New overdose dashboard shines a light on the issue in Alabama

WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – The White Home is Launching a first-of-its-kind Nationwide Knowledge Dashboard for non-fatal overdoses and the numbers are usually not good for Alabama.

Alabama’s Nonfatal Opioid Overdose charge is greater than the nationwide common and we presently have the seventh worst within the nation. Walker County has one of many 5 highest overdose charges within the nation in comparison with different counties.

In line with the Director of Substance Abuse Providers at Northwest Alabama Psychological Well being, there variety of 911 calls made in Walker county on account of overdoses has elevated every of the final three years.

With 167 calls made in 2019, and 275 calls made in 2021.

Walker County Sheriff’s Workplace deputies say the county is on tempo to have 65 overdose deaths this yr, a tragic difficulty state leaders are working to unravel.

“The information says now we have an issue, however you bought to offer the folks the sources to ask for assist. Lots of the instances folks don’t know the place to ask for assist. So that’s the reason we are saying have a look at 988, have a look at your disaster service facilities. Have a look at these strains, what it’s a must to do is definitely ask for assist,” mentioned Affiliate Commissioner for the Psychological Well being and Substance Use Division of the Alabama Division of Psychological Well being Nicole Walden.

The hope is the brand new overdose dashboard will assist save lives and decide the place assist and sources are most wanted. The information will probably be up to date each Monday morning with a two-week lag.

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