The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" #39: 6-28-23

VOLUME 2023          June 28, 2023         NUMBER 39

President Thad Hall welcomed the membership, followed by the Flag Salute.

Program Introduction:

Craig Cox introduced Asia Sampson, Riley County Health Department, who spoke on opioid misuse and prevention.  Asia has been with the Health Department since January as a Community Health Educator.  Before this position she was a Pharmacy Tech at Ft. Riley, and her husband is stationed at Ft. Riley.  She goes to high schools in Pottawatomie, Riley, and Geary Counties to talk about substance abuse. 

Asia’s mission is to empower our community to increase awareness of opioids and decrease youth substance use.  Her objectives are:

Discuss the evolution of the opioid overdose epidemic.
Explore the different categories of opioids, the impact of fentanyl and illicitly manufactured drugs on opioid overdose deaths and using naloxone during an opioid emergency.
Discuss community-based prevention strategies that target prescription drug and illicit substance use.
Discuss prevention strategies that focus on increasing protective factors within a community.

There have been three waves of opioid overdose deaths.  The first wave was prescription opioid overdose deaths.  The second wave was the rise in heroin overdose deaths that started in 2010 as doctors tightened the prescription requirements for opioids.  The third wave was the rise in synthetic opioid overdose deaths which started in 2013.  There has been a very sharp rise in 2019 for death due to synthetic opioids and psychostimulants, excluding cocaine.

Opioids are used primarily in medicine for pain relief and treatment of opioid use disorders and include three basic categories.  Natural opiates include opium morphine, and codeine.  Semi-synthetic opioids include heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone (OxyContin), and hydromorphone.  Fully synthetic opioids include fentanyl, methadone, demerol, and tramadol.

There are both short term and long-term effects of opioids.  Short term positive effects are pain relief, relaxed state, increase in feelings of euphoria.  However, there are short term and long-term negative effects also.  Short-term negative effects include sleepiness and dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, constipation, severe itching, and slowed breathing.  Long-term negative effects include physical dependence, pneumonia, insomnia, infections, muscle and bone pain, and decreased liver functions.

Fentanyl, like other opioid analgesics, produces pain relief, relaxation, euphoria, sedation, and respiratory depression.  Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is used in fake prescription look-alike pills and are very difficult to tell from legitimate prescription pills.  They are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms.  Studies have shown that four in ten contain a lethal dose.  Because they are not mixed in highly controlled processes, individual pills may contain more fentanyl than other pills in the same batch.  One can’t tell if the pill is counterfeit and can’t tell if it contains fentanyl or not.

Opioid overdose occurs when there are so many opioid molecules in the brain that they overwhelm the brain receptors and block the body’s drive to breathe.  With opioid overdoses, surviving or dying depends entirely on breathing and oxygen.  Naloxone, administered quickly, can save lives of those who overdose.  It eliminates the opioid molecules in the brain receptors.  Naloxone is prescribed or co-prescribed with an opioid from health providers.  It can be obtained without a prescription from a participating pharmacist in K-TRACS.  DCCCA sometimes can provide free ones.

Prevention strategies include primary prevention strategies of strong relationships and promoting positive social norms.  Prevention strategies for prescriptions and opioids include community education, proper medication disposal, and medication safe storage.  Community education is done through providing evidence-based information on opioids and fentanyl in Kansas and your community.  communicating the risk of prescription opioid medication, patient education and advocacy, and safe medication use education.  Operation Prevention provides parent took kits, school resources, and self-paced modules.    https://www.operationprevention.com/

Guests:

Thad Hall recognized our guest speaker, Asia Sampson and Clyde Scott introduced new member Brad Horchem.

Club Stuff/Announcements:

Thad thanked everyone for partaking in the meeting mix up.

A thank you card from the Flint Hills Foster Teen Camps was circulated among the tables.

Thad announced that the Club needs someone to coordinate the recruitment of members to work marathons, such as the Bill Snyder Marathon.  It could be a significant source of new revenue for the Club.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for July 25th at the Manhattan Public Library.  The Board meetings are open to the membership to attend.

The last T-Ball game is July 6th at 6:00 pm and an umpire is needed for the game.

The Chili Crawl is scheduled for October 14th.

Next Week’s Program – Wednesday July 5th at 7:00 AM:

Katharine Hensler, Director, Riley County Historical Museum - History of Electric Lights in Manhattan.

July Meeting Schedule:

July 12th at Noon: Karen Everhart, Executive Director/Co-Founder of Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue – Equine Rescue Operation at Rainbow Meadows.

July 19th at 7:00 AM: Brian Peete, Director, Riley County Police Department – Police Activity.

July 26th at Noon: Vivienne Leyva & Associates – Riley County Public Information Department – History of the Riley County Fire District #1.

Adjourned with the Optimist Creed