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New prevention specialist to tackle opioid crisis

Mike Maturen

HARRISVILLE — Mike Maturen is taking over the role of substance abuse prevention specialist for Catholic Human Services, and he is concentrating his efforts on educating the public about the opioid epidemic.

In 2017, there were more than 72,000 deaths in the nation from drug overdoses, the National Institute of Drug Abuse estimated. Maturen mentioned that startling number as he addressed the Alcona County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday to announce his transition into the new role.

“It has gone beyond crisis now,” Maturen said, “and is definitely in epidemic levels.”

Maturen said he will work on community education about the opioid epidemic and create partnerships with schools and law enforcement to address the problem.

He stressed that the opioid issue is not focused on a specific subset of people. It is affecting people from all walks of life.

One of the first initiatives he is focusing on is promoting the TalkSooner smartphone application. He has put up banners at the Alcona County Sheriff’s Office and at the school to inform people about the app.

The all-in-one app provides parents and other adults who interact with kids information about how to approach the topic of substance abuse. There are detailed tips on how to talk to kids of all ages about drugs and how to approach the subject if the parent was a former drug user.

The app features a parent resource library with links to helpful articles, as well as phone numbers for help with addiction in the counties that participate in TalkSooner. Currently, Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties are all partners in the organization.

Within the app, there is information on a variety of drugs to help parents stay informed, which is especially important as new drugs and new drug-usage methods are introduced. The descriptions on the app discuss the effects of the drugs, the street names, links to local news stories, and other necessary information to help keep the community aware.

Some of the more unfamiliar drugs people may not be aware of can be found in detail on the app. There is information about the elephant tranquilizer carfentanil, which is a synthetic opioid and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. It is believed to be linked to deaths in Wayne and Kent counties.

Parents can also find out about vaping and a new method called “dripping,” which is done when the liquid from e-cigarettes is dripped onto hot coals to make it more potent and flavorful. It also exposes the user to greater emissions of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Multiple counties in the state participate in TalkSooner.org, and they are working to provide communities with the resources to combat the growing drug problem.

“I want to see our kids safe,” Maturen said, “as I think we all do.”

Kaitlin Ryan can be reached at kryan@thealpenanews.com or at 358-5693.

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