News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Opiod Use On Rise; Community Needs To Combat It |
| Title: | CN ON: Opiod Use On Rise; Community Needs To Combat It |
| Published On: | 2009-05-20 |
| Source: | Peterborough Examiner, The (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2009-05-21 15:22:27 |
OPIOD USE ON RISE; COMMUNITY NEEDS TO COMBAT IT COLLECTIVELY: POLICE
Tackling the city's growing opioid problem will take a community
effort, city police said.
With that in mind, police hosted a second, follow-up meeting at the
Peterborough Public Library on Aylmer Street yesterday afternoon to
discuss suggestions made at an April 21 meeting.
Opioid is a blanket term describing any natural or synthetic
medication that binds to opioid receptors in the central nervous system.
An opiate is a substance derived directly from poppies. Methadone is
an opioid. Heroin is an opiate.
Many pain medications, including OxyContin and morphine, are opioids.
Police said opioids are replacing crack as the drug of choice on city streets.
Nothing's changed since the first meeting was held, Chief Murray Rodd
said. "We still have a problem," he said.
About 50 people attended the meeting. After an introduction they
separated into groups to discuss solutions.
For some, like Brian Walsh, the availability of opioids and the
sometimes-lethal consequences is alarming.
There are people that legitimately need opioids, he said, but it can
also be a crushing addiction.
"My prescription causes someone else to die," he said.
Some wanted to share their stories about addiction. Others expressed
frustration at a problem that seems to be almost impossible to correct.
Stronger emphasis on public education was suggested several times,
with many calling for more interaction with young teens.
As Donna Rodgers, executive director for Four Counties Addictions
Services Team (4CAST) noted, opioids are often acquired through legal
prescriptions.
Parents may not realize their medicine cabinets are contributing to
the problem, she said.
The public needs to know about dangers associated with opioid use,
she said. "Do people just believe it's safe because it's legal?" she said.
NOTE: The Peterborough County-City Health Unit, Peterborough Aids
Resource Network and the Canadian Mental Health Association are
hosting a free viewing of the movie "Prescription for Addiction" at
Sadleir House June 17 at 7 p.m. The documentary examines dependence
and addition to opioid drugs.
Everyone is welcome and it's free to attend.
Tackling the city's growing opioid problem will take a community
effort, city police said.
With that in mind, police hosted a second, follow-up meeting at the
Peterborough Public Library on Aylmer Street yesterday afternoon to
discuss suggestions made at an April 21 meeting.
Opioid is a blanket term describing any natural or synthetic
medication that binds to opioid receptors in the central nervous system.
An opiate is a substance derived directly from poppies. Methadone is
an opioid. Heroin is an opiate.
Many pain medications, including OxyContin and morphine, are opioids.
Police said opioids are replacing crack as the drug of choice on city streets.
Nothing's changed since the first meeting was held, Chief Murray Rodd
said. "We still have a problem," he said.
About 50 people attended the meeting. After an introduction they
separated into groups to discuss solutions.
For some, like Brian Walsh, the availability of opioids and the
sometimes-lethal consequences is alarming.
There are people that legitimately need opioids, he said, but it can
also be a crushing addiction.
"My prescription causes someone else to die," he said.
Some wanted to share their stories about addiction. Others expressed
frustration at a problem that seems to be almost impossible to correct.
Stronger emphasis on public education was suggested several times,
with many calling for more interaction with young teens.
As Donna Rodgers, executive director for Four Counties Addictions
Services Team (4CAST) noted, opioids are often acquired through legal
prescriptions.
Parents may not realize their medicine cabinets are contributing to
the problem, she said.
The public needs to know about dangers associated with opioid use,
she said. "Do people just believe it's safe because it's legal?" she said.
NOTE: The Peterborough County-City Health Unit, Peterborough Aids
Resource Network and the Canadian Mental Health Association are
hosting a free viewing of the movie "Prescription for Addiction" at
Sadleir House June 17 at 7 p.m. The documentary examines dependence
and addition to opioid drugs.
Everyone is welcome and it's free to attend.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
