More attention should be directed toward

painkiller pill addiction

Since 2011, Clinton County has seen the death of approximately 34 people due to opioid overdoses, not to mention the people fortunate enough to survive an overdose. Ask yourself some of these questions.

How many people do you know that has a family member affected by the addiction to painkillers?

How many people have you heard of selling themselves for painkillers?

How many children in this county are living in deplorable conditions, or with guardians because of their parents’ addiction to painkillers?

How many people from good homes have you seen in the county turn into “pill heads”, because of a prescription for painkillers?

The people of Appalachia have been sold out by unscrupulous doctors who took advantage of their patients by creating thousands of addicts and larger bank accounts. When large donations are made to civic organizations, schools, and politicians its easy to turn a blind eye to the very obvious problem.

Because of the pain pill epidemic, you can expect heroine coming to our community in the very near future. That heroine will be “cut” with drugs such as fentanyl and carfentanil that can be 10,000 times stronger than morphine. You can also expect a huge increase of HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis outbreaks.

Opioids have wrecked the lives from the rich and famous to the lives of the poor and infamous.

Every occupation has been affected from law enforcement, court officials, politicians, physicians, military, clergy etc. Unfortunately it appears that it takes the death of a prominent person or several deaths to get the attention of citizens to realize there is a problem.

Kentucky is the 4th most medicated state, and the 6th leading state in overdoses.

Ask your community leaders to come up with a plan to help the people suffering from the addictions of opioids. Jailing people is not the fix to the problem.

Travis Denney