Aiken city leaders hoping to prevent opioid addictions in the area
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)- Aiken city leaders are creating an affordable health treatment for people misusing opioids.
According to data collected by telehealth professionals, more than 5000 people in Aiken County have opioid addictions. City leaders are hoping to create a telehealth treatment program to help people who misuse prescription medications.
“I’m going to try to give you a little bit of chronology and a little bit of understanding of how this crisis has come about and where it’s headed if we don’t do something different,” said Ned Brown.
Aiken has received grant money from an opioid recovery fund. Council members are looking to approve additional funds to help build the treatment program.
“This is funds that come from the settlement but are not part of the 400,000 these are some additional money that could potentially be applied for,” said Stuart Bedenbaugh, City Manager.
They also say homelessness in the area plays a factor in the number of opioid addictions. The goal is to prevent drug overdoses.
“A lot of these people show real food insecurities I know the salvation army and the soup kitchen carry a heavy load here and it is obvious that these problems are interweave with the addiction problem.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
