Will Opioid Crisis/Epidemic Affect You?

Will the opioid crisis/epidemic affect you?

It could if you’re not aware of the medicines in your cabinets and their addictive properties. It could if you don’t follow the directions on the medicine label. It could affect your family and friends if children, teenagers or seniors take your medicines either on purpose or accidentally. Medicine dosages and the instructions are tailored for you and No One else.

In addition to medicines, you should be aware of other household items that people might ingest, sniff, snort, inject or absorb into the body.

The first step to protect you from opioids is to be aware of what they are, where they are, and how they can be secured so they’re not used accidentally.

Opioids can be prescription painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone or they can be illegal drugs such as heroin. They are highly addictive drugs that have dangerous side effects and can cause overdose and death. They may be found in your medicine cabinet and in drawers or on tables and counters in your home. They should be secured and out of sight and reach of young children, addled adults, and experimenting youth.

How can you be made more aware about how to prevent opioid addictions? If it’s too late to prevent the addiction, what can be done to treat it? Let’s look at some programs.

The Not My Child presentation discusses prescription drug abuse and the escalation of heroin use. The County Executive’s Office of Constituent Services created, supported and facilitated this collaborative effort of county agencies, non-profits and community members. To request this presentation, fill out the form at http://www.aacounty.org/departments/county-executive/constituent-services/contact-us/.

Anne Arundel Medical Center has a presentation, “Preventing & Responding to the Opioid Crisis.” To request this health talk, fill out the form at https://aamceventrequest.wufoo.com/forms/mknx8300rx5he5/. For more information, call Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Services at 410-222-6724.

The Annapolis Police Department, every Annapolis and Anne Arundel County fire station, and all county police stations are “Safe Stations” for heroin or opioid addicts seeking help.

Annapolis Police Department officers have been teaching a new Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, better known as the new D.A.R.E., at Eastport Elementary School. The program will be expanding into several other Annapolis schools this spring.

The Annapolis Police Department at 199 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, has a medication drop off box in its front lobby. The drop box is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. excluding holidays. Each county police station also has one.

For a resource guide, see https://www.annapolis.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/5499.

Photo of heroin via the Drug Enforcement Agency