Sullivan County Stories

Melissa 

My life has been impacted by the opioid crisis in multiple ways. First, as a sibling to an opioid addict. My brother became addicted to prescription opioids after sustaining a sports injury in high school. Now, some 20 plus years later, he is finally in rehab and waging the battle against his addiction. The road to this day has seen my family torn apart, an overdose that almost cost my brother his life and period of jail time. He was also on the verge of losing his children. Our family rallied, and his life was saved. We are all taking responsibility for supporting him and his children through this lifelong recovery process. Secondly, as a paramedic, first responder and registered nurse, I have spent the past 30 plus years providing emergency response and care to my community. I have seen firsthand the toll this crisis has taken on individuals, their families and friends, especially when I have to tell a family their loved one has died from an overdose. And, more recently, the danger and sometimes tragic outcomes of first responders being accidently exposed and overcome by powerful opioid analogs causing instant overdose situations. I have worked over the past several months to provide NARCAN along with training to first responders in my region.