Muskingum Behavioral Health is reminding parents to keep tabs on their teenagers this summer.
Executive Director Steve Carrel said when young people are unsupervised, they are more likely to use drugs and alcohol. He said prescription painkillers are becoming an epidemic across the country.
"In the last ten years, nationwide we've seen a 350% increase in unintentional overdoses from painkillers," said Carrel. "It's definitely a deadly problem that we...
The abuse of prescription drugs is becoming more and more common...
Overdose drug deaths by prescription painkillers are now the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio. Muskingum Behavioral Health's Steve Carrel said it's becoming a lot easier for people to get ahold of prescription drugs.
"From surveys that have been done, most people, especially young people, start using opiates that they get from family, friends... not a doctor. It's not the seedy drug dealer...
Appalachian Ohio sits above the state average for prescribed painkillers.
Muskingum County Behavioral Health's Steve Carrel said the higher than normal numbers could partly be due to pill mills.
"Part of the problem for Appalachian Ohio was the pain mills of Southern Ohio," said Carrel. "Many of whom are out of business. I saw a chart that shows the largest drop in prescribed opiates is actually in Southern Ohio where those clinics were."
Those addicted...
Over 50 area teenagers volunteered their free time to learn something outside of school Saturday...
Muskingum Behavioral Health hosted "Peer Prevention Day" at Hallowed Hills Campground. Prevention Coordinator Kris Headley said the education focused on a number of topics that affect teens daily.
"They're learning from their other peers, which seems to be more effective. So they're learning about drug and alcohol awareness, how to prevent bullying and violence in...
Ohio's Governor is launching a campaign geared toward reducing prescription drug abuse by highlighting the stories of those who have been impacted by the addictions.
According to Muskingum Behavioral Health Executive Director Steve Carrel prescription pain killer abuse has hit an all time high, with more overdoses than any other drug, including cocaine or heroin.
"Contrary to what most people think, as far as getting it from a prescription, the vast majority of pain killers...
Marijuana use is on the rise, especially among young adults.
According to a national survey conducted by the Substance Abuse Health Service Administration the use of illicit drugs increased between 2008 and 2010, revealing that 8.9% of the population were current illicit drug users. Marijuana seemed to be one of the prime factors in the overall rise.
"The medical marijuana efforts to pass in various states and that whole argument decreases young peoples attitudes that there...
"Drunkorexia" - - a non-medical term but one that is becoming increasingly more common among college campuses and health officials.
It's the combination of binge drinking and anorexic behavior. Executive Director of Muskingum Behavioral Health Steve Carrel said it's a disorder where an individual skimps on food calories during the day so that they are free to drink heavily that night without the guilt of taking in too many calories.
"College and heavy drinking...
Muskingum Behavioral Health is opening its doors at a new location.
The facility has moved from the north end of Zanesville to 601 Underwood Street. Executive director Steve Carrel said after 26 years, it was time for a change.
"At this spot, we have all the staff in the same place, we're more centrally located - just north of the interstate, which is much closer to our clientele," said Carrel.
Carrel said Muskingum Behavioral Health will continue to provide...
After more than twenty years of service on the north end of Zanesville, Muskingum Behavioral Health is moving.
Executive Director Steve Carrel says they haven't outgrown their current facility but want their staff to all be in one building and also want a more central location to meet their clients needs.
"We're going to have the same amount of space, used much better plus the big bonus is it's closer to our clients. About 60 to 65 percent of our clients are south of the...
It was 30 years ago that a local organization started to help people in our community with substance abuse problems.
In 1981 Muskingum Behavioral Health began developing programs to address the issues of drug and alcohol abuse. The organization began with only three employees, one of which is now Executive Director, Steve Carrell. Carrel said it's a constant battle, the drugs change but the goal doesn't.
"It keeps growing, and we're trying to treat as best we can as...
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