West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced his office will feature the Doddridge County High School vs. Petersburg High School gridiron matchup as an Opioid Abuse Prevention Game of the Week.
The initiative is a week-long endeavor that engages with student athletes, coaches, school officials and West Virginia communities. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office advise the respective coaches about the dangers of opioid use and provide educational material for display and distribution in the schools to cultivate more discussion of the issue.
The week culminates with the Attorney General’s Office staffing an information booth at each of the select sporting events to distribute opioid abuse awareness materials.
“It’s vital that we reach students to teach them about the dangerous and devastating consequences of opioid abuse,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “Educational programs are crucial to blocking opioid abuse. The earlier we reach our kids, the better our chances of stopping them from falling victim to this horrible epidemic.”
“Without education, families may not know how easily addiction can begin with treatment for common athletic injuries.” Attorney General Morrisey continued. “There are real risks to using opioids in pain management and our goal is preventing senseless deaths by making everyone aware of how dangerous these medications can be. By providing education and informational materials to students and their families, we are striving to end opioid abuse once and for all.”
Opioid painkillers may temporarily relieve pain, but they do not address the underlying injury and can have harmful side effects. Additionally, these medications also have remarkable similarities to heroin.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss alternative treatment plans with their child’s health care provider. Substitute therapies include non-opioid prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, and physical, occupational or massage therapy.
If an opioid medication is necessary, parents and caregivers are advised to only use the medication as directed, closely monitor their child’s use, safely dispose of any unused pills and talk about the fundamental dangers of misuse, abuse and sharing.
Now in its eighth year, the initiative is part of a broader partnership to tackle opioid use in high school athletics. It involves the Attorney General’s Office and the West Virginia Board of Medicine.
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