What’s so significant about the number 72,000?

72,000… This is a pretty large number. The number represents deaths caused by overdose in 2017. This number gives us a haunting forecast about the devastation that drugs cause in our communities.
The number of people that died in 2017 from drug overdoes is drastically larger than the amount of residents in some US cities. Healdsburg, California for example. This city only has roughly 11,000 residents. Sedona, Arizona only has about 10,000 residents.
Even though celebrities like Russel Brand and Demi Lovato have come out and expressed their battle with drug addiction, many people are still in the dark when it comes to how destructive the battle with drugs can be. Maybe it’s because no one really cares about drug overdoes until it happens to someone they love or are close to.
Our business development manager; Dezimon Alicea has never been addicted to any form of drugs, so he’s never gone through treatment. His work with Never Alone was strictly based on his love for the work and passion behind the cause. He recently share an experience he had with drug overdosing, which we would like to share with you.
He told us about a friend and neighbor that died from heroin overdose. His words were, “I was shocked, frightened and astonished”. Frightened because I had no idea this person was addicted to heroin. I had no idea that he was using. I was totally caught off guard”.
His sentiments are the same for many people in America. You never really know who is fighting addiction, or who is going through treatment. We can’t and we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to those that might be struggling. There is a very good chance that out of that 72,000 number. Some of those people functioned and maintained their outward appearances. Some of those people may have been either family or friends.
The sad truth is that many people who are facing addiction are unaware of the help available to them. Many people struggling with addiction feel as though they are left alone, with no one to talk to and no one to confide in. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever been at the point that the only reasonable thought in your mind was that no one cares, and no one is available to help.
What if we as a society were able to flip the narrative related to addiction? What is, instead of 72,000 deaths; we’re able to see 72,000 people in treatment and or in recovery? That’s a lofty goal, but every big dream manifested started off first as a thought. We, in our minds have the power to turn our thought into extreme reality.
Let’s get to working on decreasing that high number. Together, we can set the course of our family and friends that may be suffering because of addiction. One conversation, one phone call or one intervention can make a difference.
If you need help with getting a loved one on the road to recovery, give us a call at Never Alone. We’re alway here to help. Visit our website at here… . Or you can visit us on our facebook page.
