Local forces combining to bring new weapon to fight addiction

Help is on the way for Cullman County’s struggle against opioid addiction.

Through WellStone Behavioral Health, formerly Mental Healthcare of Cullman, a pharmaceutical company will be sending a representative to Cullman this month to discuss donating an undetermined amount of Vivitrol to be used at the Cullman County Detention Center and Cullman Regional. The drug is widely used in Florida to treat opioid-addicted individuals who have been through a period of detoxification.

One dose of Vivitrol has been effective in eliminating the urge to use opioids, such as heroin, for up to 30 days. The medicine is also used in treating alcohol abuse, but only after the patient has been free of drugs or alcohol for a prescribed amount of time, said Cullman County District Judge Kim Chaney.

Chaney was among a delegation of officials from the judicial, medical and law enforcement field who approached a recently formed committee that is addressing mental healthcare needs in the area for help with opioid crisis.

“We’re in the middle of an opioid epidemic. We’re seeing it in the courts, law enforcement and the medical field,” Chaney said. “Vivitrol is used throughout Florida and people there swear by it in fight the problems with heroin. And heroin use is on the rise here.”

Chaney said his understanding of Vivitrol is that it provides an addict a respite, making treatment and counseling more effective during the time that the urge to use drugs is stagnant.

“What we’re seeing from the use of Vivitrol is that it provides that person a time of clarity, to reclaim their lives,” Chaney said. “At this point, I’m losing five to 10 people a year that we’re working with because of overdose.”

Neal Morrison, who has leading the mental health committee, said a meeting is planned Aug. 10 at the Cullman County Courthouse to look at how the medicine can best be used in the community.

“WellStone is a tremendous partner in our community and has reached out. It’s our understanding that a certain amount of Vivitrol dosages will be provided to use at jail and hospital,” Morrison said. “We’re very fortunate to have this opportunity. Our hope is to stop people from overdosing and killing themselves, and give us a chance to help them see life differently and move forward.”

Vivitrol is specifically for opioid addiction treatment and can be used once monthly. The maker of the medicine reports that Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors in the brain for one month at a time, helping patients to prevent relapse to opioid dependence, following detox, while they focus on counseling. Patients must detox before receiving the medicine.