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State Senator Bill Beagle
Prevention is
Key in Combating Ohio's Growing Drug Addiction Epidemic
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure.” Today in Ohio, we are spending an increasing amount of
state and local resources on the tragic problem of heroin addiction.
Sadly, much of our efforts are being devoted to those who are already
wrestling with the problem of addiction.
For many Ohioans, addiction begins when legitimately prescribed
narcotics are either misused or fall into the wrong hands. Once
addicted, the body’s physical and psychological dependence often leads
the user to pursue alternatives, such as heroin, which are
significantly cheaper and, unfortunately, widely available. The rate of
death caused by accidental drug overdose has increased by more than 400
percent since 2000. Drug overdoses claim the lives of five Ohioans each
and every day.
Those struggling with addiction face a long road to recovery, which
requires the help of a dedicated team of addiction specialists, mental
health counselors and physicians all working together. The outlook for
individuals already addicted is grim without proper intervention and
treatment. Many here in our own community have experienced great
success thanks to the efforts of professionals at the Tri-County Board
of Recovery and Mental Health and the various Alcohol, Drug Addiction
and Mental Health Recovery Services resources serving the residents of
Miami, Montgomery, Darke, Shelby and Preble counties.
State and local treatment and recovery services are making progress in
saving lives, but adequate services come at a high cost for Ohio's
taxpayers. The opiate epidemic is a war that must be fought on multiple
fronts. Gaining a foothold requires innovation, determination,
persistence and, most importantly, prevention.
In light of the growing prevalence of heroin in our communities,
conversations with our children about drugs must take place earlier and
more often than ever before. These discussions must begin at home and
then be reinforced in our schools. Ohio's "Start Talking!" program
provides helpful resources and suggestions for parents on approaching
the topic of drug use with their children. For more information, check
out the Start Talking! website at StartTalking.ohio.gov. Children of
parents who talk to their teens about drugs are up to 50 percent less
likely to use.
Despite our best efforts at home, effective drug prevention programs in
the classroom also play an important role in curbing addiction. Ohio
Attorney General Mike DeWine recently formed the Joint Student
Committee on Drug Use Prevention Education, which is made up of
legislators, law enforcements professionals, educators and drug
prevention and treatment specialists who are dedicated to reexamining
drug use prevention education offered in Ohio’s schools. Ohio's General
Assembly will continue to support drug prevention programs and other
initiatives aimed at preempting addiction before it takes root.
No one silver bullet will end this epidemic. As the rate of death from
accidental overdose continues to rise, we must join with our neighbors
to do everything we can to reclaim Ohio from opiate addiction,
beginning with our efforts to prevent another generation of young
Ohioans from becoming users.
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