Butte County health officials are reporting several health trends on the rise in Butte County, including syphilis and opioid abuse.
Since the beginning of January 2017 until October 2017, 66 cases (adults only) of syphilis were reported to the Butte County Public Health Department. Last year, 40 cases were reported. In 2014, there were only four.
As for congenital syphilis -- which means it’s passed from mother to infant -- just four cases were reported this year.
“There is only one type of syphilis, but there are different stages of syphilis depending on how long a person has been infected,” said Butte County health scientist Linda Lewis.
According to Lewis, there are a few theories as to why syphilis is on the rise:
- more sexual interaction with anonymous partners
- a decrease in public health funding
- lack of condom use
- fewer people practicing safe sex.
Another health issue on the rise in the county is opioid abuse.
An 18-month study was done, starting at the end of July 2017, that showed Enloe Medical Center treated approximately 3,500 patients and diagnosed them with either opioid abuse or opioid dependence, according to Christina Chavira, communications and media coordinator for Enloe Medical Center.
Patient ages ranged from 18-89.
“(This is a) national public-health epidemic,” Chavira said, adding that because of the it, hospitals are being more cautious and have changed the ways opioids are prescribed.