PROVO, Utah—Imagine being held under water and not being able to breathe. Now imagine feeling like this on a day-to-day basis. This is a feeling similar to what many drug addicts experience when they have not had their drugs.
Rock, Springville, is one of many individuals who dealt with prescription drug addiction. Rock first got addicted prescription drugs in high school and eventually overdosed in December 2003. Fortunately he survived, but the recovery process was long and strenuous.
After years of recovery, Rock now shares his story in hopes that it will discourage people from getting involved with prescription drugs and will educate individuals and families already struggling.
“I’m hoping this has something to do with why I was spared. That I’m able to make people aware of what’s going on, what’s really going on,” said Rock.
Rock works with SMART Utah to help educate parents and students about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. He has spoken to youth groups, and he emphasizes the importance of communication in the home. Children with parents who communicate with them are less likely to get involved in drugs. Rock also gave advice for those who have friends who struggle.
“Don’t be sacred to ask what’s going on,” said Rock. “If you know something’s going on, don’t be afraid: Bring it up. Be there for them. Support them…the best thing is to not shut the door on the whole thing.”
Another issue surrounding prescription drug abuse is the doctors who write out the prescriptions. Rock explained that many doctors just prescribe the pills without thinking twice about it. Doctors have a lot of power that kids know how to abuse in order to get drugs.
“I played the system,” said Rock. “We need to take the power away from those guys (the doctors), monitor it better.”
Rock wants to help people understand that prescription drug abuse leaves no room for apathy. People need to be actively fighting against it and be careful. Not everyone can be as fortunate as he was.
“I’m hoping I’m putting the fear in people who have never had a problem to just not do it,” said Rock. “Just don’t do drugs. It’s not worth it.”
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Prescription drug abuse: ‘Most people don’t get a second chance.’
PROVO, Utah—For Rock Simmonds, Springville, prescription drug abuse started with a snowmobiling accident that led to surgery on his shoulder and a narcotic prescription. The “buzz” he could get from prescribed narcotics eventually became a “buzz” he could almost not bear to live without. It almost took his life.
Prescription drug abuse is something Rock and most of his family deal with, and they are not alone. It is becoming more prevalent in Utah County and the surrounding areas. Rock’s story is unique, and he hopes it will discourage others from getting involved in prescription drug abuse.
In high school Rock’s construction job took a toll on his body. When he was really sore, he would call someone to see if they could get him something to ease the pain. He continued to do this and eventually got introduced to oxycontin—a narcotic pain killer.
“It was just a tiny white pill, but it was six or seven times the buzz. I got my hands on those anytime I could,” said Rock.
Rock eventually found a doctor who prescribed oxycontins. He would fill his prescription, use it and then refill and begin again. One night a friend invited him to get high. He had just filled his prescription and was ready to go. This night would be one Rock would never forget.
Rock’s last memory of that night before he woke up in the hospital a couple weeks later was of him popping a few more pills. Those pills led to an overdose which put Rock in a two-week coma followed by six months of re-learning even the basic functions of walking, talking and reading.
Rock was lucky to be alive. The long and frustrating therapy process led to his eventual recovery, marriage and two children.
However, “I wouldn’t recommend that for anybody, at all, ever,” said Rock. “It’s not worth it. Most people don’t get a second chance like I did, so don’t put yourself in that place that you have to get a second chance.”
Prescription drug abuse is something Rock and most of his family deal with, and they are not alone. It is becoming more prevalent in Utah County and the surrounding areas. Rock’s story is unique, and he hopes it will discourage others from getting involved in prescription drug abuse.
In high school Rock’s construction job took a toll on his body. When he was really sore, he would call someone to see if they could get him something to ease the pain. He continued to do this and eventually got introduced to oxycontin—a narcotic pain killer.
“It was just a tiny white pill, but it was six or seven times the buzz. I got my hands on those anytime I could,” said Rock.
Rock eventually found a doctor who prescribed oxycontins. He would fill his prescription, use it and then refill and begin again. One night a friend invited him to get high. He had just filled his prescription and was ready to go. This night would be one Rock would never forget.
Rock’s last memory of that night before he woke up in the hospital a couple weeks later was of him popping a few more pills. Those pills led to an overdose which put Rock in a two-week coma followed by six months of re-learning even the basic functions of walking, talking and reading.
Rock was lucky to be alive. The long and frustrating therapy process led to his eventual recovery, marriage and two children.
However, “I wouldn’t recommend that for anybody, at all, ever,” said Rock. “It’s not worth it. Most people don’t get a second chance like I did, so don’t put yourself in that place that you have to get a second chance.”
