Prescription drug abuse rising

HUNTINGTON -- Nearly 200 people from varied backgrounds came together on Thursday in a fight against prescription drug abuse.

The third annual Cabell County drug prevention summit encouraged discussion on what experts call a growing prescription drug abuse trend in the Huntington area. The event was hosted by the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership, along with The United Way of the River Cities, Brickstreet Insurance, the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center and The Herald-Dispatch.

"It's refreshing to see everyone come together because it's going to take a threefold effort," Mayor Kim Wolfe told the audience at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena Conference Center.

Area health care providers, law enforcement, prevention experts, social services members, students, educators and elected officials were just some of the people at the summit.

"This problem affects everyone from every walk of life," said Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook. "It's not a police department problem. It's a human problem. We have to work together to get a handle on it."

Holbrook said the reduction of drugs in Huntington is critical in order to move the city forward, and the demand for drugs such as OxyContin must be reduced.

Speakers at the summit provided a wealth of statistics and other information and encouraged roundtable discussions.

"It was good education," said Laura Gilliam, executive director of United Way of the River Cities.

She said participation from many sides is important.

"A problem like this is so complicated, you can't rely on one group," she said.

Keynote speaker Frances M. Harding challenged participants to think of two things they could do to lower the risk of themselves or loved ones developing an addiction.

One thing people can do is dispose of unused prescriptions, said Harding, director at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Consumers should check prescriptions for disposal instructions, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. If no information exists, then unused medication should be mixed with undesirable substances such as old coffee grounds or used cat litter and be thrown away.

Very few people actually finish their medications as instructed, Harding said, oftentimes leaving dangerous pills in the home. Medications should not be shared and should be locked up just as many adults lock up alcohol, she said.

It may take years to change the prescription drug culture in West Virginia, but the work must continue, said Dr. Michael O'Neil, director of the West Virginia Controlled Substances Advisory Board.

People must know that prescriptions are not interchangeable and prescribed doses are not safe for everyone, O'Neil said.

In addition to this "sharing culture," West Virginia also struggles with residents who rely on selling things such as painkillers for their regular income, he said. He recalled more than one instance in which tackle boxes in West Virginia homes were filled with Lortab and OxyContin.

Addicts who can't get pills from friends or family often go to multiple doctors for prescriptions or instruct their children to fake symptoms to get medication, he said. Others may resort to theft.

"These schemes are very real and very common," he said.

Also, in 80 percent of addiction cases, addicts have other problems like depression or anxiety. Left untreated, the chances of recovering from addiction is small, O'Neil said.

He said programs like the Healing Place -- a planned substance abuse recovery center in Huntington -- are very important, but more after-care programs also are needed.

He said funding from government and private businesses also continues to be needed to keep services going.

Throughout the summit, medical experts, community members and others contributed their thoughts in open discussions and workshop.

The connections made at the event make the fight against prescription drug abuse stronger, according to Bill O'Dell, a community development specialist for the West Virginia Prevention Resource Specialist.

"New partnerships were made today that will strengthen the prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery," he said. "Just meeting and greeting and making that connection helps to increase working relationships."

Harding said the area is on the right track with so many individuals across fields investing interest.

"Cabell County cannot fail with this group," she said.