With a location in Green Bay, Wisconsin, CleanSlate has a vested interest in its community. As a rehabilitation facility with years of experience in the field, they offer a variety of educational pieces to help the community better understand the world of substance use. In a recent post, they talked in depth about how synthetic opioids are impacting Wisconsin and Brown County specifically. With pieces like these, they hope to lower the stigma surrounding substance use and help community members make informed decisions about their health.
The article starts by acknowledging how often numbers can seem distant when heard often. Many people feel situations like overdoses won’t happen to them or aren’t inherently a problem until they experience it firsthand. The team at CleanSlate does not wish for it to get to this point for people to grasp what is happening in the community around them, but they’ve heard many stories where that’s exactly what happens.
“Here in Brown County, Wisconsin, the number of opioid-related deaths has increased over the last couple of years, tripling from 2014 to now.” The rehab center reminds readers. “Our team at CleanSlate has seen how drastically opioids can impact a community… Spreading awareness and offering educational pieces about opioids is one of the ways we do our part.”
CleanSlate next delves into explanations about what exactly synthetic opioids are. “Synthetic opioids refer specifically to the types of opioids that are made in a lab versus the ones that are derived from natural plant matter. Natural opioids are known as opiates and include opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin. The term ‘synthetic’ opioid is considered to be redundant because opioids are mostly synthesized while opiates aren’t. Many people, however, use the term ‘opioids’ to describe the category of narcotics as a whole.”
Many readers might have heard of “synthetic opioids” before without realizing it. CleanSlate lists off a few of the most common medications in their piece, such as Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methadone, and Fentanyl. While many of these are taken safely within medical settings or with a prescription by a doctor, when taken against medical advice or obtained illicitly, the risks that come with opioids rise drastically.
“Synthetic opioids have been impacting the nation as a whole, and Wisconsin is no exception to this impact.” CleanSlate stresses to readers. “From 2014 to 2023 the number of opioid deaths per month has doubled from 50 to 100 on average. Of all of the opioid overdoses, over 90% of them were due to synthetic opioids… In Brown County, specifically, from 2020 to 2021, opioid overdoses increased from 107 to 197.”
CleanSlate offers further insight into what groups are specifically affected by opioids and goes into further detail about what form of opioids presents the greatest risk. To elaborate on this point further, they turn to talking about withdrawals and how they can happen. “... even if you were to experience withdrawals when stopping opioids, that doesn’t mean you have an opioid use disorder. Many people who take prescription opioids can experience withdrawals, and this can occur with many other medication types as well.”
Finally, they take the time to explain how opioid overdoses occur, and what the average reader can do in response to the opioid overdose. They encourage readers to seek help from medical professionals if needed, and offer resources to turn to should they need them. Learn more by reading the article.
For those seeking outpatient treatment options, CleanSlate is here for them. With locations in Green Bay, Wisconsin, they offer flexible and dedicated services to help on the road of recovery. No matter when someone decides to get started, CleanSlate will work with clients to set up a comprehensive plan dedicated to their specific needs. There’s no wrong time to reach out. Check out their website to get started today.
###
For more information about Clean Slate Centers - Green Bay, contact the company here:
Clean Slate Centers - Green Bay
Amy Doane
270-467-7180
adoane@cleanslatecenters.com
2960 Allied Street Suite 101 Green Bay, WI 54304
