BY DEBBIE PAGE
In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell Project Coordinator Kristin Blumenstein shared alcohol use statistics with coalition members at the April meeting.
Research indicates that 488 people in the U.S. die each day due to excessive alcohol use.
More than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths occur each year, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Excessive alcohol use is estimated to cause a $249 billion loss to the economy annually.
In addition, Blumenstein said that seven types of cancer are linked to alcohol use, including mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast, liver, and colorectal. Oncologists are now calling for stronger alcohol policy safeguards to lower cancer risks.
‘NEVER USE ALONE’ HOTLINE
At the NC Summit on Reducing Overdose, hosted by the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, DACI staff learned about a hotline called Never Use Alone, the US National Overdose Response line that people can call when they’re using by themselves.
The hotline numbers are 800-484-3731 or 877-696-1996.
Abstinence from substance use can actually increase the chance of overdose if the person returns to using.
Returning users are in great danger because their tolerance to drugs is lower, and they can easily die from overdose. Because they feel shame when leaving recovery, they may hide their use.
This hotline is a way to privately monitor drug use use and get treatment and Narcan to them if overdose occurs.
One of the volunteer operators takes the person’s name and location information and will alert EMS to that location if the person stops responding to the operator after using.
All operators are people with lived experience. No one will ever judge, shame, or lecture the person about quitting, but if they ask for help, volunteers will get the callers the treatment resources they need in their area.
All calls are confidential. No one will ever know the substance users called, and the hotline never shares information with anyone other than EMS if an alert is needed.
DACI OUTREACH
Blumenstein said DACI is increasing youth and parent outreach by participating in Lake Norman High School’s Mental Health Day (May 2) by providing drug and alcohol education and prevention resources at all lunches. DACI also held an Iredell-Statesville Schools sponsored parent information session at Statesville High School on April 24.
DACI presented a Narcan training to seniors in the Summit Village Community. Seniors may be taking opioid medications for pain management, in combination with other prescriptions or OTC meds, that could result in overdose.
The older adult population may be be also more at-risk for overdose from prescription opioids because of a combination of medical conditions and from aging, which can impact how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates opioids from the body.
The CDC reported that the greatest increase in overdose deaths between 2021 and 2022 was in the over-65 population.
INSIGHT HUMAN SERVICES OFFERINGS
Insight Human Services is currently offering free youth prevention education programs for schools, after school programs, summer camps, and other youth-serving organizations
Insight offers “Lock Your Meds” materials, including medication lockboxes, disposal kits and rack cards available for anyone for free. The organization also offers presentations for parents, agencies, schools, etc. about medication safety and the importance of securing medications and disposing of them properly.
Insight recently launched the “Talk It Up. Lock It Up!” campaign, which targets underage drinking/alcohol use through community/parent education and awareness initiatives. The program also offers alcohol locks for bottles and cabinets or refrigerators.
Youth involvement is desired to help send out the “Talk It Out” campaign messaging. If you are working with or serve youth and would like to get involved, reach out to Regina Propst or Ashley Milam for more information
Insight’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” presentation is geared towards parents, caregivers or other adults working with youth. The session walks participants through a mock teen bedroom with items in it that might indicate youth substance use. Information will be shared about the most common substances being used by today’s youth and what to look for.
Fatal Vision Alcohol Google activities can be done with any age but are primarily focused on teens of driving age to prevent underage drinking and impaired driving.
Contact Ashley Milam at amilam@insightnc.org or Regina Propst at rpropst@insightnc.org for questions regarding the programs and services or to schedule a presentation.
UPCOMING PARTNER EVENTS
♦ The Iredell County Health Department is presenting “Breaking the Stigma: A Conversation with Tiffany Jenkins on Opioid Misuse” at the Statesville Civic Center on Wednesday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tiffany Jenkins, co-host of the “Tiff and Flip Show” and “Take it or Leave It,” will share her personal journey and insights on opioid misuse to break the stigma surrounding this important topic. Lunch will be provided and registration is required on Eventbrite at https://BreakingTheStigmaICHD.eventbrite.com.
♦ On Saturday, May 10, the Boys and Girls Club (1001 Cochran Street) is hosting a Community Day of Appreciation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for veterans and their families. Co-hosting the event are PVAC, Foundation of Hope Ministries, Grill4God, and the Statesville Police Department. The event will have free food, games, and arts and crafts as well as vendors sharing information about community resources. Contact Pam Navey at 704-902-1627 if interested in sharing agency resources.
♦ The Salvation Army is having a free community lunch on Tuesday, May 13, at its facility at 1361 Caldwell Street from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
♦ The Iredell County Health Department is hosting “Mindful Moments: A Mental Health Wellness Experience on Tuesday, May 13, at the Unity Center (1145 Salisbury Road) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free activities include massage therapy for stress relief, guided journaling to reflect and recharge, rock painting for creative expression, a calming meditation class, and the exclusive premiere of Glowbie, a fun and engaging way to explore emotions. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindful-moments-a-mental-wellness-experience-tickets-1316268908739.
♦ On Thursday May, 22, Be Well Iredell is holding its second annual mental health forum, “What Does It Mean To Be Well?,” featuring keynote speaker Carla Carlise, a Tedx speaker and award-winning author and mental health advocate. Other speakers are Jeff Eades, who will speak about mental health and community resources, and Brad Borders, a U.S. Army vet and veterans’ mental health advocate. The forum is at the Charles Mack Center in Mooresville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and lunch will be served. Registration is required at https://uwiredell.org/be-well-iredell/.
♦ The 8th Annual Iredell County Walk for Recovery will be on Saturday, September 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the South Iredell High School Performing Arts Center. This free, family-friendly event will celebrate the hope and healing that comes with recovery from substance use and mental illness with words from three inspiring speakers as well as community leaders. Family activities, including music, magician, balloon artist, face painting, martial arts and other performances, photo booth, art exhibit, games, and crafts, will also add to the fun. A free catered dinner of hotdogs, side items , and water will also be served. Other treats will be distributed by individual vendors. Contact Kristin Blumenstein at kristin.daci@gmail.com if interested in being a vendor or volunteer (no product sales allowed). For more information, visit https://sites.google.com/view/iredellcountywalkforrecovery/.
♦ The Statesville Housing Authority is hosting a Save the Block party on its campus at 110 West Allison Street on Saturday, June 14, from 12 to 2 p.m. The event will feature live music, games, and food.
ABOUT DACI
DACI is a community-based coalition of agencies, organizations, and individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in our community, focusing on preventing drug and alcohol misuse, abuse, and overdose deaths through public awareness, education, harm reduction, and advocacy.
NEXT MEETING
Individuals and organizations interested in joining DACI in its mission to to inform and educate the community to create advocates for reducing substance misuse in Iredell County can join the coalition at its next meeting on Monday, May 19, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Agricultural Extension Center at 444 Bristol Drive in Statesville. Lunch is provided.
Contact Blumenstein at kristin@daciredell.com for more information.