According to the Center for Disease Control, drug overdose deaths continue to increase in the United States.
Around 68% of the more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid. On average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
So much damage has already been done, but we all can help knock out opioid misuse and addiction.
Here are some things you can do:
- Knowledge is power. Talk to your family members and your doctors to understand more about opioid use and abuse. Become better informed and get involved by reading about this important topic. Check out the website for Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey >
- Opioid addiction can happen faster than most of us realize. In fact, in as little as five days, you can start to become dependent. Should you or a loved one need pain relief, talk to your doctor about alternatives to opioids.
- If you need to use an opioid pain medication, be sure to use it as prescribed and properly secure medications in your home. If you feel you are losing control of your use, reach out for help to get addiction treatment. Atlantic Behavioral Health can be a good place to start this process.