Residents are invited to attend a special presentation at the local clinic this evening, focused on understanding and treating addiction.
Targeting problems with alcohol and opioids, Dr. Janice Sheufelt will lead the
public presentation, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the
conference room at Alaska Island Community Services, a division of Southeast Regional Health Consortium. As the medical director for primary care across the SEARHC network, Sheufelt will explain the scope of the addiction problem facing Southeast communities, while also offering solutions now available to Wrangell residents.
AICS already has a strong background in behavioral health and rehabilitation services. Since its acquisition by SEARHC at the start of April, further opportunities for telemedicine and specialized assistance will be available through the regional healthcare provider’s more extensive network.
Clinical physicians in Wrangell are also currently in the process of obtaining certifications to prescribe Suboxone, or buprenorphine and naloxone, a medication primarily used to treat opioid dependence. A partial opiate agonist, Suboxone has some advantages over other opioid treatments such as methadone, in that it is more difficult to abuse.
“The impulse to do this is in response to the opioid abuse prevalence that has been increasing in the state,” explained Martha Pearson, with SEARHC Health Promotion Division.
Misuse of opioids has in recent years swept the country, and Alaska is no exception. According to state statistics 95 Alaskans died of opioid-related overdoses last year, or 74 percent of all drug related deaths. This indicates a steep rise since 2010, which saw only three deaths from heroin and 48 related to prescription pain relievers. A little more than half of last year’s deaths involved heroin, while 65 such cases involved an opioid pain reliever.
“People are struggling in all our communities,” Pearson commented.
In Wrangell, Police Chief Doug McCloskey acknowledged substance abuse exists but has remained on the whole pretty consistent.
“It’s not at the level it is at a lot of places,” he said. “Ours has not changed much. We’re not seeing a large amount of opiates and other things.”
Staff with the Division of Public Health will also be participating in tonight’s presentation. Recommendations on
how best to tackle the opioid problem in Alaska was put
forward by a special task force in January, a collaborative effort between the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Division of Public Health and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.
The Alaska Legislature has begun making moves toward curbing the opioid problem, the House on Monday passing a bill that would update statutes regarding the prescription of such drugs. Controlling the problem may be rendered more difficult,
however, due to ongoing agency spending cuts to DPH and the Alaska State Troopers.
Pearson explained there are many avenues for care, including private groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. The purpose of this evening’s meeting is to let residents know what services will be available, and how best to respond to substance abuse issues.
“All these pieces work together to keep us healthy,” she said. “The whole community is affected by someone struggling with addiction. I feel like it’s good information for everyone.”
The meeting will be at the AICS clinic on Wood Street.
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