Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse (BVCASA) hosted two events around the nationwide opioid epidemic.
The Town Hall Meeting on May 23rd provided the Bryan/College Station community an opportunity to discuss the issue at hand. Although this is a nationwide epidemic, the Town Hall Meeting panel was comprised of local and qualified members of our own community.
This helped give the public insight into what is occurring in our own backyard. The meeting was not only informative, but a starting point for what was to come at the Opioid Training.
A total of 80 people attended the Opioid Training on June 27th at the Blinn Student Center in Bryan. Co-founders of the Texas Overdose Naloxone Initiative, Mark Kinzly and Charles Thibodeaux, presented information on overdose prevention, education, and Naloxone access.
They discussed the rise of the epidemic and reiterated what many agencies and organizations have said by calling it “The epidemic of our generation.” Kinzly and Charles touched on various aspects of opioid use such as: risk factors for use, how to recognize an overdose, and how to treat an overdose by using a suboxone treatment.
They also discussed how opioids affect the brain and the duration of effects for different forms of the substances like heroin, codeine, and fentanyl. Overall, Mark and Charles gave an astounding and informative presentation according to the positive feedback from the audience.
In addition to the efforts provided by these events, the Health and Human Services Commission allocated $27.4 million to the state of Texas to help combat the opioid crisis.
If given the opportunity and awarded the grant, BVCASA will use this money to continue to provide prevention, intervention, and treatment services to the Brazos Valley. We will educate those who may be using the substance of the dangers and consequences of opiates.
Through education, we will also help prevent further use and abuse of opiates. Our intervention staff will maintain its outreach by informing the Brazos Valley of the services offered.
Lastly, the appropriate treatment plan will be implemented based on each individual’s need and severity of their opiate addiction. In conclusion, BVCASA has and will continue to serve the Brazos Valley.
