City of Brotherly Love Battling Addiction Crisis
In recent years, Philadelphia has been enjoying a genuine renaissance of new restaurants, world class museums and a growing population of young urban professionals. It is a notable change from previous decades when the city struggled with a shrinking population and less than stellar nightlife. For football crazy Eagles fans, sitting on top of the NFL standings is also a very positive change!
In the midst of all these positives though, recent data has shed light on the epidemic proportions of Philadelphia’s drug problems. Based on data from the CDC and Arrestrecords.com, Philly ranks #1 among big cities in total numbers of deaths from drug overdose, and #3 in terms of deaths per 100,000.
Facing this unprecedented opioid crisis, Mayor Kenney appointed David T. Jones as commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). Jones’ team will be responsible for implementing the recommendations brought forth in May by the Mayor’s Task Force to Combat the Opioid Crisis.
Work has already begun by increasing the number of treatment slots available. As Jones begins to address this immense challenge, he made it clear that the goal was for positive treatment – not blame. “For those who have substance abuse disorders we really want to make sure that our system is welcoming, no matter what door they come in.”
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to seek out help today. There are many excellent centers in the region. You may also want to consider out of state facilities such as FHE Health, which are often covered by insurance.
Substance abuse treatment is available. Don’t wait any longer to ask for help.
Are you or a loved one struggling with substance abuse?
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Read the more details at Philly Tribune.