St. Joseph Woman Shares Story Of Opioid Addiction
Jaime Smith at her home in St. Joseph. Prairie Center
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of drug overdose deaths involving opioids, such as heroin and prescription pain killers, has quadrupled since 1999.
Illinois is not immune to this trend. The number of overdose deaths from opioids in the state rose nearly 25 percent from 2013 to 2015 alone, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But behind the numbers are the stories of people who have been affected by opioid addiction. We’ll meet one of them today, Jaime Smith from St. Joseph.
Next week, we'll learn how Jaime Smith began her journey toward recovery, which she chronicles on her Facebook page, and why many people addicted to opioids in Illinois aren't as fortunate.
You can hear more of Jaime's story below, and read about it from Prairie Center.
If you or someone you know needs help - the national helpline for substance abuse and mental health is 1-800-662-HELP.
Links
- Lawmakers Explore Medical Marijuana As Opioid Alternative
- Opioids Pose Threat To K-9 Officers; ‘We Have No Idea’; Author Steve Hamilton
- Preventing Deaths From Opioid Overdose; Cubs vs. Cards Rivalry Exhibit
- Medical Care In Illinois Prisons; Treating Opioid Addiction
- When Cracking Down On Opioids Means Tougher Access For Sickle Cell Patients
- Marijuana, Heroin, Cocaine: Drug Test Results Vary Throughout Illinois
- Heroin In Central Illinois; DeWitt County Human Resource Center; New Pediatric Sleep Guidelines
- Illinois Issues: Saving Lives In The Fight Against Heroin
- Champaign County Officers To Carry And Administer Heroin Treatment
- Illinois House Passes Measure To Battle Heroin Abuse
- Two Dead In String of Champaign Heroin Overdoses