Local officials join forces to fight opioid abuse
-
2:05
Portage and Warren Township fire territories to merge
-
3:40
Estimated economic impact of restarting Palisades
-
2:26
South Bend woman traveling over 1000 miles for solar eclipse
-
1:02
Rain around the Easter holiday weekend
-
5:47
Child attacked by off duty Pulaski County K-9
-
2:35
Niles schools threatened for fourth time in two weeks
-
5:53
Michigan Lt. Governor Gilchrist talks nuclear power with ABC57
-
2:29
Model Elementary School students raise record amount for American...
-
5:08
Hello Gorgeous is holding an event to celebrate women with cancer
-
1:56
Week wraps up mostly dry, but rainy Easter weekend in store
-
3:09
City of South Bend shares plans of ’Madison Lifestyle District’...
-
2:09
Michigan State Trooper opens fire on suspect in Benton Harbor
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.-- Local health and law enforcement officials are committing to work together to fight opioid abuse in St. Joseph County.
Community leaders, law enforcement officials, first responders, and local medical representatives held a joint press conference on Wednesday to address opioid addiction and abuse.
“Patients aren’t safe and physicians aren’t safe after what we saw last week, and that needs to change,” says Dr. Mark Thompson with General Vascular Surgery.
Last week, Dr. Todd Graham was gunned down outside his medical office. Officials say he was murdered by the husband of a patient who was denied pain medication.
“It opened a lot of people’s eyes that we need to talk more,” says St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter.
From the physicians prescribing the pills to the first responders rescuing addicts, many local departments and organizations have been working independently on the opioid crisis. By opening up the dialogue and sharing insights and concerns, they hope to work towards a solution.
“What is the best and most appropriate way of dealing with this problem, coming together I think we get that synergy. Without it I think we’re working cross purposes,” says Cotter.