OP-EDS
Stemming the opioid crisis Plastic polutes our oceans
Caribbean Life, January 3, 2020 11
listed fentanyl as a drug they used
doubled from 2018 to 2019; however,
nearly three times as many people
tested positive for it. Because people
who struggle with fentanyl addiction
face the highest risk of death,
it is Mountainside’s belief that the
respective interventions and treatments
used should reflect this.
Research indicates that the longer
a person engages in treatment, the
greater their likelihood for ongoing
recovery. Addiction is not a moral
failing but a chronic disease. As
such, Mountainside fully supports
legislation that expands insurance
coverage for addiction treatment.
To save even more lives across the
country, Mountainside calls on lawmakers
in all levels of government
to change, implement, or enforce
legislation that:
Provides true mental health
and addiction treatment parity.
Regulates the healthcare
insurance industry so that it covers
addiction treatment. Based on the
National Survey on Drug Use and
Health study, of the roughly 314,000
United States residents who needed
drug addiction treatment in 2018
but couldn’t get it, about 100,000
had health coverage that did not
cover the full – or even the partial –
cost of treatment.
Improves the efficacy of care in
the addiction treatment industry by
introducing quality standards. Drug
rehabilitation centers are largely
unregulated, and many do not provide
evidence-based, effective care.
We need to work together to take
a multi-faceted approach to the opioid
epidemic. We must address it as
the public health crisis it is and be
quick to act. According to a report
issued by the White House, the economic
and social costs of the opioid
crisis are enormous, with estimates
approaching $80 billion per year.
The cost to address this issue could
range from $60 billion for treatment
over the next five years to $100 billion
for a combined approach to
prevention, treatment, and community
resilience efforts. If we do not
take efforts to attack the epidemic
from all fronts, then the cost to the
country will reach levels we can
never afford.
Andre Basso is chief operating
officer of Mountainside alcohol and
drug addiction treatment center.
Continued from Page 10
Microplastics
Microplastic are small plastic particles
(less than 5mm) and it’s estimated
there are between 15-51 trillion
of these individual individual plastic
pieces floating in our oceans.
In a recent UK study, scientists
examined 50 stranded sea creatures
including porpoises, dolphins, grey
seals and a pygmy sperm whale, and
microplastics were found in the gut of
every single animal.
And it’s not just ocean creatures
that are at risk. Microplastics have
also been discovered in seafood, with
research suggesting that each seafood
consumer in Europe ingests an average
of 11,000 plastic particles each
year.
How Can We Beat It?
Plastic pollution is a man-made disaster,
and it won’t go away by itself. To
end plastic pollution, we must start
by reducing our plastic consumption,
particularly single-use plastics.
Much of the power lies with the
large corporations and manufacturers,
and they desperately need to realise
their responsibility, and find other
alternatives to plastic.
But you can still make an impact on
a smaller scale, by reducing your own
plastic consumption and encouraging
others around you.
It won’t be easy, since almost everything
we buy is packaged in plastic. In
fact, UK supermarkets alone produce
800,000 tonnes of plastic every year.
But start by making small changes
wherever possible.
Look for zero waste products like
shampoo bars and deoderant sticks,
or products made from plastic alternatives
such as bamboo toothbrushes
and glass milk bottles. Participate in a
beach clean every time you visit a body
of water.
There are also plenty of great charities
working to help combat plastic
pollution. Plastic Oceans, Project
Aware and Changing Tides Foundation
are just a few examples but there are
many more out there to choose from!
*SLO active are an exciting new
social enterprise dedicated to cleaning
up and protecting our ocean. They are
cause-led, focusing on oceanwear and
activism. For every piece bought, SLO
active will donate to one of their ocean
charity partners of your choice. They
call it ‘Earth to Ocean’. Learn more at
https://sloactive.com/.
Continued from Page 10
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
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