Understanding addiction clarifies value of Narcan

Opinion: February 19, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

As a clinician who has worked with hundreds of individuals struggling with addiction in our community, I felt compelled to share my response to a letter published titled “Giving Narcan to addicts can be counterproductive.” I would like to share some insights gained from working with addicts on the front lines of this epidemic.

Though surely not intentional, media coverage of the heroin epidemic is often one-sided and reinforces misunderstandings surrounding addiction. For example, we often hear about individuals who are administered Narcan only to overdose again the same day. While most would expect that being resuscitated would serve as a wake-up call, addict thinking doesn’t work this way. To understand addict behavior, we must understand addict thinking; however, this is not typically publicized.

Once an individual has been administered Narcan, he or she will go into withdrawal. Withdrawal can be so intense that all rational thinking is impossible, and thus, the addict goes to the last person they bought their drug of choice from in an attempt to end the sickness, and again overdoses. Avoiding withdrawal is a daily struggle for addicts, one that takes priority over everything. Fear of withdrawal is a primary reason why addicts continue to use, despite wanting to get clean. Once addicted, individuals develop a tolerance and no longer get “high,” but rather need opiates to feel “normal.”

Many assume that addicts want to be given Narcan and use it as a “safety net.” This belief stems from misinformation and casts unnecessary doubt on the use of a medication that has saved tens of thousands. It has always surprised me that many addicts’ initial reaction to being revived is anger and panic related to fear of withdrawal. Anybody reading that would question the rationale behind this, but we must remember that we are dealing with a disease that impairs rational thinking.

To withhold or decrease the use of Narcan because it might enable an addict to keep using is akin to denying to perform surgery for patients suffering heart attacks because it might enable them to return to eating Big Macs. Narcan is not the “cure” for opiate addiction, but its use does give addicts another chance to pursue recovery.

Chelsey Zoldan, Canfield

Hats off to United Way team

I want to extend my congratulations and appreciation to the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley’s President Bob Hannon and his team, board of directors and 2016 campaign chairman Gary Small not only for exceeding their campaign goal of $2.8 million but for raising the highest amount in the past 12 years, with more than $3 million.

I’ve known Bob for many years, and he has worked tirelessly since he took the helm at the United Way in 2008 to help change the lives of youth and their families in our community. He walked into the organization just as the recession was occurring and faced a tough battle, as businesses in our Valley were hit hard. But Bob kept a heavy focus on the annual campaigns to ensure funds for a successful outcome for those the agency assists.

As a result, Bob and his staff have steadily grown contributions over the years, and he has done a phenomenal job in transitioning the United Way to the community impact organization that he envisioned when he first took over. As a result, programs like Success After 6 have made a significant difference in the lives of those they touch.

And I can only imagine that because of the efforts of Bob and his team, there will be much more to come.

Tom Humphries, Youngstown

Tom Humphries is president and chief executive officer of the Regional Chamber.

Concealed-carry makes public campuses safer

The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees and President James Tressel have an important decision to make in regards to their students’ safety on campus.

In December, Gov. John Kasich signed Senate Bill 199 into law. This law allows public universities in Ohio to opt in to allow concealed-carry firearms on their campuses.

In the month or so that followed, numerous universities throughout the state decided to reject the new provisions. This is a mistake that could cost students their lives.

We live in a world where acts of terrorism, whether foreign or domestic, are on the rise. The attack at Ohio State University, the Umpqua Community College shooting in Oregon and the Virginia Tech massacre are just a few of these unfortunate affairs.

Each of these tragedies could have been avoided had campuses allowed concealed-carry permit holders to bring their handguns onto campus.

In these situations, the police aren’t always lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. If Officer Alan Horujko wasn’t already on his way to the scene of the attack at OSU, many more students could have been injured or lost their lives. A well-educated and trained individual can end a deadly confrontation before a drop of innocent blood is spilled.

I urge universities throughout Ohio to rethink their stance on this life-saving law. Humans are ingrained with the instincts of fight or flight. However, an unarmed student facing an armed attacker faces only one viable option. The campus- carry law can turn the tables.

Rick Henneman, Boardman

The political establishment fails white working class

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump drew big crowds throughout the 2016 presidential race. Candidates like Jeb Bush and John Kasich simply couldn’t gain any traction. When this phenomenon first unveiled, politicians, pundits and media people were baffled. Because only a small portion of those crowds were attended by people of color, scholars concluded early on that something was going on in the white working middle-class.

To explain this phenomenon, it’s necessary to debunk the political rhetoric that the former president was responsible for the job loss overseas. Consider the 1950s. Most household appliances were manufactured and produced in the U.S. By 1971, most household appliances were manufactured overseas. By 1990, mass deindustrialization took place as many big companies relocated overseas. At that time, Obama could have been somewhere in Indonesia.

The job loss affected white middle-class workers first. They dominated the big money jobs. By the time blacks started making economic gains due to civil - rights activity, the industrial giants started relocating overseas.

E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post writes that for 35 years, the white working class suffered as the politicians did nothing to replace their economic loss.

Sociologist Barbara Ehrenreigh said that many of these whites were forced to take lower-paying jobs, struggling alongside blacks and Hispanics. Despair followed. Many turned to alcoholism, drugs and suicide.

These are the Americans who came out in record numbers to attend the Trump and Sanders rallies. The political establishment had failed them. It had become increasingly difficult to maintain those big suburban homes. Higher education for their loved ones was no longer affordable. The political establishment had addressed the needs of other groups while ignoring them. They were angry. How else could they have shown their disgust?

In his farewell address, Obama referred to these Americans. To paraphrase his comment: You never understand a person unless you consider things from their point of view. It might appear that they have the economic advantage, but what would you do if all of a sudden your whole world was upended by economical, cultural and technological change?

Alfred Spencer, Warren