Charlotte, North Carolina -The purple flag representing nearly 300 MeClenburg County residents, who died of overdose in opioid in 2023, was fluttered in the humid mountains of the city in August.
The last five years ago, the event would have overwhelmed the white crowd.
But the last day of the moon at the Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center was eager to learn more about the crisis in the current center.
In recent years, OPID’s overdose mortality rate (originally called “Hillbilly Heroin” due to almost exclusive misuse of white people) Growed greatly Among the blacks. This is Mostly finish For the introduction of pentanil, synthetic opioids are 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine, which is often mixed with Heroin and cocaine supply and can be consciously consumed. In North Carolina, blacks died in 2021 at an overdose at 38.5 per 100,000 residents. North Carolina Health and Welfare Data.
Terica Carter, the founder of Hajee House Harm Reduction, based on Charlotte, who jointly organizes the event with the County’s public health office, is trying to change statistics. Seven years ago, she founded the overdose of an 18 -year -old son Tahajee. Her non -profit organizations later focused on solving important issues in the fight against opioid epidemics. The resources, treatment and policy prescriptions did not follow the surge in addiction and overdose among blacks.
Carter said, “No one admitted it and I felt so lonely.” “He did not want others to go through what I had experienced.”
HAJEE HAUSE fills the gap between resources and information on overdose of opioids, materials and treatment. It also provides a syringe, a safety toolkit, an overdose reverse hand, a pentanyl test strip and a recovery care service in a familiar neighboring environment.
Despite the efforts of groups such as Hajee House, there are many tasks in North Carolina. For example, in 2019, white people accounted for 88%of the people provided by the Opiide Use and Treatment Service, which supported funds from federal drug abuse and mental health service management. North Carolina Health News Reported. Blacks, on the other hand, accounted for about 24%of the North Carolina population, but only 7.5%of the main supported people.
Nationwide, black people are likely to be mentioned or treated with white people. Disease Control and Prevention Center.
Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Health, Nora Volkow, said, You can make a difference regardless of whether you are alive or not. “
According to the CDC, only one of the 12 non -Hispanic blacks who died of overdose of opioids were involved in the treatment of drugs, and non -Hispanic whites were treated at almost twice the speed. Even those who are treated are less likely to complete the program and have poor results. have It is connected Tacit prejudice, diversity and lack of empathy for black patients among treated providers.
Daliah HELLER, vice president of drug use of vital strategies, a global health non -profit organization, said that there is a problem because it is considered a gold standard for treatment due to lack of equal access to the entire range of drugs for opioid disorders.
These drugs are likely to reduce the risk of overdose in half and doubles the likelihood that the patient will enter long -term recovery. The FDA has approved three drugs. Bu Frennorpin and Methodon are Naltrexon, a monthly injection, which blocks the effects of synthetic opioids and opioids that reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms.
Black people are overwhelming Processed with metadon. Methodon patients are treated at a higher rate compared to the prescribed bouge frennorpin, but they face a significant disadvantage, including the difficulty of finding a clinic, waiting list, and visiting the clinic every day to receive drugs under the supervision of practitioners.
Meanwhile, Bu Frenorpin can be prescribed in the office environment and can be filled in pharmacies. no way Michigan University Research White patients have found that they have received three to four times more frequent fresnorpins than black patients due to geographical availability and payment.
Heller said, “When BuPrenorphine came online in the early 2000s, we thought it could integrate the treatment with health care and no longer needed to go to a special program.”
Edwin Chapman, who runs an addiction clinic at Washington DC, said he must overcome many prescription challenges to effectively treat his black patient population.
Chapman said, “Many insurance companies have raised more restrictions on patients in the urban environment, calling for prior approval for addiction treatment.” “The administration is based on people who are addicted to white population and drugs, and surviving black population often requires more bouquet frennorpins.”
Heller said the lack of access to treatment is also led by a wide range of and systematic problems. She is concerned that many blacks can be caught in the criminal justice system and ultimately lose their employment, housing or custody’s employment, ultimately.
Heller said, “The use of drugs is at the same level of race and ethnic groups, but black Americans are more likely to be arrested and imprisoned for drug charges.
Carter said that all of this is a non -profit organization like Hajee House and needs a low -end approach to services for the service of the black community.
She recognizes the success of Hajee House as a personal relationship and recognizes the sharp understanding of the needs and cultural preferences of the black community. For example, when you have an overdose recognition event, you have a cook -out, elastic house and DJ to make it look like a block party.
Carter said, “We are creating an event and focusing on a comfortable and familiar environment for the black community.“ We are black, so we maintain black. ”