Utah native brings light to substance abuse
Even with deaths in the family from prescription drug abuse, Heather Ellison’s family still struggles daily to cope with this addiction problem. Secrecy penetrated the family and communication was stopped. This is why Heather is trying to bring light to Utah families suffering with the same problems and make the health system less enabling for substance abuse.
“I want doctors to, instead of just going straight to a narcotic… to try some therapy or some higher dose ibuprofen first,” said Heather.
Heather explains that drug users know the symptoms to say to get the pills. The addicts memorize the symptoms and the doctors, doing their job, try to alleviate their patients’ symptoms. No system is in place to track how much of a prescription is being given to an individual hopping from doctor to doctor and pharmacy to pharmacy.
It is easy for someone to get narcotics in Utah County. It is even easier for them to get addicted. Once a family is aware of the issue, it is too often kept in the dark. Parents, like in Heather’s case, wanted the issue to work itself out and thought just love would solve everything.
“We just want to get information out to families on how to teach them to not enable those who are influenced,” said Heather.
Families want harmony. Because of this, sometimes they ignore that things are going on just to maintain that peace. This is not the answer though. Heather is starting “Turn the Lights On” to promote families bringing this issue out of the dark and into the light. She works with SMART Utah County to raise awareness about this increasingly prevalent issue.
“Do not leave it to fate because it will take your child away,” said Heather.
“I want doctors to, instead of just going straight to a narcotic… to try some therapy or some higher dose ibuprofen first,” said Heather.
Heather explains that drug users know the symptoms to say to get the pills. The addicts memorize the symptoms and the doctors, doing their job, try to alleviate their patients’ symptoms. No system is in place to track how much of a prescription is being given to an individual hopping from doctor to doctor and pharmacy to pharmacy.
It is easy for someone to get narcotics in Utah County. It is even easier for them to get addicted. Once a family is aware of the issue, it is too often kept in the dark. Parents, like in Heather’s case, wanted the issue to work itself out and thought just love would solve everything.
“We just want to get information out to families on how to teach them to not enable those who are influenced,” said Heather.
Families want harmony. Because of this, sometimes they ignore that things are going on just to maintain that peace. This is not the answer though. Heather is starting “Turn the Lights On” to promote families bringing this issue out of the dark and into the light. She works with SMART Utah County to raise awareness about this increasingly prevalent issue.
“Do not leave it to fate because it will take your child away,” said Heather.
Utah Family Torn Apart by Substance Abuse
Heather Ellison happily married her husband, started her own family and became part of a new family. She never imagined she would have to explain to her little children that their uncles died from prescription drug abuse.
For the past ten years, Heather Ellison watched from the outside as her husband’s family struggled with the battles of substance abuse. Three members lost the battle with prescription drug abuse in this short amount of time. She has witnessed the devastating proceedings throughout her family’s journey.
“In my situation, they (the family) don’t want to deal with it; they want fate to work it out; they want time to work it out,” said Heather, “They think just loving them is going to work it out.”
Heather’s brother-in-law started using painkillers after he had an accident. The pills then migrated to his siblings, cousins, spouses, friends and so on until a web of drug abuse was spun.
Secrecy and down-playing permeated the family as the substance abuse continued and escalated. The situation was taboo to talk about. Once, Heather went to stop her brother-in-law from driving while high with his little daughter in the backseat when her in-laws said not to interfere because it was not her business. Even with the loss of the one’s husband and the loss of their brother, two of the sister-in-laws are still addicted and Heather finds it difficult to be heard.
“They love their daughters but they don’t know how to love them to help them,” said Heather.
Dealing with the effects of prescription drug abuse has been a struggle for the whole family. Heather’s story is just one of the hundreds of families in Utah County alone affected by the growing influence of substance abuse.
“We’ve had a whole family…just completely destroyed,” said an emotional Heather.
For the past ten years, Heather Ellison watched from the outside as her husband’s family struggled with the battles of substance abuse. Three members lost the battle with prescription drug abuse in this short amount of time. She has witnessed the devastating proceedings throughout her family’s journey.
“In my situation, they (the family) don’t want to deal with it; they want fate to work it out; they want time to work it out,” said Heather, “They think just loving them is going to work it out.”
Heather’s brother-in-law started using painkillers after he had an accident. The pills then migrated to his siblings, cousins, spouses, friends and so on until a web of drug abuse was spun.
