Helping Families Recover from the Opioid Epidemic – Scott H. Silverman
“Sometimes the hardest words in the English language are ‘I need help,’” says crisis coach, family navigator and author Scott H. Silverman. I invited Scott to join me on a Zoom call to talk about his latest book, The Opioid Epidemic, What you don’t know will destroy your family and your life!
Scott H. Silverman, crisis coach, family navigator and author of “The Opioid Epidemic, What you don’t know will destroy your family and your life!”
He started our conversation by telling me that in the three years it took him to write this book, 250,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses. “And it’s not stopping,” he said. “In fact, the CDC reported 90,238 Americans died September 2019 – September 2020 – a 28% increase over the year before. Equally alarming, Scott continued, Fentanyl is now becoming the new opioid of ‘choice’ in southern CA, where I live – a phenomenon driven by cost. It’s $80 for 1 oxycontin pill vs. $8 for 1 dose of fentanyl.”
What’s different about your book?
[LF] There are several books covering the opioid epidemic. What’s different about yours?
[SHS] The first chapter – “Is there really a crisis?” sets the stage for what’s different. When you do the math, there are 240 opioid overdose deaths a day, which is the same as a plan crash a day. If a plane crashed everyday in your neighborhood would you be concerned? Of course you would.
So my approach is to explain how it got so bad so readers can start to understand what needs to be done to fix it. And I don’t just quote science, facts or figures, I “talk” to families – to those who suffer from opioid use disorder; those who’ve lost family members to an opioid use disorder and those who have a family member currently in the throws of an opioid use disorder. To do this, I use my own 36-years long-term recovery experiences combined with my ___________ years experience in various capacities as a family navigator, member of a prescription drug abuse tax force and methamphetamine abuse tax force, local media subject mater expert and founder of Confidential Recovery treatment center.
What keeps people from getting help?
[LF] There is a lot of confusion about why a person develops an opioid use disorder and what it takes to treat one. Can you give us a snapshot of what keeps people from getting the help they need?”
Pre-order Scott’s book, “The Opioid Epidemic.” See link below.
[SHS] I’d say it boils down to four things:
- Stigma. Disease of denial. Moral failing. These misguided labels we assign to people who struggle with opioid use disorder.
- Lack of effective screening during medical visits.
- Lack of public understanding of the science of severe opioid use disorder (what we commonly refer to as addiction), namely the risk factors for and characteristics of this particular brain disease (aka brain disorder). In other words, the reasons someone develops a severe opioid use disorder – the same why there are reasons (risk factors for and characteristics of) other chronic diseases, like diabetes, cancer and heart disease).
- Lack of understanding this needs to be treated the same way we’d treat the other chronic diseases just mentioned – namely as a MEDICAL condition – not any of the misguided labels I listed.
- Not understanding that opioid pain medication prescriptions should not exceed two weeks after initial injury and closely monitored going forward.
When and where is your book available?
Preorders are available through Amazon at this link.
How can readers reach you?
I can be reached by email at Scott@YourCrisisCoach.com or phone at 619-993-2738, and my website is www.YourCrisisCoach.com.
Lisa Frederiksen
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Lisa, we are so fortunate to have the knowledge these days from educators such as Scott Silverman. My brother died of an opioid overdose eleven years ago. I had no knowledge of any of the crisis that addicts were, and now are, dealing with. Empathy was a foreign word. It is only through knowledge that we now have available to us to understand and be able to at least interface with family members and friends who are a part of this crisis. Thank you for bringing people like Scott Silverman to the forefront.
Oh Shelley – I’m so very sorry to hear your brother died of this. And you’re right about knowing what it’s all about and how to help the whole family is key to empathy and helping a loved one, as well as oneself. Thank you for sharing.
How do I cope with my 30 year old daughter who I’ve lost to heroin? I haven’t seen her or talked to her in 2 years, she won’t ever talk to her sister, they use to be very close. I have a therapist I see when I can afford to snd I read lots of books about addiction and I’ve done the whole support group thing. I have anxiety daily and worry so much as this is my daughter. I am broken
Hi Kathy – Scott H. Silverman welcomes readers to call him directly with questions. His number is 619-993-2738.
Lisa, You and Scott are tops in my book in telling it like it is without blame or shame and helping people with these cunning brain hijacking disorders. Bless you both
Thank you so much, Diane! I really appreciate your compliment and taking the time to let us know. I hope you’re doing well!
I’m so glad to read about Scott Silverman and his new book. I will definitely check it out. The opioid crisis has destroyed so many family’s lives. The more we can learn about this crisis, the better. Scott’s list of the four things that prevent people from getting help such as stigma, lack of medical screening and understanding, and that opioid pain medication prescriptions should be closely monitored and not exceed two weeks is valuable and information that every family should be clearly aware of. Thanks for a great interview!
Thanks for sharing your comment, Cathy. As someone who works with parents of children with opioid use disorder, your input is especially helpful.