With Utah’s nearly six opioid related deaths per week, our awareness and national ranking is at an all-time high. Now that our State Opioid Task Force is in full swing, I thought it’s time to add my voice and share the story of someone I know, who’s just one example of many others with similar stories of opioid addiction.
I know a man, unnamed for obvious reasons, who was born and raised here on the East Bench. In his early 20s, an avid skier, he crashed and shattered his femur. The ski accident introduced him to unbearable pain but he was optimistic after a number of surgeries, a permanent metal rod in his leg, months of physical therapy and lots of pain pills.