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First responders talk scope of opioid epidemic T H E C H R ON I C LE
J U LY 6 , 2 0 1 7
BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE
The scope of the opioid epidemic and what can be done about it, including needle exchanges and a suggestion for a cross-agency opioid task force, were discussed at a forum at Green Street United Methodist Church last week. Southern states have been hard hit in the opioid crisis, said Twin City Harm Reduction Collective’s Colin Miller, who runs a needle and syringe exchange at the church. According to a 2016 study, North Carolina has four out of the top 25 cities in the country for opioid abuse, including Wilmington, which was Number One. Miller’s program at the church collects used needles and syringes in exchange for clean ones and gives out Narcan, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses. He also informs addicts about the health risks they face and gives them information on how to get into rehabilitation. He said the exchange, which began in December, has distributed 15,745 clean syringes, collected 7,988 dirty syringes, and given out 317 Narcan kits that resulted in 55 overdose reversals. He said 22 users have gone into treatment after visiting the exchange. “It’s a whole lot of people, and we are just scratching the surface,” said Miller. Some neighbors have had concerns about possible effects the exchange might have on the neighborhood.
Miller said that studies have found that exchanges actually decrease drug use, crime and improperly discarded syringes. He said addicts tend to respect exchanges so they don’t cause trouble near them. He said most people who use the church’s exchange are “stable” users with jobs and cars. He does distribute needles outside the church, to homeless communities and drug houses as well. He said exchanges don’t encourage the behavior, but can save the lives of those trapped in addiction. Addicts don’t think rationally, something he knows first hand, since he was one for years. He said he’d use and reuse dirty needles and use water from toilets for injections if he had to. An addict might use one needle for months, using sandpaper or grinding it against concrete to sharpen it once it gets dull. He credited exchanges for saving him from disease and encouraging him to seek help. Members of the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), Forsyth County Emergency Medical Services and Winston-Salem Fire Department (WSFD) were present and said the problem of opioid overdoes has grown exponentially. Fire Capt. Chris Belcher said he used to give Narcan once a year, but now fire crews use it on an average of 15-20 times a month. WSPD Lt. William Penn Jr. emphasized that multiple agencies need to work together with a focus on rehabilitating addicts and stopping dealers. “Winston-Salem Police Department’s focus is taking
care of the supply side of it,” he said. “We are not targeting users.” EMS Quality Assurance Coordinator Tara Tucker said it’s going to take cross-agency cooperation and innovative solutions to tackle the problem. “You’re not going to arrest your way out of this problem,” said Tucker. Brent Motsinger said community paramedics like him try to take a more in-depth approach with patients than traditional EMS paramedics. He said he explains what just happened to people who overdose and how they can get help. He said he’s facilitated treatment options to a variety of people, including a 70 year-old woman and a mother about to give birth. “We see it in the nice part of town and in the not-sonice part of town,” said Motsinger. “It does not discriminate.” Motsinger said a change in suppliers, who might mix heroine with the potent opioid fentanyl, can prove deadly. He said recently they responded to 23 overdoses in one day. Forsyth County Health Department Director Marlon Hunter suggested that there should be a task force with representatives of the WSPD, WSFD, EMS, Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, Harm Reduction Collective and mental health services that meets on a weekly basis to work collaboratively on the crisis.
Winston-Salem mother takes sanctuary from deportation in Greensboro church BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE
A local mother facing deportation became the second woman in the state to seek sanctuary in a church last week. Minerva Cisneros Garcia, who goes by the last name Cisneros, accepted an offer of sanctuary from Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro and moved into the church with her two youngest sons, Mateo, 3, and Antonio, 7, who are American citizens by birth. This is just a month after Juana Luz Tobar Ortega, a grandmother who lived in Asheboro, sought refuge at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, which is also in Greensboro. Neither woman has a criminal record. The move is a huge disruption for the family. Arrangements are being made for Antonio to attend school if the family is still there in the fall. It also separates Cisneros from her oldest son, 21-year-old Eduardo, who is blind and lived with her in Winston-Salem. He is staying with family and friends in Winston-Salem so he can continue working at IFB Solutions. He is protected from deportation by the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Though he plans to regularly visit her, Eduardo said during a press conference last Thursday, he will miss his mother. Congregational Pastor Julie Peeples said that the church had considered offering sanctuary to undocumented immigrants more than a year ago, but those talks renewed in January as the Trump administration widened deportation priorities to those without criminal records and fear became heightened in immigrant communities. She said that Cisneros was hesitant at first but, as it grew close to the June 30 deadline she’d been given to leave the country, she decided sanctuary was the best thing for her family. Peeples said the church will let them stay as long as needed. “It will end when Minerva can once again have her boys altogether in her home,” said Peeples. Legally U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can raid any building with a warrant but there is currently a policy against raiding houses of worship, schools and health centers unless it’s absolutely necessary. Currently there
are about 20 cases nationally of churches providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. Faith leaders in Winston-Salem have discussed giving sanctuary to families, but aren’t ready to do so yet. It takes a lot to turn a church into a living space. Congregational UCC, which has about 200 active members, turned two classrooms on its lower floor into a living space for the family with a bedroom with three beds and a living area with a dining room table, sofa, TV and kitchen. The church even installed a shower in a restroom for them. The kids can also play on the church playground. There’s a volunteer with them at all hours to get them what they need, since Cisneros can’t leave the church, and to answer the door in case anyone comes to the church. Cisneros came to Winston-Salem from Mexico in 2000, looking for services and opportunities for Eduardo that weren’t in their native Mexico. ICE has been granting her a routine stay from removal until recently. Cisneros’ story has gotten support from many, including numerous local faith
leaders and elected officials. A petition to grant her a stay has garnered more than 13,000 signatures on Change.org. Supporters lobbied ICE and Sens. Richard and Thom Tillis to grant her a stay. That’s an effort that will continue, said Rev. Craig Schaub of Parkway UCC in Winston-Salem. “Sanctuary is just one dimension of that support,” he said. “We’ll continue to urge people to sign the petition we have on Change.org. We’ll continue to find ways to support this family in appealing to officials. All that work continues at this point.” Kim Porter, one of the many activists that’s championed Cisneros, said she believes the broad community support for her will win out in the end. Porter said Cisneros has approached the situation with bravery and dignity that’s inspired many. “Minerva inspires me every day,” said Porter. Fundraising to support the family’s living expenses and its legal efforts to get Cisneros a stay are still ongoing. A crowdfunding page on YouCaring.com set up by Parkway UCC called “Stop Deportation of Mother of Three – Minerva Garcia” will be up at least through the end of July. Sanctuary in a church had hopeful outcomes for two undocumented immigrants in Colorado who were granted stays after Colorado Democrats in Congress took action.
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