(BPT) – Michigan recently passed the Good Samaritan Law, and while the law is designed to save lives, not everyone is a proponent. Under the law, charges cannot be filed against persons trying to find emergency help for themselves or a loved one after an overdose.
While rehab professionals understand the motivation behind waiving charges, they caution that without the inclusion of accountability and treatment conditions, the cycle of addiction will only continue. ‘To save an addict we have to get to the root of their usage,’ says Per Wickstrom, CEO of Serenity Rehab Center. ‘We have to find out why they use and help them realize that there is a better course of action. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen simply because charges have been waived, it takes comprehensive treatment and counseling.”
Opioid and heroin use on the rise in Michigan
The new law comes at a time when the state is battling rising numbers of heroin and opioid users. Between 1999 and 2014, Michigan’s overdose deaths from these two drugs have risen dramatically. The state saw 99 people die from heroin or opioid overdoes in 1999 compared to 1,001 in 2014. Of those deaths, 568 were opioid related deaths and 433 died due to heroin overdose.
The statistics represent an increase of 911 percent over the 15-year span. During that same period, the country as a whole has seen overdose deaths related to opioids and heroin increase 200 percent. Data for the year 2014 shows a total of 47,055 people died due to drug overdose in the United States at a rate of 14.7 persons per 100,000.
Finding help
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin or opioid addiction, local help is available. Based in Marne, Michigan, Serenity Rehab Center is committed to helping people overcome their addiction battle while understanding that there is no one-size fits all treatment plan. That’s why they offer more than a dozen modalities for addiction treatment to find the perfect solution for you or your loved one. The program is customizable all the way down to the length, meaning if you need more than the standard 28 days you will get in other programs, you’ll find it with Serenity.
Serenity is a proud member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers and they’re here to help you. So contact Serenity today to learn about the center and to see how Serenity can help you or your loved one overcome your addiction to opioids or heroin.
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* Heroin overdose deaths are on the rise in the area.
Heroin Overdose Deaths
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