By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
The City of St. Joseph has seen a steady rise in overdoses in the last few months.
Buchanan County Director of EMS, Steve Groshong says he believes some of the street drugs in the community have been cut with Fentanyl.
"We've had a couple overdoses that we found that were heroin overdoses with patients not breathing and the needle's still stuck in their arm," Groshong tells St. Joseph Post.
Groshong says oftentimes something tragic has already happened once EMS is called.
To help with this crisis, there are proper ways to dispose of prescriptions you are no longer taking.
Commander of the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office Drug Strike Force, Captian Shawn Collie says you can get ahold of the Drug Strike Force to dispose of prescriptions or you can take them to the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office.
"We have a 'Prescription Take Back' box within the lobby that's secured that people can come in 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and put prescriptions in," says Collie.
Also, if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are treatment facilities across St. Joseph that are ready to help.
Co-CEO of Family Guidance Center Kristina Hannon says services are available to anyone through the Family Guidance Center.
"You do not have to have insurance. You do not have to have Medicaid or Medicare to come receive substance use treatment services," says Hannon. "Our services are often available at no cost."
Hannon says all you have to do is walk in, you don't even need an appointment.