SPECTRUM: New, larger venue for opioid task force

More hands are showing up on deck to end opioid abuse. The Mat-Su Opioid Task Force has moved to a new, larger venue to accommodate more community members. We have totally out grown our last two venues (MyHouse and Wasilla City Hall ) with standing room only at our last meeting. Now, we will be using the Wasilla High School Theater. The Mat-Su has stepped up to fight the opioid epidemic that has plagued our community, state and nation.

At the national level, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has pleaded for the president to declare a “National Public Health Emergency,” regarding the opioid crisis. The numbers are off the charts. Research states 90 to 140 people overdose every day. Every three weeks, that number equals the same number of people that died on Sept. 11. And, they say 650,000 will die of overdoses over the next 10 years. That is almost the entire population of the state of Alaska!

Closer to home, heroin overdoses have surpassed opioid pain prescription overdoses in 2016. We know 90 percent of “all new heroin” users started with prescription opioids. And, 80 percent obtained those pills from their parents, grandparents and friends. Please, “Mind Your Meds!” Opioids change how an individual deals with stress, changes their reward system and their decision making process. In short, opioids hijack the brain and hold it hostage. Suffering addicts want two things. Actually, they do NOT want to be dope sick and they want to use and get high. They are truly in the grips of a brain disease.

Some community members may dispute that concept and say those addicts are choosing to use and/or they have moral failings. If we just take one step back and reflect on their behavior, it is clear they are in mental anguish. They are on a path of self-destruction, lying, stealing and many even experience nonfatal and fatal overdoses. How can one say they are choosing these corrosive, and potentially deadly behaviors? I cannot tell you the number of conversations I have had with family members that have tried everything to no avail. They are suffering just as deeply as the users. Their lives are a living hell. And, there are many children that have become innocent victims from this plague. In addition, the cost of health care and arrest rates have skyrocketed. We need to be smart with monitoring programs and provide rehabilitation programs in our prisons for those that want to make a change in their lives. Also, they need support as soon as they are released to ensure long term recovery with housing, employment, and sponsoring recovering peers.

Yet, hope is in the air. The Mat-Su Opioid Task Force is connecting the dots for resources and filling in the gaps for care. The task force has received national and state recognition for its work combating the epidemic with a vision and mission of ending opioid abuse. We will continue to seek solutions for both the suffering addicts ( i.e. the Lazarus Project) and those affected. ( i.e. Nar-Anon) Now, we have phone numbers for peer-to-peer navigation into recovery and support for those family members affected. These resources were not even available just a year ago. (see below) But, we need to get the word out so our community members know where to turn and who to call. It could very well save a life and it could be someone you know or love.

Also, we have Narcan kits,( opioid overdose ) training and medication disposal bags. These bags hold up to 40 opioid pills and with a cup of water, along with a charcoal element, these pills are neutralized and can be safely discarded. These Narcan kits, training and bags can be accessed via MyHouse. All of these items are the result of Gov. Bill Walker’s declaration of emergency and Project HOPE. Thank you, Gov.Walker. The Task Force has partnerships with hospice, the senior centers, local clinics and pharmacies providing these bags to again, safely discard opioid pills. And, most importantly, not get into the hands of our youth or active users.

However, all the above issues are the consequences and fall out of opioid abuse. The Mat-Su Opioid Task Force wants to move “upstream” and begin efforts in preventing youth becoming users of opioids and other drugs. We believe one way to achieve that goal is to provide more youth recreation. We want to provide all our youth with healthy outlets with other youth. This will allow them to have mentoring, caring adult connections and relationships in their lives. Iceland knows how to stop teen substance abuse and the rest of the world isn’t listening!

As one of our recovering task force members has stated, “ Addiction is isolation and recovery is connection.” I like to add that those connections, in my mind are relationships. In relationships you realize you are not alone and you can get through anything with support and caring. We can do this together with less dope and more hope.

If you are interested in learning more, the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force has a website with our history, membership, strategic plan and resource list. ( matsuopioidtaskforce.com) We meet the first Tuesday of every month, fro 4-6 p.m. Again, that new, larger venue will be Wasilla High School Theater. This will allow us to accommodate our community, and give us time to network and brainstorm going past 6 p.m., if necessary. Our next meeting will be Sept. 5. All are welcome. We welcome all ideas, concerns and especially solutions to end opioid abuse.

A special note: On Aug. 11, President Trump declared the opioid crisis an emergency. The President stated, “ I’m saying officially right now it is an emergency. It’s a national emergency. We’re going to spend a lot of effort and a lot of money on the opioid crisis.”

The opioid problem is a longstanding issue and it will take a real long-term investment and continued commitment through partnerships and collaboration to reach the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force’s strategic goals and achieve outcomes. Join the good fight! Please feel free to reach out to any of these resources and contacts for further information.

Fiend to Clean at 982-HOPE / FallenUpMinistries at 315-SAVE / MYHOUSE at 373-HELP and Nar-Anon at 355-8800.

Michael Carson is the Vice President and a Recovery Specialist at MyHouse and Chair of the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force