

A

Well,, I believe that our government officials,.

B

Local and state, are doing as much right now.

B

As they can fiscally., I think we need more money from our federal leaders.

B

And I believe the keys are prevention,, education, and treatment.

B

and with treatment, that's the resources.

B

We have to have more resources for treatment.

B

and not just 28 days,, because then there's the 29th day.

A

And the 30th and what happens after that.

B

We need more resources.. The community is coming together, we're starting to see that. we're starting to see people are wrapping their arms around this epidemic.

B

And we're starting to see that the stigma,.

B

We're chipping away at the stigma and the shame of this addiction.

B

people are starting to talk more freely about it.

B

And that's what I would encourage, to continue the conversation. use the words. use the word: heroin. use the words harm reduction., okay,, so prevention,, education, and treatment.

A

We're gonna remember that. keys., and I just want to thank you again for joining us on today. thank you. here in baltimore county,, we're devoted to fighting this battle.

A

to combat this epidemic..

A

The department of health and human services will reach out to people where they are.

A

r-e-a-c-h,. It stands for.

A

Recovery, education, assessment, collaboration,.

A

And our helpline., let me highlight one or two tools in each of these areas.

A

R recovery,, we use certified peer recovery specialists.

A

In multiple arenas.

A

certified peer recovery specialists assist with.

A

One, client seeking treatment, services,, two, substance use with pregnant and post-partum women.

A

And three, in our detention centers inmates during stays and their post release.

A

Our e is for eduction., we provide naloxone trainings every month.

A

Over 3,800 residents and staff.

A

Have already received training.

A

trainings are posted on our website at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/opioids.

A

Our a is for assessments., we develop substance, use, walk in assessment clinics.

A

On both sides of the county., they provide one on one naloxone training.

A

They assist with securing resources and services.

A

Our c is collaboration.. We work with a multitude of agencies and organizations.

A

And recently started a bed finder project.

A

That surveys, the treatment centers to figure out how many male and female beds.

A

Are available each day and on what level.

A

Our h is our helpline.. We've implemented our 88-reach,.

A

That's the number for the community. 410-88-reach.

A

and the community can call and receive information.

A

For referrals and substance, abuse and recovery, services.

A

So if you or someone you love.

A

Needs assistance with substance abuse, reach out to us.. Thank you for watching,. What's up doc?.

A

And we'll see you next time. (upbeat music).

A

What's up doc?.