Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
BRIDGTON — A panel of experts fielded so many questions at a recent community forum on opioid issues, sponsored by Lake Region Adult Education and Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition, that there wasn’t time to answer them all.
The panel included volunteers with expertise in the fields of medicine, treatment, recovery, mental health, prevention and public policy. The Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition is seeking community volunteers with time and talent to help address the issues facing the community, and recovery experience is valued, the release said. The organization meets 4:30 to 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Bridgton Municipal Complex, 3 Chase St., in the downstairs meeting room.
Organizers are looking for questions, ideas and a willingness to become community change agents.
Questions addressed at the recent forum on the topics of definitions, dependency and risk are addressed below, edited for space purposes. In future articles, questions regarding prevention and intervention and treatment and recovery will be the focus.
A copy of the complete question and answer document is available upon request from lrsacoalition@gmail.com.
Q: What are opioids?
A: Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin as well as powerful pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, fentanyl, and many others. They are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. Continued use and abuse can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Q: What is an opioid dependence disorder?
A: When a pattern of opioid use leads to significant impairment or distress, as manifested by certain diagnostic criteria — it may be mild, moderate or severe. It’s when use of any opioid drug causes neurons in the brain to rewire the neuro-network system, which can be reflected in craving, tolerance, physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. A person becomes dependent on opioid/heroin and needs more of it to change how they feel, to deal with pain (physical, emotional, spiritual), shame, and other disquieting feelings. It’s often called a disease of feelings.
Q: If opioid misuse causes brain “rewiring,” can the brain reboot to “original wiring” upon detox?
A: Human brains are neuro-plastic and have enormous capacity for repair. Though once a person is in recovery, which is more than just detox, it would be more accurate to say that the brain develops new neuro-networks supported by abstinence, behavioral changes, and changes in thinking, rather than a rebooting to original wiring.
Q: Is opioid dependence disorder a life-long chronic illness?
A: Yes. Like other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, substance use disorders of any kind are chronic. And, like diabetes, evidence based treatment exists — it can help people manage the illness, which may or may not include medication, as well as personal behavioral lifestyle choices supported by therapeutic counseling. Like other chronic illnesses, there is currently no cure — disease management and recovery is possible.
Q: How do people become dependent on opioids? What are the risk factors?
A: There are both genetic and environmental risk factors. People who come from families with a history of chemical dependency, and/or who have experienced trauma and/or mental illness are at greater risk. Drug exposure, unsafe prescribing practices, and easy access are other risk factors for opioid dependence disorder.
Q: What exactly is “recovery”?
A: Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is built on access to evidence-based clinical treatment and recovery support services for all populations. The adoption of recovery by behavioral health systems in recent years has signaled a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental and/or substance use conditions. Today, when individuals with mental and/or substance use disorders seek help, they are met with the knowledge and belief that anyone can recover and/or manage their conditions successfully. The value of recovery and recovery-oriented behavioral health systems is widely accepted by states, communities, health care providers, peers, families, researchers, and advocates including the U.S. Surgeon General.
Q: I’m wondering how big the Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition will be- come and if it’s just another agency needing funding?
A: LRSAC currently engages volunteers who meet monthly and is membership supported at this time. It is not an agency, nor does it hope to become one. It is a collaborative effort across multiple sectors of the greater Bridgton Lakes Region area and a result of the vision of Dr. Peter Leighton and Chief Richard Stillman, who saw the impact that the opioid crisis was having on public health and public safety systems. They convened a small group of local activists who determined to work on this community problem — it won’t be solved by an agency, but by a concerted and sustained effort using proven strategies and measuring change in specific local indicator data. Significant public money has already been allocated to address the opioid crisis, LRSAC wants to ensure they are invested in strategies that produce measurable results.
Q: Are LRSAC speakers free?
A: Yes. To request a speaker, email lrsacoalition@gmail.com.
LRSAC is a substance abuse coalition of all volunteers from various sectors of the greater Bridgton area; business, civic, education, faith, government, health care, judiciary, law enforcement, media, parents, recovery, treatment, and youth. Our purpose is to bring people, information and ideas together to end opioid abuse; remove barriers that prevent people from receiving treatment; and strengthen our community by promoting under- standing of opioid use disorders and treatment. Presentations are tailored for a variety of audiences.
