SHAWN COX
I'd like to see more of a health-care-type approach to it. I'm not a big proponent of incarceration for that kind of thing.
Do you know anyone that has been affected by the opioid crisis?
Yeah. I had an employee a couple years ago that died from an overdose, it was very sad for a lot of people in the community — it affects everybody.
TRISTAN BOLEN
Probably the best thing to maybe be a little bit stricter on it — making so it's not as easily accessible. Take it out at its source.
Do you know anyone that has been affected by the opioid epidemic?
Yeah — I have a few family members that have in the past. Just making sure you're there for your family and trying to get them the help that they need.
HOD ZANCK
Cut down on the doctors that are overprescribing it — pain is a bad thing, I live with it everyday, but we need to get the doctors from overprescribing. That's the main thing.
Do you think people start by using prescription meds?
I used to work at the county detox in the sober unit, and people said they started out on opioids for pain and moved to heroin.
CHRISTINA JONES
We need more treatment programs.
Do you know anyone that has been affected by the opioid epidemic?
Yeah. I'm in treatment now, for, like, seven years. I've had drug issues since I was 14 years old.
BRYAN DOYLE
Well I don't think they should be given out like candy. It's become quite the epidemic — they are available way too easy. I think Big Pharma has way too much power.
Do you know anyone that has been affected by the opioid epidemic?
Oh, absolutely. A bunch of friends — it's everywhere.
Interviews by Jason Still, downtown Spokane
