COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Heroin and opiate addiction impacts so many families in the buckeye state. ARC Ohio Chief Operating Officer Peggy Anderson says, “It’s not the stereotypical back alley drug user most people think about. It can really affect any of us. Most of us probably have an injection drug user in our lives whether we know it or not.”
The stakes are high. The consequences of a heroin epidemic are serious for the entire community. Drug overdose deaths rose 17% from 2013 to 2014. There were almost 2500 drug overdose deaths in Ohio in 2014. Health officials are calling on programs, like Safe Point, to offer users comprehensive care and treatment.
Anderson says, “We want to have a stigma free zone. Let’s keep you as safe and as healthy as we can and link you to the resources to improve your life moving forward.”
The program offers free HIV and Hepatitis C testing, free primary medical care, drug intervention treatment and counseling, and access to clean needles for addicts still using. People can remain anonymous and are encouraged to take the crucial first step-walking through Safe Point’s front door.
Anderson explains, “We want to ask you do you have health care? Do you have medical care? Do you have behavioral medical care? Are you interested in treatment? Have you been tested for hepatitis C and HIV?”
The Safe Point program is offered through AIDS Resource Center Ohio in partnership with Columbus health. It is a model to improve the health of this community while helping to halt the state’s heroin epidemic.
Heath officials regard addiction as a disease and Safe Point will assist all addicts.
Safe Point is open on Saturdays from 8:30am until 12:30pm at the ARC Ohio office in the Columbus’ Short North neighborhood. The address is 1033 N. High St. in Columbus. You can remain anonymous.