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Woman recovering from addiction uses her story to help others at metro facility

Woman recovering from addiction uses her story to help others at metro facility
>> ABIGAIL, JESS, OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE FOR YEARS, REACHING 70,000 JUST TWO YEARS AGO. THE TREATMENT FACILITY I SPOKE WITH SAYS THERE’S A NUMBER OF REASONS WE’RE SEEING A DECLINE. ASHLEY EDMONSON IS A RECOVERED ADDICT OF SIX YEARS NOW SHE USES HER LIFE STORY TO HELP OTHERS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION AT THIS OKLAHOMA CITY DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY CALLED COPE. >> OUR FACILITY HERE AND I KNOW SOME OTHER OUTPATIENT FACILITIES WERE AWARDED A GRANT THAT PAYS FOR SOME OF OUR CLIENTS’ MEDICATION, THEIR DOCTOR VISITS, . >> EDMONSON SAYS OTHER REASONS COULD BE LAWS FORCING PEOPLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PRISON OR TREATMENT AND MORE FACILITIES TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH. >> I THINK YOU HAVE TO. A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH STUFF WE GO THROUGH ARE FROM TRAUMATIC EVENTS IN OUR LIFE, AND NOT FOR THOSE ARE THE REASONS WE USE TO BEGIN WITH. >> THE U.S. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVUICES POSTED TO TWITTER SAYING, ’LIVES ARE BEING SAVED AND WE’RE STARTING TO WIN A FIGHT AGAINST THIS CRISIS.’ IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PORSHA R
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Woman recovering from addiction uses her story to help others at metro facility
Ashley Edmondson has been recovering from addiction for six years.She now goes to COPE, a drug treatment facility in Oklahoma City, and uses her life story to help others struggling with addiction."Our facility here, and I know some other outpatient facilities were awarded a grant that pays for some of our clients' medication, their doctor visits, so I think that has been a huge impact because most people can't afford to get the help they need," Edmondson said.She said other reasons the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen the number of overdoses decline could be laws that force people to choose between prison and treatment and more facilities taking the time to address mental health."A lot of times, some of that mental health stuff we go through are from traumatic events in our life," Edmondson said, "and not for every addict, but a lot of times those are the reasons we use to begin with."

Ashley Edmondson has been recovering from addiction for six years.

She now goes to COPE, a drug treatment facility in Oklahoma City, and uses her life story to help others struggling with addiction.

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"Our facility here, and I know some other outpatient facilities were awarded a grant that pays for some of our clients' medication, their doctor visits, so I think that has been a huge impact because most people can't afford to get the help they need," Edmondson said.

She said other reasons the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has seen the number of overdoses decline could be laws that force people to choose between prison and treatment and more facilities taking the time to address mental health.

"A lot of times, some of that mental health stuff we go through are from traumatic events in our life," Edmondson said, "and not for every addict, but a lot of times those are the reasons we use to begin with."