Strategies for curbing future opioid catastrophes
In the face of the ongoing opioid crisis, a group of advocates in Monroe County are working tirelessly to raise awareness and promote prevention. The Gibbons family, tragically struck by the loss of their 19-year-old daughter, Paige, have become champions for opioid awareness.
Paige was a high-achieving student, studying for a career in medicine, and a kind, ambitious, and big-hearted individual. Her life was cut short by an overdose of 100% fentanyl. Dave Gibbons, Paige's father, now carries Narcan in his car, a medication that reverses the effects of opioids, and has become a voice for change.
Leah Hill, a Senior Chemical Dependency Counselor at Strong Recovery, emphasizes the importance of parents in preventing opioid-related tragedies. Hill advises parents to be curious and non-confrontational when finding substances, asking questions to understand the reasons behind their child's use. She describes a case where a 15-year-old who only used marijuana collapsed after taking a hit laced with fentanyl.
To effectively talk about the dangers of opioids with their children, parents can have open, empathetic conversations that focus on education and prevention without accusations. They should learn about how opioids affect the brain and body, use non-judgmental communication, and approach the topic with empathy rather than blame.
Key strategies include getting informed, having open, empathetic communication, routine screening and observation, securing and supervising medications, and using evidence-based prevention approaches. Communities and schools involving parents in prevention programs have shown effectiveness in discouraging adolescent substance use.
Monroe County has experienced hundreds of opioid-related deaths every year, with a total of over 2,000 opioid overdoses annually. Young people often use substances to deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma, or abuse. To combat this, Monroe County offers free naloxone kits inside NaloxBoxes at locations throughout the region.
Major retailers such as CVS and Walmart have begun selling Narcan without a prescription. Strong Recovery offers virtual Opioid Overdose Prevention Training three times a month, with free Narcan mailed to each attendee. The Gibbons family, including their 15-year-old daughter Brooke, have become advocates for opioid awareness, working to ensure Paige's legacy is the lives that can be saved through better awareness.
The Gibbons worked with the Monroe County sheriff's department to develop a presentation and brought it to a community forum at Nazareth College. Their goal is to empower parents with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent opioid misuse among youth and foster informed and trusting relationships between parents and children.
