It’s “Fri-yay”!!!
We’ve made it through another long week of “please cover your mouth when you sneeze” carpools, “if you don’t sign I get in trouble” agenda signing, “I hate sandwiches” lunch packing, “I need another drink of water” bedtimes, “I forgot my cleats” soccer practices, and “I don’t understand this” homework…..the grind! This Friday is different though, we didn’t just get through our work week and parenting tasks, we have escaped something a little darker. August 31st is international overdose awareness day. Of those who overdose, the largest percentage are opioid overdoses.
So where does that fit into the hustle and bustle of our chaotic lives?
Quite honestly, it needs to fit in somewhere because it could happen to anyone.
People don’t wake up with plans to get addicted to opioids or to overdose, yet it still happens every day. In fact, according to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “almost 12 million people worldwide injected drugs in 2015, and there were at least 190,000 mostly preventable drug related deaths in 2015.” Those are big numbers!
Most people don’t ever think that will happen to them.
However, it can be as simple as an injury that can be the start of addiction to opioids. There are countless stories of people just like you and I going to the doctor for an injury and given an opioid prescription to help manage the pain. It happens innocently, and no one plans on addiction. Many are taking medication prescribed to them for a legitimate purpose. Then they become addicted to the opioid.
Why does this happen?
Well, a lot of times it’s as simple as a lack of education. Many people who start taking these pain medications don’t realize how powerful they can be, or they don’t know how to wean off them, or even that they should.
In effort to prevent this from happening to you, or someone you love, it is important to educate yourself on opioid addiction. We host a website with information and resources for you and your family to practice: “Safe Use, Safe Storage, Safe Disposal” of medications, including opioids. Visit: www.SafeRx.tips to learn more.
For more information on opioid addiction or to participate in events near you please visit https://www.overdoseday.com/.
And, as ever, check us out on Facebook and Twitter. We work to keep you informed…