American Addiction Recovery Association hosts Addiction Epidemic Conversation in Tifton
TIFTON, Ga. – The growing addiction epidemic is a crisis that is impacting every corner of communities nationwide. In response, the city of Tifton is taking steps to address the issue head on.
The American Addiction Recovery Association (AARA) hosted an addiction epidemic conversation in Tifton, bringing together Congressman Austin Scott, AARA President Scott Cochran, and a panel of experts. The event fostered an open dialogue with the community about addiction and recovery efforts.
“Those of you who have struggled with addiction and who are coming out and openly talking about it, so we get other people to openly talk about. I want you to know how much I respect you. You’re saving lives,” said Austin Scott, Georgia’s 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative.
The severity of the addiction crisis is staggering. Overdose and fentanyl poisoning have now become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. Federal data also reveals that 46 million people in the U.S. Are currently battling addiction, while 29 million are in recovery.
“The person found in addiction is not evil, they’re good, they’ve just got an issue that they need help dealing with. I don’t feel that same way about the trafficker. I don’t feel that way about the people that are dealing the drugs. And, I think from the standpoint of where I sit, someone who is a lawmaker; is that we can’t tolerate this stuff coming into our country in the volumes that it is. Killing the number of people, that it is and just pretend that we can’t do anything about it. We have the ability to do something about it,” said Scott.
Community leaders in Tifton with personal experience in addiction and recovery were also present at the event. They shared valuable resources and support available to those facing similar challenges.
“It started with opioids, and once I found fentanyl, that’s what I was looking for. And, that’s not easy to hear. Especially from not from some successful football coach that has won a bunch of championships. But, the reality is that was my addiction, it was fentanyl. You can ask my family, I have three kids in my wife. They get to see how beautiful recovery is every single day. Because this thing takes hostages. I had no idea that it would affect my wife and my kids the way that it did. This epidemic is killing folks. And so just one inch of that needle moving so people start coming together to talk about what recovery is,” said Scott Cochran, AARA President.
The panel stressed the importance of reassuring those struggling with addiction they are not alone and that support is available.
“We need to do better by helping people understand what it is we can do right here in the community and the impact that we can have on individuals lives. We are the community and we do life with individuals, we walk alongside individuals. I don’t have a single friend alive today that is an active user that has not experienced an overdose. So, to have a community of people where there isn’t stigma, there is no shame, and walk through the entire process of coming in on that first day just wanting Narcan, and a little bit of controversy conversation moving in to have those individuals get insurance so they can go get treatment and then alongside them when they come back on the other side of treatment. Walking through life and job placement, skills, and training in classes, and coming to meetings they can be a part of. The hope and life that is on the other side of this thing,” said Evan Brown, OASIS Recovery, Executive Director.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
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