CMPD, community hope to rid stigma of addiction, provide helpful resources

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department brought the community together Thursday night at Calvary Church in south Charlotte to tackle a tough subject, opioid addiction.

Bryan Lickso is a recovering addict and attended the “Bridging the Difference,” which is a program that gives people the opportunity to discuss various topics.

"When you're inclined to addiction, it grabs ahold of you and before you know it, you're going back to the doctor," Lickso said.

He was part of a panel of experts to discuss how he overcame opioid addiction, which began when he took painkillers after a minor car accident.

[US experts: Medicines for opioid addiction vastly underused]

“Let people know that the deep dark place I was in for so long, there is hope," he said.

That path to hope can be a difficult one, especially without the proper resources.

CMPD officers respond to at least 25 overdose calls each month and they are in every part of the city.

"This is about stripping away the stigma and shame and looking at the true issues impacting families,” CMPD Chief Kerr Putney said. “You’re talking about people losing their lives."

In many cases that can be due to patients not getting the treatment they need.

Melissa Baker said she knows that well.

Baker said a local treatment center turned her daughter away because she didn't test positive for heroin in her system at the time she came looking for help.

"I was begging,” Baker said. “I told her if I walk out of here with my daughter, she's going to go back on the streets and she could die."

In 2015, Mecklenburg County created a substance abuse task force and recently created a more focused effort on opioids.

Now, they hope these conversations will lessen the stigma and spark more long-term change.

Bryan Lickso// Recovering from Addiction

"It's not going to change overnight but events like this are going to get it to that point eventually," Lickso said.

Click here for more information on "Bridge the Difference."

Cox Media Group