While waiting for a bed, addict dies at home. Doctors prescribed pain meds for a surgery and he got addicted. No beds open at treatment centers and he died. Thoughts? Cali Estes, The Addictions Coach. 1.800.706.0318
Heroin Addict Who Tried To Enter Rehab Dies Before receiving Treatment
Alexis McAdams mystateline.com
ROCKFORD — Flowers, pictures and memorabilia are the only mementoes that 44 year-old Anthony Scott’s family has to remember him by. Scott overdosed on heroin on February 11, 2015 inside of his Rockford home. Scott collapsed in his bathroom and lay unconscious for hours until his family found him. “My mom ran in here and she ran upstairs and his arm was lying out of our bathroom… and it was purple,” says Jessica Blake, Scott’s family friend.
Scott struggled with his heroin addiction for months, using the drug to stop the severe physical pain he had after undergoing 6 hip surgeries. “He said it was a severe throbbing pain,” says Brenda Combs, Scott’s fiancé.
His family says he searched for treatment at facilities across the state, waiting in lines outside of Rosecrance Ware Center (http://www.rosecrance.org/facilities/mental-health-treatment-facilities/), the adult mental health treatment facility located in Rockford. But, he was told that no beds were available. “They said that there is nothing that they can do for him. He just has to keep calling in and waiting for a bed to open,” says Combs.
Combs says every facility had the same answer. The facility tells Eyewitness News “…every provider in the State of Illinois is grappling with the problem that faces Rosecrance and other treatment agencies in northern Illinois: heroin use is at epidemic proportions and nobody has enough beds to meet the need. Heroin use too often has fatal consequences, and that is tragic for the individual and these families.”
Rosecrance says they are hoping for the state to increase funding to allow more addicts into their center. But, families don’t have time to wait. They are dealing with fatal consequences right now, as their loved ones struggle with addiction and wait for treatment. “I honestly believe that if he would have gotten in, he would still be alive today,” says Combs.