Below is a guest post from Ashlee Kelly, CCV Community of Student Representatives member. Ashlee takes classes at CCV-Montpelier.
This
week, BEaWARE Week, CCV hopes to raise awareness about tobacco addiction, alcohol
and substance abuse.
Opiate
drug abuse, the overuse or taking of a medication for any other purpose other
than its intended, is “one of the greatest public safety and public health
epidemics of our time” as stated by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Opiate
abuse is now Vermont’s greatest drug related problem since the heroin epidemic.
This particular epidemic has increased the number of unintentional deaths to
that of three times more than any other drug. Abuses of opiates can be, but are
not limited to:
- taking a pain medication that was not prescribed to you
- taking a larger dose than instructed
- continuing to take the medication past a dictated time line
Some people may
choose to abuse opiates because of the euphoric feeling they may experience when
under the influence of the drugs. The drug relieves pain for a short while,
making the user feel worse when the opiate wears off, which in turn causes users
to take them again. This dangerous cycle is why opiate abuse is so dangerous. If
you or someone you care about might be struggling with opiate addiction, we encourage
you to contact one of the Vermont organizations that aid in the treatment of
opiate and alcohol related dependencies:
Washington
County Youth Services Bureau
Baart Behavioral Health Services (St. Johnsbury, Newport and Berlin)
Baart Behavioral Health Services (St. Johnsbury, Newport and Berlin)
Clara Martin
Center (Randolph, Bradford, Chelsea and Wilder)
Youth
Services Inc. (Brattleboro area)
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