Saving Lives in Buckeye
Have You Seen the Hand
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Opioid epidemic. Yes, it’s real and teens and adults are dying in Buckeye as a result. The truth is there have been teen deaths related to opioids and prescription drugs in our area but we do not hear about it because they are minors. Thus, no information is released. Yet kids are dying. Educating the community regarding opioids can make an immediate difference and save lives. The Way Out West Coalition feels it’s time to Get in the Way, To Say Something, To Do Something. It is a call to action and we invite you take an hour to be part of a Community Conversation “Saving Lives in Buckeye” on Thursday, August 9, 2018, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at The Center on Main in Verrado. This is a conversation about keeping kids safe and how to prepare them to respond positively to the negative influences that they face on a daily basis.
If you are a parent, you need to know this information no matter who your kid is. No one is immune from opioid addiction because it does not follow the “normal” path to addiction as most understand it. With alcohol, marijuana and other drugs there is usually a progression of use that leads to addiction. For adults, the addiction process usually takes a few years or more before a person crosses what we call the “invisible line to addiction.” This is not the case with opioids; opioids bypass the traditional progression to addiction. With teens, the normal timeline for crossing that invisible line is dramatically accelerated; usually 2 – 3 months. However, teen addiction to opioids; we’re talking two weeks or less.
The WOW Coalition is a group of concerned community leaders and members working to reduce underage drinking, teen marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse in the city of Buckeye. We know that community awareness and education is one of the most important keys to reducing youth substance use. Our goal is to make it easier for everyone by understanding the power and dangers associated with opioids and how to put safeguards in place.
The WOW Coalition promotes protective factors that keep kids safe and successful and how to avoid risk factors that greatly increase the possibility of high risk behaviors leading to school failure, drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, suicide, and a lifetime of struggle as an adult.
The WOW Coalition also believes our job as parents is to help our kids do adolescence well. We know that successful adolescence translates into an adulthood that is easier and more successful. Over 90% of those who have entered treatment for substance abuse started using as an adolescent. This statistic is directly connected to teen brain development which we will discuss during the August 9, event. The evening includes a question and answer session. At the end of the session you will be able to say. “Yes I have seen the hand!” So join us and let’s Get in the Way together.