{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Solutions discussed at opioid abuse forum in Corbin &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"a2vJGSo4GC\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/solutions-discussed-opioid-abuse-forum-corbin\/\">Solutions discussed at opioid abuse forum in Corbin<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/solutions-discussed-opioid-abuse-forum-corbin\/embed\/#?secret=a2vJGSo4GC\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Solutions discussed at opioid abuse forum in Corbin&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"a2vJGSo4GC\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Looking-at-AA-information-3x.jpg","thumbnail_width":468,"thumbnail_height":311,"description":"Increased awareness, early intervention and access to recovery programs will be key to dealing with the area\u2019s opioid addiction problem. That was the conclusion Monday evening during a special community forum called \u201cJourney to Recovery,\u201d held at the Corbin Public Library. Physician and Addiction Recovery Specialist Al J. Mooney, M.D., co-author of the Recovery Book, led the discussion that was attended by recovering addicts, treatment professionals, government officials and people from the general public. \u201cIt\u2019s really scary what we have,\u201d said Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney to open the forum, detailing the extent of the problem. \u201cWhen you go to Ft. Lauderdale and buy pills for $4 and come back here and sell them for $30 on the street. That\u2019s really sad. They buy them in truckloads down there.\u201d Mooney noted during his opening remarks that, unlike treatment of other diseases, he sees little correlation between more drugs being used for treatment and positive outcomes. \u201cUsually, the more drugs we use, the less death we have,\u201d Mooney noted. \u201cFor addiction, the more drugs we use, the death rates are skyrocketing. As a clinician, using those drugs to solve a problem that other solutions work for doesn\u2019t pass my smell test.\u201d Mooney said traditional 12-step programs like what are used in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous have proven effectiveness. Chuck Spice, a retired United Methodist Pastor and recovering alcoholic who hasn\u2019t had a drink in 42 years, said he\u2019s worked extensively with alcohol and drug addicts over the years. \u201cI\u2019ve found if you love them and accept them, no matter where they are at, they will listen,\u201d he said. He added that the church \u201chas the only answer\u201d when it comes to dealing with many of the guilt issues that go along with addiction. Two recovering addicts, both men, spoke during the forum. One said he found few ways to deal with his addiction until he was already serving his second stint in federal prison. The other said he now finally has hope and optimism since he\u2019s been living in a recovery house. \u201cI was shown how to live that way of life,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I got clean, I wanted to stay clean and what I wanted to do was help others.\u201d Nancy Hale, Director of Operation UNITE, gave powerful testimony about dealing with her son\u2019s own addiction in the 1990s. He was a pre-med student at Georgetown College, but ended up in jail. He\u2019s now an attorney living in Georgia after successfully beating his addiction. Hale said to reach younger folks before they become addicted to drugs is crucial. She said UNITE has over 8,000 school-aged children involved in UNITE clubs in schools across the Fifth Congressional District. \u201cWhat we\u2019ve got to do is explain to them why they need to say no and the other choices they can make,\u201d she said. \u201cThese kids know what it\u2019s like. We have to show them another path.\u201d Hale said that getting recovering addicts to volunteer and help out is vital to the effort. \u201cThose of you that are in recovery, your stories truly do give hope, but they also bring awareness.\u201d The event, organized by Tom McClure, Director at Support Centers International, included a video presentation and displays by area addiction recovery programs. Refreshments were also served."}