The Upper Cumberland Region has seen a steady decline in Fentanyl cases over the past several months.
UC Recovery Program Director Melissa Hoisington said Putnam County alone has seen a 17 percent decline in fentanyl cases over the last quarter. Other counties in the Upper Cumberland showing similar results. Hoisington said seeing a steady decline is a great result for our region.
“I think it’s a vital part of keeping our Upper Cumberland in a healthy way,” Hoisington said. “Working with our communities to, you know, decrease the number of community members going to jail. Keeping community members out of the ERs (Emergency Rooms) because of substance use.”
Hoisington said UC Recovery assists individuals throughout the recovery process. Local law enforcement first reported a decline in fentanyl cases over the last several month. Hoisington said she believes UC Recovery has played a major role in the decline in fentanyl cases across the region.
“It reduces that need of having to rely on community resources, and, you know, if we could just deter somebody from going to jail or spending, you know, six days in the emergency room, we are opening up resources for those who may need it versus those who just don’t have any other support,” Hoisington said.
Hoisington said UC Recovery receives fentanyl case data from various programs and organizations. Hosington also said some individuals are straightforward about using fentanyl.
“Most of the time, they will tell you,” Hoisington said. “And that’s simply because certain medications and other medications can interfere if Fentanyl is present.”
Hoisington said Fentanyl is a drug that is commonly found in other drugs, such as marijuana. What makes Fentanyl lethal is its extreme potency.
“The very smallest dose of something that includes Fentanyl can be deadly in no time,” Hoisington said. “And without the use and the ability to use Narcan, it almost always ends up becoming a deadly use, even though it was not intentional.”
