OGDEN -- When you hear the word chandelier, you probably wouldn't picture over 12,000 empty pill bottles hanging from the ceiling.
But at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, that's exactly what you'll see when you walk through the doors of the main lobby.
The empty pill bottles represent the number of opioids prescribed to patients in Utah over the past six years, but the news was good. On one side of the lobby, a chandelier with 7,000 empty pill bottles represents the number of prescriptions written daily in 2017. On the other side of the lobby, another chandelier represents the 5,200 daily prescriptions written for the pain pills in 2022 -- a figure cut by one-fourth in a span of five years.
The 20-foot chandeliers were unveiled by Intermountain Health, Know Your Script and Bonneville Communities that Care during a news conference at the hospital on Tuesday.
"In (2016), we unveiled a large pill bottle chandelier here in our lobby, where each of the 7,000 daily prescriptions was represented by a pill bottle," said Judy Williamson, president and CEO of Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. "However, today's installation has been somewhat scaled down to represent the 26% reduction in the past five years."
Williamson said Intermountain makes it a priority to promote awareness, to educate and discuss chronic pain with its patients in order to help them live a functional and high-quality life.
"This display represents all the hard work by our caregivers, physicians and patients as well as the many lives saved through this work," she said.
According to a recent Utah Health status update from the Utah Department of Health & Human Services, of the 541 drug overdose deaths in Utah in 2022, 74% involved an opioid. Fatal drug overdoses have remained fairly stable in recent years, but health officials said they hope to continue to see that number decrease as well.
"I think every home safety kit should have Naloxone in it," said Kim Compagni, assistant vice president for pain management at Intermountain Health.
Naloxone is a rescue medication used to treat overdoses in emergency situations.
"Naloxone saves lives, not only in adults, but in children and pets as well," Compagni said. "Opioids have risks so we need to continue to come up with alternative solutions for pain control for our patients, including mindfulness, physical therapy, massage, ice, heat, acupuncture and medical nutrition counseling."
Compagni said in Utah alone, about 1 in 5 adults (21%) are affected by chronic pain.
"These changes are huge wins for improving patient safety and keeping patients safe from potential addiction, misuse or even unintentional overdose," she said.
Ogden resident and former United Way of Northern Utah CEO Robert Hunter said his wife, Rula, was one of the first people in Utah to be given Oxycontin in 1996. She immediately became addicted.
"After two years in recovery and two years in aftercare, she and I became volunteers for addiction recovery services," Hunter said. "Vulnerability, openness and displays like this will help mitigate the stigma often attached to addiction. There shouldn't be a stigma. We need to talk about it and be aware of it and address it head on. Together, I hope we can all help heal one another."
Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director at HHS, said that while the reduction in written opioid prescriptions is something to celebrate, there is still work to be done.
"Between 2018 and 2023, there has been a 500% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths," she said. "We need to continue to do more to screen for addiction and eliminate the stigma. Our department is committed to prevention efforts and will continue to work to reduce opioid prescription misuse in Utah."
South Ogden Mayor Russell Porter said localized efforts have played a crucial role in the reductions being celebrated today.
"By addressing community-specific needs and leveraging resources available at the community level, we not only prevent opioid prescription misuse but also ensure the well-being of our residents, exemplifying the power of local coalitions in creating positive and enduring impact," Porter said.

​https://www.standard.net/news/health-news/2023/dec/13/mckay-dee-display-demonstrates-success-in-curtailing-opioid-prescriptions/
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OGDEN — Thirteen students from three high schools in Weber County were arrested Tuesday, culminating a months-long investigation by the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force.

Eleven of the arrests were at Bonneville High School. Based on information from the school resource officer, an investigation into possible drug dealing at the school was started by the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force several months ago.

"We didn't think we were going to get this many (arrests). We were going to end several weeks earlier. Then we found more kids willing to sell to us and we continued with the operation. We thought we would get a half-dozen," said strike force Lt. Darin Parke. "Hopefully, it will send a message they better start making different choices in life."

The students were pulled out of class one at a time on Tuesday morning and arrested. Eleven boys and two girls were arrested. Eight of those arrested are 17 years old and the other four were 16. One of the arrests was at Roy High School and another at Two Rivers High School.

All of the students were expected to be charged with felony drug possession with intent to distribute before being released to their parents, Parke said.

The drugs being dealt were marijuana, Ecstasy, prescription medications and psychedelic mushrooms, he said. The investigation into who was supplying the students was continuing.

"We've identified a couple of source dealers," Parke said.

All of the drug deals originated at the school. The two parties would then arrange to meet later to complete the deal. Some deals were completed off school property while others were made in the school itself or the parking lot, Parke said.

Although the 13 arrested were aware of each other, they were not working in conjunction with each other, he said. Their levels of involvement varied.

"It ranged from them telling us they can get anything they want, to some not very experienced at it," he said.

Tuesday morning, drug sniffing police K9s were brought into Bonneville High School to check several lockers but no drugs were found.
Weber School District spokesman Nate Taggart said the district worked with law enforcers for this operation.

"We agreed with the narcotics strike force to have an operation in our school. We do that on a regular basis at all of our high schools," Taggart said. "We want to protect our students and see that the kids who need help get it."

Those who were arrested have been suspended from their schools and will have hearings to determine alternative placement.

Although police admitted they were a bit surprised at the number of students who ended up being arrested, both police and school officials stressed drugs are not a problem just at Bonneville High School.

"We know that there are issues that are taking place in our schools that reflect society. We're hoping that by getting these kids out of the school, hopefully it's going to change their lives and make it safer for our schools," Taggart said.

"This is a problem nationwide and statewide, not a Bonneville High problem. We don't want to paint a picture that this is the only place that has a situation like this," said Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Mark Lowther.

Parke said similar operations had been conducted in the past at other schools in Weber County.

Original Article