Atlanta, GA
Atlanta woman turns pain of loss into mission to help prevent opioid addiction
“He fought it over half of his life over 15 years. He fought it on daily basis.”
A mom advised FOX 5 the toughest factor any dad or mum might undergo is burying their baby. Her son, Christopher, died of a drug overdose after being prescribed a robust painkiller 10 years prior. A program in Georgia works to guarantee that similar tragic destiny can’t occur to future sufferers navigating ache therapy.
ATLANTA – Cammie Wolf Rice’s Atlanta house is filled with reminders of her oldest son Christopher.
“He was about serving to different individuals,” Wolf Rice says. “He wished to be a Navy SEAL, tremendous disciplined, book-smart.”
Recognized as a teen with ulcerative colitis, Christopher had his first main surgical procedure to take away a piece of his intestines when he was senior in highschool.
His mom says medical doctors despatched him dwelling with the highly effective opioid painkiller OxyContin, 90 capsules.
“Yeah, it was only a huge, tall orange bottle full of massive white capsules,” Wolf Rice remembers. “I did not know to ask the medical doctors questions, and I gave them to him each 4 hours, as a result of that is what I used to be advised to do, and he was in ache and was not provided any alternate options to ache besides these opioids. It hijacked his life and his mind.”
There could be extra surgical procedures and problems, and extra capsules.
However, she says, this was the early 2000s, and nobody was speaking in regards to the threat of opioid habit, no less than not but.
“He lastly got here to me,” she says. “And, he stated, ‘Mother, I need assistance. It isn’t one capsule that’s doing it now. I want extra. I want two. I want three.”
Christopher, she says, would spend the subsequent decade out and in of rehab.
“Individuals are hooked on espresso,” she says. “Individuals are hooked on train. Regardless of the habit is, enlarge that tenfold, and that is what it is like while you’re hooked on an opioid. He fought it over half of his life over 15 years. He fought it on daily basis.”
In February 2016, on a household journey to Cambodia, Christopher Wolf died of a heroin overdose.
He was 32.
“I needed to fly from Cambodia to Atlanta with my son beneath me within the aircraft, in a coffin,” Wolf Rice says, her voice catching.
Since Christopher’s loss of life, she has written a guide, “The Flight,” about how shedding her oldest baby impressed her new mission to assist sufferers extra safely navigate ache therapy.
“I primarily based it on each single factor that he didn’t have that he wanted, and issues that I want as a dad or mum, as a caretaker,” Wolf Rice says. “You realize, it’s a must to learn.”
4 years in the past, she teamed up with Dr. Mara Schenker, chief of orthopedics at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, making a pilot program to supply care coaches to Grady orthopedic trauma sufferers.
“In our society, we use coaches for every part: an government coach, exercise coach, sleeping coach,” Wolf Rice explains. “However, but, while you’re in a well being disaster, you haven’t any coach that can assist you handle your ache, to debate with you alternate options to taking opioids.”
At Grady care coaches provide sufferers a customized ache administration plan, data on various therapies to cut back ache, and follow-up care as soon as they’ve left the hospital.
Dr. Schenker, an orthopedic surgeon, says the care coaches can even display sufferers for substance use problems which will complicate their restoration.
“They will sit down with you, and so they can spend time with you,” Schenker says. “They will determine, , your previous historical past. Have you ever had a substance use historical past up to now? And, in that case, what can we do that can assist you get via this? As a result of it does make it tougher as you progress ahead to take care of ache after trauma.”
Grady now has three care specialists funded by grants, working with orthopedic sufferers and people being handled for sickle cell illness, a painful blood dysfunction.
Till now, Dr. Schenker says, suppliers and sufferers usually discovered themselves attempting to barter how a lot ache medicine was sufficient, with some sufferers insisting they wanted further ache medicine.
“What they have been actually saying is, ‘I need assistance managing my ache,’” Schenker says. “However, they did not know easy methods to say it in another manner, aside from ‘I want extra ache capsules.’ And so it is modified drastically for the reason that introduction of our life care specialist program. It is virtually by no means a negotiation. Now we’ve got an ordinary protocol. We stroll sufferers via it, after which they depart the hospital and so they wean off of it.”
It has been virtually seven years since they misplaced Christopher Wolf.
Cammie Wolf-Rice hopes their care coaches will save different households the ache of habit.
