Officials honor first responders

Lorain County commissioners recognized frontline workers with a proclamation Sept. 16 in support of First Responders Week of Appreciation.

The week of Sept. 20-26, will honor the work of first responders, which has been made more challenging recently, in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Commissioner Lori Kokoski said as the mother of a recovering addict, a first responder saved her son and stated the opioid epidemic continues to impacting Lorain County families.

“Unfortunately, the stress and isolation from COVID has increased the amount of drug use and alcohol use,” Kokoski said. “People are dying because of this disease.

“There are counterfeit pills on the street that look identical to prescription medication, but they’re laced with fentanyl. Someone with anxiety or depression can buy Xanax on the street, and never wake up.”

“Our first responders know this and they see the struggles of heroin, meth and other dangerous drugs that are on the street. They see the dark side of things, day-after-day, call-after-call, sometimes even the same person over and over again.

“They may never see that person who finally got help and turn their lives around.”

Elyria police Lt. Deena Baker thanked the commissioners for their commitment to fighting the epidemic.

“We appreciate the board’s partnership and undying commitment to our community in this fight against addiction,” Baker said. “It is clear in my mind that our collective response has saved lives.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Elyria Police Department saw calls for drug overdoses triple in May and June, presenting challenges to its quick response team outreach, she said.

The quick response team pairs law enforcement and mental health professionals to provide outreach and access to services to overdose survivors and their families.

The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board (MHARS) of Lorain County is partnering with agencies across the state of Ohio in the week of appreciation.

“This year, first responders are battling an opioid epidemic, within a global health pandemic,” said Elaine Georgas, interim director of the MHARS Board. “First responders are devoted to healthy outcomes on all fronts, and should be lauded for their continued selfless commitment to helping people who need opioid and addiction care.”

The National Institutes of Health called the opioid epidemic within the coronavirus pandemic a “collision of public health crises.”

Jinx Mastney, Opioid Response Outreach coordinator for the MHARS Board, convened partners throughout the community to write thank-you notes, deliver gifts, issue proclamations of support and promote the “Bringing Help. Bringing Hope. Thank You.” theme of the Week of Appreciation during September’s National Recovery Month.

The statewide team identifies children’s services workers, EMTs, emergency department staff, 9-1-1 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, behavioral health workers and “anyone else who may experience burnout or secondary trauma as a result of their work with individuals with addiction” during the Week of Appreciation.