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Center opens to help combat opioid addiction in Gilbert

Posted at 4:55 AM, Jul 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-11 14:30:40-04

The phrases printed on the walls at Clean Slate in Gilbertare encouraging and motivating. They're reinforcing words that patients here will need to see and believe.

This is their first East Valley location. They picked the spot on Baseline and Lindsay roads based on reports from insurance companies -- the area had one of the highest rates for diagnosis and hospital admissions because of opioid addiction. 

RELATED: 191 opioid overdoses in Arizona in one week, 15 dead

"There's the person that's going to work every day and stopping on their way home to make sure they have enough to get through the night," said Tanya Ochs who does outreach for the organization.

Once fully operating, the Gilbert location will serve about 1,000 people, helping them get off the drugs with medication assisted treatment. They'll also start more outreach, even teaching people about the drug Naloxone, now available at any Arizona pharmacy. It can immediately start to reverse an overdose. 

Since June 15th, 204 Naloxone kits have been sold at Arizona pharmacies. 

"Everyone knows someone who is suffering," said Ochs. "Everyone can use to have this training and have that medication on hand. You never know." 

RELATED: Gov Ducey calls rising opioid deaths a health crisis