News & Press

WGXA's interview with River Edge Behavioral Health CEO Dr. Shannon Gordon

MACON, Ga. -- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 130 people die in the US every day due to overdosing on opioids.

It's a growing problem that continues to claim more and more lives.

Watch WGXA's interview with River Edge Behavioral Health CEO Dr. Shannon Gordon, as part of our "Unmasking Opioids" series.

"Benzodiazepines are incredibly addictive, as much, if not more so, than opioids. And an important factor about benzodiazepines, the detoxification from them can be not just uncomfortable but life-threatening,” Gordon says.

And what exactly makes opioids so addictive, that someone can't just kick the habit? 

Gordon says taking these drugs releases endorphins and alter the brain receptors, changing a person’s tolerance quickly.

She says “it’s a lot easier for someone to get into recovery than it is to continue active addiction, which leads to jails, institutions, or death.”

You can call the National Hotline for Substance Abuse and Mental Health at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Find out more information about River Edge Behavioral Health here.