Secrecy and down-playing permeated the family as the substance abuse continued and escalated. The situation was taboo to talk about. Once, Heather went to stop her brother-in-law from driving while high with his little daughter in the backseat when her in-laws said not to interfere because it was not her business. Even with the loss of the one’s husband and the loss of their brother, two of the sister-in-laws are still addicted and Heather finds it difficult to be heard.
“They love their daughters but they don’t know how to love them to help them,” said Heather.
Dealing with the effects of prescription drug abuse has been a struggle for the whole family. Heather’s story is just one of the hundreds of families in Utah County alone affected by the growing influence of substance abuse.
“We’ve had a whole family…just completely destroyed,” said an emotional Heather.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March - SMART Recognized Efforts of Seanna Williams
We would like to recognize and thank Seanna Williams for her service to SMART. Seanna has always been an active member of SMART from the beginning. She has a high attendance rate – she has attended over 80% of SMART meetings over the past 3 years – and gladly accepts assignments. She has helped out with our Take Back events and is always excited to be in a situation where she can talk with people and educate them about substance abuse prevention and treatment.
Seanna is powerful advocate for substance abuse. She has gained the support of community businesses to help support events for people in recovery, and she has created an online group whose focus is to protect funding for substance abuse. During the legislative session you can find her convincing her legislators to save funding for substance abuse treatment and organizing rallies at the capitol. At the Drug Prevention Summit and at a recent rally on Capitol Hill, she shared her passionate story of her own recovery and her strong belief in the need for treatment and prevention.
Seanna currently works for Utah County Substance Abuse as the Foothill Outpatient Program Manager and Clinical Therapist. She joined SMART because she is tired of having clients die. She is tired of reading about overdose deaths and she is tired of the never ending stream of people just coming in the door. She would love to be out of a job in the next 5-10 years!
When Seanna is not out saving the world, she likes to relax by reading a good book, such as the Hunger Games Trilogy which she recently finished and highly recommends. Her guilty pleasure is the Twilight books and movies, but it remains a mystery whether she is Team Edward or Team Jacob.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Kari Matheson's Notes from the CADCA Training
February 2011 CADCA conference:
Information/Resources:
Information/Resources:
- National Guard Counter Drug Program
- Faceproject.org
- Talksooner.org
- April 21-Power of Talk 21-National talk to your kids about alcohol
- Focus on ‘outcome’ over ‘processes. Create environments to make healthier choices
- Difficult to change populations: college and military
- Online alcohol education for courts-www.3rdmilclassrooms.com
- Alcohol outlet density, privatization and zoning restrictions
- Power of Parents.org-MADD, family skills training DVD, piloting in Utah.
- Madd.org/powerofparents. Go where Parents are to implement program (schools, work) Using social media-leave audience with an action step. One message
- Nickelodeon’s parent site(nick.com) , Facebook site, Parentsconnect.com
- High School Campaigns targeting underage drinking around prom. Postcards to parents, law enforcement, peer-based campaign.
- Use social media to involve youth in campaigns-photovoice, Youtube, etc)
Ideas to possibly implement:
- Partnering with the National Guard Counter Drug Program
- Involving youth in educational campaigns—video contests, photo voice, poster contests.
- Implement them in high schools. Underage drinking campaigns around prom, etc.
- Partner with MADD’s Power of Parents campaign.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Dr. Steven Nelson's Notes on the CADCA Training
Notes from CADCA conference National Harbor, MD 7-10 Feb 2011
IDEAS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:
- Which chronic pain patients need to have their contracts posted on CSD? Will discuss with Lynn Webster, Jim Cloyd.
- JCAOH pain policy change in ERs needs to be explored. This matter addressed with Ron Rowe, legislative assistant to Sen. Orrin Hatch. (email Jack Klein, Kevin Sabet re: JCAOH pain policy.)
- SBIRT questions need to be incorporated into American Board of Family Practice recertification exams.
- DMV role in addressing drugged driving. 1 of 3 dead drivers had drugs in their systems. How can we establish a quantifiable threshold of impairment for drugged driving?
Megan McConnell, staffer to Rep Rogers, House Appropriations Committee, champion of Rx drug abuse prevention measures
Internet resource sites:
- utahcountyonline.gov sheriff's office, utahcourts.com
- niaaa.nih.gov NIAAA Rethinking Drinking, videos on college and underage drinking.
- Frances Harding has program to invite parents of students to educate their children about underage drinking: store.samhsa.gov/home
- www.talkaboutrx.org/index.jsp
- abovetheinfluence.org
- whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
- CADCA "Not Worth the Risk" (even if it's legal)
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