Zandex Health Care provides drug addiction education

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Zandex Health Care is providing education for health care providers on how to care for patients with addiction.

John McIntire hosted health care professions to learn more about Heroin addiction. Jim Collins, PhD, gave a presentation about the dangers of Heroin. He discussed addiction, treatment, and death due to an overdose. R.N. for Zandex Health Care Peggy Kish said more drug addicts are being referred to its long-term care environment.

“We’re receiving patients that have addiction problems, that also have health problems,” said Kish. “When they come into our environment, it can be very challenging on how to provide the addiction care. The heath care we can cover very easily, but the addiction is something that were not really familiar with.”

Kish said the start of education programs are beneficial because this level of drug addiction isn’t something most health providers have dealt with before.

“We have these major highways that make the traveling very easy for people to bring this into the community,” said Kish. “To be frankly honest with you, we just have not had a lot of training in this area. As time passes by we’re just fumbling along. We’ve got to get serious about it. It is a very serious problem in the community.”

Kish said she hopes this education session is just a start and she thinks there will be more sessions in the future.