In 2015, 27 million individuals 12 and older used illicit drugs, according to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality — that is 10.2 percent of the U.S. population.
It’s not just a national issue; it’s in our own backyard. It’s likely you know someone, whether it’s a family member, friend or neighbor, who has been impacted by addiction.
A 2014 Missouri Student Survey of students in grades 6-12 in Stone County reported that 11.5 percent used cigarettes, 10.6 percent used e-cigarettes, 14.9 percent used alcohol and 4.6 percent used prescription drugs.
We have a problem. Thankfully, we are not in a crisis, although if you are dealing with addiction it is. What does it mean to recognize that we have a problem in our community, but not have a crisis on our hands? It means now is the time to do something. We are at a point where we can focus on the future and not only avoid a crisis, but improve the quality of life throughout our community for generations to come.
CoxHealth, through a generous grant from Skaggs Foundation, is leading a comprehensive, community-wide Substance Abuse Initiative. We have partnered with Dr. William Geary, a national expert on substance abuse and prevention and community coalitions who has more than 18 years of hands-on experience helping communities like ours implement and evaluate best practices in substance abuse prevention.
I invite you to join us Thursday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson for the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative Community Summit, where Dr. Geary will share his initial findings from a recent community assessment. He will also facilitate a discussion on proactive approaches we can take to combat and prevent substance abuse.
We have a lot of passionate people and organizations already working in our community to tackle this issue. By leveraging those existing resources, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen Stone and Taney counties and promote an environment that encourages health, wellness and prosperity. It will take all of us to ensure the statistics for our community to improve!
Source: Springfield News Leader