In recent years, communities throughout the nation have felt the opioid crisis, and Rutherford County is no exception.
“Each month we see about 50 to 60 new cases, and about 50 percent of those are drug-endangered children,” said Brittnie Noble, the community education coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. “A few years back, it was only a small percentage, maybe 20 percent.”
The CAC, a nonprofit that provides services to children and families that have suffered from child abuse, recently wrapped up its eighth annual 19 Days of Activism for the Prevention of Abuse and Violence Toward Children and Youth, a yearly observance for drug-endangered and child abuse victims in which local agencies partner with the CAC to raise awareness of these issues.
This year’s theme was the impact that parents’ opioid use has on their children, and the 19-day duration ran from Nov. 1 to Nov. 19.
“We know the state statistics that there is a increase in drug overdoses, specifically related to opioid abuse,” Noble said.
The state Health Department announced this year that 1,776 people in Tennessee died from overdoses in 2017, an eight percent increase from 2016 and a 12 percent increase from 2015.
While the CAC generally partners with 19 agencies during the days of activism, this year, the nonprofit partnered with 21. All participating agencies helped to raise awareness of local opioid abuse throughout the 19 days.
“It does a lot for our community to say, ‘Hey, this is happening, not just on the national level but right here in our own backyard,’” Noble said.
One of the agencies partnering with the CAC this year was the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Tony Hall, an officer who works in the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, said that the issue is as prevalent as ever in the area.
Hall said that as of Nov. 1, 2018, the office has responded to 57 overdoses in the county this year. Thirteen of these overdoses resulted in death.
“Opioid abuse impacts families in a multitude of ways and has long-lasting effects,” Hall said. “The worst-case scenario is the loss of a loved one due to overdose.”
He went on to say that the issue in Rutherford County has worsened in recent years.
“Until the past two to three years, it was exceedingly rare for our unit to work a case involving heroin,” Hall said. “Now, we often work several heroin cases per week in addition to responding to every opioid overdose.”
Hall said that the psychological impact for children is an important factor to consider as well.
“Psychologically, these children are witnessing the effects of addiction, firsthand,” Hall said. “Parents, siblings or other family members are driven solely by their addiction and need to avoid the onset of withdrawal. This can lead to neglect and often causes conflict within families, as the addicts oftentimes steal to support their addiction.”
Hall said that, while the department has seen a large increase in these incidents in recent years, one overdose in particular stuck with him.
Hall responded to a home in which a young man had overdosed during the night and was found dead the next morning by his parents. While speaking with the victim’s parents, Hall and the responding officers were told that the victim overdosed the previous afternoon, was rushed to the hospital and was saved by doctors. In just a few hours, the young man was released back to his home and overdosed again, this time with no rescue in sight.
“At this point, I had responded to or entered dozens of overdoses into the system,” Hall said. “Yet, this was when it really occurred to me how strong the addiction and dependence truly is for these individuals. When you nearly die from a substance, but then are so controlled by the desire for it that you risk death again, that makes quite the statement.”
Hall encourages anyone who observes drug abuse or activity to email the Narcotics Unit at drugtips@rcsotn.org or call the office directly at (615) 895-3609, ext. 101.
For an individual or a loved one who is struggling with addiction, there are multiple drug rehab facilities available in Murfreesboro such as Murfreesboro Drug & Alcohol Treatment on South Church Street and JourneyPure At The River on Florence Road. For nationwide treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline is a treatment referral and information service that is available 24/7 and completely free to use. Call 800-662-HELP.
Individuals can also report drug-related or non-drug-related child abuse to the CAC at cacrutherford.org, and one can inquire about any of their services such as crisis intervention, support groups, the Drug Endangered Children program and others by calling 615-867-9000. All CAC services are free of charge.
