Opioid Addiction and Mental Health on the Farm

Opioid Addiction and Mental Health on the Farm

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett
A national survey shows that nearly three quarters of farmers and ranchers says the opioid crisis has impacted them directly. That's a much higher rate than the rest of rural America according to the National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation. So the two have teamed up to bring attention to the crisis and help reduce addiction rates.

Colorado Farm Bureau's Shawn Martini:

"Everybody's heard about the opioid crisis but it's not been looked at through the lense of agriculture."

The campaign to help agriculture communities is centered around teh website: www.Farmtownstrong.org where you can find information about hotlines and other services.

Martini says this national campaign dovetails with a state effort began last year to help reduce suicide rates among Colorado ag producers stressed with low prices and the high costs of doing business.

" A hotline set up to help people who are having thoughts of suicide.."

To contact the crisis hotline, call 844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255.

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