“No one needs to be an addict,” Wolf Rice says. “No one requested to be an addict. My son didn’t ask to be an addict.
It’s my job whereas I am on this earth to do what I am doing, and I am not stopping.”
The Atlanta Braves have already had an injury-plagued 2024 season, from Spencer Strider, to Ronald Acuña Jr., and many in between. There are several players, though, who now come with positive updates regarding their recovery status.
Michael Harris II, who suffered a hamstring strain on June 14, has begun hitting and throwing. He has not yet been cleared to run, but his return may not be too far away.
Tyler Matzek has been crow hopping from 90 feet, after he was placed on the injured list on May 7 with elbow inflammation.
A couple more injury updates: Harris (hamstring) has been hitting and throwing, but he hasn’t been cleared to begin running. Matzek (left elbow inflammation) has felt good while crow hopping from 90 ft.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 28, 2024
As for A.J. Minter, another rehab start is coming up on Sunday, which will set him up to be activated early next week. He hit the 15-day injured list on May 30 with left hip inflammation.
And lastly, the road to recovery continues for Ian Anderson, as his rehab assignment was transferred to the Augusta GreenJackets.
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Charlie Morton was stellar and the offensive was explosive as the Braves downed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1.
In his Double-A debut, Lucas Braun fanned nine. More in the minor league recap.
MLB Pipeline’s latest mock draft has right-hander Braylon Doughty to Atlanta.
Carson Benge’s name has come up in plenty of mock drafts. He was originally projected to land with the Braves, but his draft stock has gone up to 12th overall.
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The Washington Nationals will reportedly call up top outfield prospect James Wood on Monday. The 6-foot-7 21-year-old has put up some ridiculous numbers in the minors.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A Black business owner in Atlanta said he feels betrayed and blindsided.
The Trump campaign held an event at Rocky’s Barbershop on Wednesday, the day before the highly anticipated presidential debate.
Owner Rocky Jones said that’s not what he signed up for and now he’s speaking out.
“I really take pride in my business,” Jones said.
Jones said he welcomes customers from all backgrounds and walks of life.
“Mind my business and serve and give haircuts back to the community and have good conversations; it’s never been about politics,” said Jones.
He said his business has never been the site of a political event until Wednesday when prominent Republicans packed inside the day before the presidential debate in Atlanta.
Former President Trump called in at one point during Wednesday’s event.
“I feel like I have been betrayed,” said Jones.
Days before the debate, Jones said someone he considered a friend reached out to him about being the host site for a small Black business roundtable.
Jones said there was never any mention this was a political event.
Jones added he never heard from a Trump campaign representative either.
Jones said the timing of the event didn’t raise any flags that the event would be political.
“I honestly didn’t think about it. It was just once you say Black small business give back to the community, it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m doing it,’” said Jones. “Just be aware that it is election season, and the timing seems a little suspect.”
FULL DEBATE COVERAGE
Jones is warning other business owners to have a healthy dose of skepticism.
“Even though I trusted that person, I didn’t do the research I should’ve done. Now, I’m letting everyone else know you need to be aware of these calls,” Jones said.
Atlanta News First did make contact with the Trump campaign. They acknowledged our request but were not able to get us a response by airtime.
Jones said he was compensated for the two hours he had to close his business for the event but adds he’s now willing to give the money back.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Billboard ranks Get Up Anthems
Billboard ranks the best Get Up anthems of Atlanta — songs that energize and inspire the city.
ATLANTA – Atlanta native and musician Killer Mike recently teamed up with Billboard to compile a list of the best “Get Up” anthems of Atlanta—the songs that energize and inspire the city. Here’s a look at the top five:
- “Player’s Ball” by Outkast, T.I., and Rubber Band Man: Leading the list, this anthem is celebrated for its iconic beat and motivational lyrics.
- “March Madness” by Future: This song comes in second, known for its high-energy delivery and popularity in the city.
- “Cell Therapy” by Goodie Mob: Ranking third, this track is praised for its deep lyrical content and impact on Atlanta’s music scene.
- “Knuck If You Buck” by Crime Mob: In fourth place, this song is a staple at Atlanta events, known for its hype and rowdy energy.
- “No Mo Play in Georgia” by Pastor Troy: Closing the top five, Killer Mike highlights this anthem as an important piece for the city’s spirit and culture.
These selections showcase the diverse and influential music that has shaped Atlanta’s vibrant culture.
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