Pinnacle Peak Recovery Strives to Prevent Opioid Overdose in Arizona

Pinnacle Peak Recovery Detox Center, an alcohol and drug rehab facility in Scottsdale, AZ, has recently published a blog post that explains how harm reduction efforts in Arizona have helped with their opioid overdose crisis. With the rising popularity of fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, opioid overdose and death have become critical problems. Furthermore, various kinds of drugs are being laced with fentanyl, which has caused overdose death rates to rise rapidly. The Arizona Department of Health Services has noted that opioid overdose is causing more than five people to die daily. That is why they have intensified harm reduction efforts: to help keep people safe and alive until they finally decide to start their journey toward recovery.

Tyler Tisdale, founder and CEO of Pinnacle Peak says, “The harm reduction movement has its roots in social justice and draws from efforts started in the 1960s with the civil rights movement and the rise of free clinics across the country. It has grown and adapted to the changing drug crisis. Organizations use their interactions with people managing drug addiction to understand their needs and cater services to the community. Such organizations provide supplies for safer drug use, such as clean syringes, naloxone, overdose prevention tips, fentanyl test strips, test sites for HIV and Hepatitis C, hygiene kits, and peer support.”

The State of Arizona has vital non-profit organizations that help with harm reduction efforts, such as Shot in the Dark (SITD) and Sonora Prevention Works (SPW), which originated in 2010 as the Phoenix Harm Reduction Organization. Some of these harm reduction methods are syringe services programs (SSPs), drugs for overdose prevention, and peer support.

While SSPs are still not accepted and supported by some community members, these programs have exhibited significant success not only with people managing substance use but also for the general public. Cities with SSPs have been noted to have a higher rate of proper disposal of used syringes. According to the CDC, first responders and law enforcement officers are especially at risk of getting struck by a used syringe. With SSPs in place, this risk has been reduced by 66 percent.

Harm reduction organizations are distributing overdose reversal drugs like naloxone while also providing training on overdose recognition, prevention, and response. In Arizona, naloxone is legal, meaning anyone can buy it in pharmacies. Fentanyl test strips are also being used to detect if a certain drug has been laced with fentanyl.

And finally, peer support is playing a significant role in reaching people managing a substance use disorder and helping them reclaim their humanity and dignity. These efforts help counteract the tendency of society to marginalize people who have a substance use disorder by simply talking with them and becoming their allies. Instead of giving them pamphlets that preach against drug misuse, a binder of resources and guides is offered. These provide them with information on recovery and mental health facilities, including programs that can help them with health care, child care, employment, etc. This makes them curious about the possibility of getting help and recovering without the pressure.

Started in 2015, Pinnacle Peak Recovery provides an inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment center in Scottsdale, Arizona. They deliver evidence-based and nationally recognized treatment methods for drug or alcohol addiction. They are focused on providing a holistic and extensive approach to help people overcome their addiction and co-occurring mental health problems in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment. They always consider addiction and mental health as two interconnected problems, which is why they apply a dual diagnosis treatment strategy that takes into account both the patient’s substance use and mental health issues.

Those who are interested in learning more about the drug and alcohol rehab services available at Pinnacle Peak Recovery Detox Center can visit their website or call them at 866-377-4761. They can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.