A confluence of public education, an increase in funding and the availability of treatment have helped the opioid overdose rate fall sharply in Butler County through the first half of 2018.

Still, health care and addiction recovery officials aren’t finding much cause for celebration in that decline.

According to Ruthane Durso, supervisor of behavioral health services for drug and alcohol for the Butler Health System, there are a number of factors that play into the decline. She said numerous agencies, including human services, law enforcement and schools, have come together to form a countywide coalition to address the opioid epidemic.

Through that coalition, education has increased, with officials working to help the community understand addiction as a disease and why treatment and intervention are needed. Durso said community forums and other avenues are used to get the message out and fight the stigma of addiction.

This also includes education on how to identify someone who may be battling addiction or may be actively overdosing, as well as what a person can do in that situation.

“We want them to have an opportunity to reverse course and get help,” she said. “It allows some of that stigma to come down ... and we can say there is help, there is hope, let’s not just write it off.”

Additionally, education is targeted at those who use or are around users. Durso said in the past, fear of punishment would lead to overdoses going unreported.

“Ten years ago, if you were with someone and they (overdosed), you ran and you let them die,” she said.

Also playing a part is the use of the opioid-reversal drug naloxone. Durso said while naloxone has helped greatly, its use is actually declining now, which seems to indicate people are being smarter and safer when they choose to use.

Those who find themselves in the emergency room or hospital because of an overdose are also receiving additional attention, as national funding for treatment and support has increased. This is due to the epidemic being declared a state of emergency.

“We’re talking to them at first contact, and then as many times as it takes,” to get them help, Durso said.

That funding also allows for patients to be admitted more quickly and remain in treatment for longer periods. It has also increased the number of available beds, Durso said. She said the hospital has seen an increase in referrals for outpatient treatment and continued support, with more patients seeking help.

“They’re reaching out for help because they are afraid they’re going to die,” she said, adding many seek treatment after seeing someone close to them lose the battle to addiction. “They say, ‘I’m going to be next if I don’t get off the streets.’”

That hard reality doesn’t end with those seeking treatment, as family and friends of those who die due to overdose are also severely impacted. Linda Franiewski, executive director of the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center, said while the decrease in overdoses is welcome news, it likely doesn’t mean much to those impacted by addiction.

“If it’s 94 or 16 (overdose deaths), if it’s your family member, it doesn’t matter how many others there are,” she said. “There’s a lot of collateral damage. Your whole life is kind of decimated.”

She said while naloxone reversals and intervention treatments have certainly been helpful in lowering the number of deaths, the data still isn’t pleasing to see.

“It’s still a ridiculously high amount,” she said.

Franiewski said the center is still treating a large number of individuals, which can be a good sign. She echoed Durso in saying naloxone has given people a second chance to get clean, as has the increased availability of medication assisted treatment. She added community education has also been effective in erasing the stigma of addiction.

However, she cautioned that some people cannot be convinced that addiction can impact anyone.

“People that are able to be educated are becoming educated,” she said. “If you already decided, you have a strong opinion ... you’re probably not going to be able to make a lot of progress.”

Because of that, Franiewski said there is an increased focus on those who are unfamiliar with the epidemic, as well as those who have been touched by it in hopes of making an impact.

“We’re still seeing people dying, and not really looking at it as a numbers game,” she said. “But something we’re doing is making a difference. ... I think we have a long way to go.”

Durso agreed.

“I don’t see anybody letting off the gas,” she said. “While we’re pleased with the numbers coming down, there’s still work to be done.”