“Opioids come in many forms and there needs to be more education on the dangers of these and the proper usage and disposal of such drugs,” said Carol Binghom, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Project Director for South Western Oklahoma Department Authority (SWODA).
The current opioid misuse and substance abuse in Washita County is staggering. In fact, it is so critical that county-wide prevention efforts are being launched. According to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (ODMHSA) Washita County is ranked as number one in opioid misuse in the state of Oklahoma with a demographic of 20- to 30-year-olds.
South Western Oklahoma Department Authority (SWODA) is under contract with ODMHSA to provide community-based prevention services for opioid misuse in Washita County. SWODA received funding from ODMHSA and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in the amount of $30,000 to use towards prevention and education in Washita County.
“I’m excited because that’s a lot of money that we get to spend in Washita County. We’re very excited to have that money in Southwest Oklahoma. It’s much needed. We have to get education out there, we have to educate the public on what we are trying to do,” stated Binghom.
They will continue to receive $30,000 a year until 2025 to continue working on their goal of reducing the amount of substance abuse. The money received can be used for many beneficial aspects such as educational programs with presenters to speak to the community and school along with knowledgeable advertisements.
Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors in your cells to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. When used as directed by one’s doctor opioid medications can safely and effectively help control acute pain, like the pain you would feel after surgery. However, when the medications are used incorrectly there can be several risks. At lower doses, opioids may make you feel sleepy. However, higher doses can slow your breathing and heart rate, which can ultimately be fatal.
The Washita County Coalition is continuously looking for new ways to expand their work plan for evidence-based prevention efforts to reach a multitude of ages.
Around late spring the coalition is striving to have presenters such as Gail Box speak on the dangers and life altering effects of opioid misuse.
Box is the mother of late Sooners’ linebacker, Austin Box, who tragically died of an unintentional overdose from opioids in 2011.
Evolution Foundation in Oklahoma may have a presenter in late spring as well. The Evolution Foundation provides resources, support, and technical assistance to families, community coalitions, and children behavioral health service providers in the state of Oklahoma.
“The campaign we are working with to make a difference and provide education is ‘Talk. They hear you’ and it’s through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a national organization. It’s all about talking to your kids about opioids. They’ll listen to you if you just talk to them about it,” explained Binghom.
The work plan also acts through providing lock boxes, Deterra bags and Narcan kits. The lock boxes are a safe way for people to lock up their prescriptions to help safeguard their medications in the home.
“You will hear when you start passing those out, how many people will say ‘yeah my son had a girlfriend come over and stole all of our medication out of the medicine cabinet.’ You will hear from people in long-term recovery say that they would go over to their family and friend’s houses and take their prescription medication from their medicine cabinets,” said Binghom.
The Deterra Safe Drug Disposal are 98% effective in permanently destroying unused prescriptions. Binghom explained that with the Deterra bags, the user can put unused medications in there that they no longer need. They add water to the Deterra bag, and it will dissolve the contents.
Binghom went on to say “We have already delivered lock boxes and Deterra bags to The Cordell Memorial Hospital. I have delivered informational teen tips on myths vs facts to the Cordell Public Schools. All of this is in hopes of dropping the number for opioid misuse in Washita County.”
The Washita County Coalition is open to anybody and everybody who wants to join the fight to end opioid misuse in Washita County. When asked how it felt being involved in something that could subsequently help thousands or even save a person’s life Binghom responded with, “I’m a retired educator. I was a teacher and an elementary principal for 27 years. Now that I’m doing this, it’s a bigger population that I can affect. I only affected my school building as an educator and now I’m affecting an entire community and county. It feels rewarding, very rewarding.” If you or anyone you know is ready to take the next
If you or anyone you know is ready to take the next steps in receiving help or guidance, you can visit okimready.org. No shame, just treatment. That’s their motto. The next coalition meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria at the Cordell Memorial Hospital. Due to current circumstances, there will be a zoom meeting option to encourage safe social distancing.
For more information on the Washita County Coalition and their powerful movement to end opioid misuse, please contact Carol Binghom at carol@ swoda.org or 580-562-5042.