Red Ribbon Week is celebrated this year from October 23 through 31. Red Ribbon Week was established by a grassroots, nonprofit organization to play a leadership role in drug prevention.
One in five high school students reported misusing prescription drugs according to redribbon.org.
The North Carolina Injury and Violence Prevention 2009-2012 stated that opioids, prescription drugs, and OTC drugs accounted for 68% of the drugs that led to unintentional poisoning deaths.
Cocaine, heroin and/or methamphetamine and other narcotics are associated with 60% of all deaths.
In a single day count in 2013, 40,575 individuals in North Carolina were enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. That was an increase of 28,997 people from 2009.
91.2% of all those using illicit drugs DID NOT receive substance abuse treatment between 2009-2013.
Alcohol and drug addiction affects the whole family and the community. Addiction is no respecter of persons and can happen to anyone.
Students and adults need to learn how to properly handle prescription drugs and learn effective ways to say no to drugs. Some schools across Bladen County have taken the initiative to use Red Ribbon Week to send home literature to help educate families and they have started conversations at some schools on how to say no to drugs.
Leaders across this nation use Red Ribbon Week to help empower the citizens with skills and education to fight against drug abuse. Adults and children alike need to be reached with education to prevent drug abuse early.
The Bladen Opioid Task Force is continuing to work hard to end drug abuse by educating the community and asking for involvement. You can help fight the drug problem in Bladen County by taking a brief survey the local task force is collecting.
The survey is brief and only takes a couple of minutes to complete. Below are QR codes that may be scanned to access the surveys, also there are links below to direct citizens to the survey.
Bladen County Schools Teachers and Staff members we need your help! Please fill out the survey linked and coded below:
https://tinyurl.com/Bladenschools
Bladen County Students we need your help! Please fill out the survey linked and coded below:
http://tinyurl.com/Bladenstudents
Bladen County Community members we need your help! Please fill out the survey linked and coded below:
https://tinyurl.com/Bladencommunity
As a reminder, the Bladen County Opioid Task Force was able to form a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) group. The NA group meets every Tuesday at the 137 Mercer Mill Road in Elizabethtown. NA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other and work together to help each other stay away from drugs usage and lead a healthy life. The basic concept and practice of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program is the Twelve Steps and addicts helping addicts recover from the disease of addiction, according to the NA program. You may find out more information at nadelhi.org/.
As a reminder, anyone struggling with alcohol or drug detox, relapse, recovery, or experiencing mental health issues now has more choices for assistance here in Bladen County.
Eastpointe is the MCO for Bladen County, meaning, they may assist anyone needing help with mental or behavioral health services regardless of their economic status. Anyone needing assistance may contact 1-800-513-4002 at anytime day or night for assistance. Following are the newest places in Elizabethtown to seek assistance.
The Carter Clinic opened their doors this summer at 1104 West Broad Street in Elizabethtown. Their services include Medication Assistance Treatment (Suboxone), Substance Abuse Intensive Out Patient (SAIOP) Program, Substance Abuse Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment (SACOT) Program, Medication Management, Outpatient Therapy, and peer support available for individuals with Eastpointe Medicaid. For more information contact the clinic at 910-991-3070 or visit their website at www.thecarterclinic.com.
RHA Health Services is now offering Hilltop Comprehensive Substance Use Services at 106 4th Street in Bladenboro. The services offered at the facility is a RHA Health Services program specializing in providing wraparound support, advocacy, and various levels of treatment of people who struggle with addictive diseases. The services offer outpatient rehabilitation service groups, and individual services designed to provide additional structure, guidance, and support to people trying to achieve and maintain recovery from substance use and addiction. For more information about these services contact 1-800-848-0180 or visit their website at www.rhahealthservices.org.
The Bladen County Opioid Task Force meets the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the Bladen County Health Department. The Opioid Task force is working toward organizing an Alcohol Anonymous support group and a support group for families with loved ones addicted to alcohol or drugs. Anyone interested in attending a support group, help leading a support group, or would like to help with the task force, contact the Bladen County Health and Human Services Opioid Task Force Corrdinator Dr. Cathy Gantz at (910)872-6256.
Related article:s
https://bladencounty.org/let-your-voice-be-heard-on-the-issue-of-alcohol-and-drug-use-in-bladen/
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