Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jan 2016
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2016 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Alexa Eggleston
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n032/a07.html

THE HEAVY TOLL OF DRUG OVERDOSES

To the Editor:

Your compelling article "Drug Overdoses Propel Rise in Mortality 
Rates of Whites" (front page, Jan. 17) ends with this quote: "There 
are people whose lives are so hard they break." But we know that 
lives don't break overnight. Most people with substance use disorders 
started using alcohol or other drugs before the age of 18, when the 
brain is still developing and teenagers are vulnerable.

Sadly, we need to consider more "upstream" approaches to address the 
opiate epidemic. We should focus more effort on those who begin to 
use in their early teens and engage young people in honest 
conversations about why they are using alcohol and drugs. Then we can 
help them deal with issues like stress, anxiety or trauma that 
contribute to their use.

A combination of screening and early intervention in health care, 
school and other community settings will create an early warning 
system that can help reduce the number of lives broken and lost.

ALEXA EGGLESTON

Agoura Hills, Calif.

The writer is senior program officer, domestic programs, for the 
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom