By Outer Banks Voice on September 14, 2021
Dare County Commissioner Ervin Bateman, a member of the recovery community himself, made this powerful video for the Saving Lives Task Force about a month and a half ago. In the video, Bateman notes that since 2017, Dare County has averaged 13 opioid-related deaths a year.
The timing of its re-release on Sept. 15 comes amid considerable community concern that drugs are involved in the two deaths and one hospitalization of three individuals who were found in a Manteo residence on Sept. 13.
The Dare County Sheriff’s Department is investigating that incident, and thus far no information has been released about the identities of the three individuals or the cause of death.
In addition to the video, the Task Force also released a list of OBX substance abuse and addiction resources.
Find more information at Dare County Saving Lives Task Force
Comments
War, huuh, what is it good for
Providing safe, lab tested, taxable drugs to people will save more lives than trying to fight drug use. So much money is spent on the war on drugs that would be better spent protecting users lives.
Lillian
The Saving lives task force is all about saving lives!! That is their main goal! There are available services for people who are fighting addiction! No judgement and they will help you get into a drug treatment program. This is not about a war on drugs. It’s about harm reduction and getting, those suffering from this horrid disease, some help!!
Sandman
@war
Uh yeah so that’s not true. Just take a look at places that decriminalized drugs; they’re falling apart and crime is through the roof. That’s just nonsense.
Just Curious
Just curious will the task force also look into prescription drug deaths or the providers within the County over prescribing these medications?
RAJ
Ervin thank you!
One
Saving lives is a good start… In a city well over 1 million addicts they were only 60 beds available in detox in Los Ángeles. Please don’t conflate this issue as a criminal issue. To help an addict the community must make pathways seeing this as a medical issue… Saving lives is one of those pathways. Someone who is in The grips of addiction is in a prison they cannot find a way out of… These types of pathway Will help.
resident
As far as I am aware of the only “drug” that has been decriminalized is marijuana.
hightider
Like everything else, it is a choice. Don’t make it into a tragic excuse. This goes for alcoholics as well.
ElGuapo
Fentanyl don’t screw around kids. It’s just not worth it.
Curricat
On an interesting side note, The Sackler Family, creators of OxyContin, and the 400000 deaths associated with their product, just walked away from any liability over the destruction caused to users and their families. Made over 10 billion, paid 4 billion in fines, and the US government helped them do it. God Save America.
Thank you!
Many thanks to the Saving Lives Task Force and Commissioner Bateman for their efforts to reach and educate as many people as possible to help redirect, give hope, and ultimately save at least one more life. It’s not just the those that are addicted that need education, it’s all of us that need to open our eyes, minds and hearts to help see, care, and take action to help or get help for someone who is suffering with addiction. Pay attention and care, please.