It's time to sweat the small stuff

To the editor:

A very popular book over 20 years ago stated that people should not worry about or waste their efforts (sweat) on small matters and to focus on the big picture.

Let me tell you now the small stuff is the big picture.

I think a lot of us thought that because we lived in Jay County we would not have the drug problems associated with the big city. Well, look out small-town America, the drug problem is now a big deal in our small town.

Drug overdoses are on the rise, drug deaths are on the rise and accidental drug deaths by non-users are becoming a bigger problem.

In recent months you may have read that an Ohio police officer was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at the police station. Earlier in the day, the police officer did a routine traffic stop and discovered a white powdery substance on the seat. The officer wore gloves while doing the search. Later in the day, someone mention that he has something on his uniform. He did not think much about it and just wiped it off with his hand. Within moments, he became ill and was rushed to the hospital, where they discovered that it was fentanyl that was on his uniform. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin.

In Florida, a young boy died from a fentanyl overdose. The fifth grader died after a visit to the pool. He began vomiting at home, was found unconscious that evening and pronounced dead at a hospital. Preliminary toxicology tests showed he had fentanyl in his system. Authorities don’t believe he got it at home. They say it could have been as simple as touching it. It could have been on a towel at the pool.

What is scary is that fentanyl is not the worst of it. Now, there is the “Grey Death,” or carfentanil. This stuff is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. Just a speck of carfentanil can kill you. What is even scarier is that this stuff has been found in Jay County.

Jay County, start sweating the small stuff. It is a killer.

Take control of your life, get the help you need by calling Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition (housed at Portland Police Department) at (260) 726-7161.

Cindy Denney

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition