Tipton County Stories

Justin

As Mayor of the City of Covington, it is my responsibility locally to try and curb the opioid epidemic as much as possible.  We’ve taken a proactive approach in our public safety departments (fire and police) to respond appropriately to scenes where addiction and overdose are prevalent.  Our fire department and emergency medical technicians are armed with opioid antagonists like Narcan.  We have also supported each of our three fire department shifts with at least one certified EMT who is qualified to handle such cases, thus reducing the number of opioid deaths in our city.  Soon, our police officers are set to be trained as well with such opioid antagonists so they too can respond appropriately.

The city also actively partners with Drug Free Tipton, a local 501c3, in an effort to educate and inform our public about the dangers of opioids and addiction.  Our fire and police personnel regularly travel with Drug Free Tipton employees to community events where educational materials are disseminated.  The city is also an active partner with state agencies such as the Tipton County Health Department in similar community education campaigns.  Our municipal Parks and Recreation Department is also a valuable tool in our city and county.  Staff members provide numerous healthy options for the community, such as specialized fitness classes, a year round aquatic center with various programs and health/nutrition classes that inform and educate the public on the importance of a healthy mental and physical being.  Our local community hospital, Baptist Memorial Hospital – Tipton, is also instrumental in helping fight the opioid crisis through community education and partnerships with city government.