Partnership Carson City faces changing drug trends

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.This is National Drug Facts Week, an opportunity for teens and experts to come together to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Here in Carson City, community members work to dispel myths about drugs during the week — and throughout the year.Partnership Carson City, an organization which began as the Community Council on Youth in 1989, receives funding to further its mission of preventing substance abuse in our community. Partnership members work with partner organizations, including the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the Community Counseling Center, to monitor drug trends in Carson City. Recently, they have seen a significant uptick in the use of opiates, both prescription painkillers and heroin, and also a rise in the use of marijuana by young people.Hannah McDonald works with Partnership to do community outreach. She gives presentations on various sorts of drugs to diverse groups in our area. The presentations are developed to help parents, school counselors and others recognize substances and give them information about trends that affect today’s teens. Additionally, Partnership is involved in the prescription drug roundups that provide people a place to safely dispose of their expired or unused prescription drugs.Linda Lang, grants manager for Partnership, says it’s good to have a week set aside to raise awareness of substance abuse among teens, but cautions that the work is never done. “Drug Facts Week is a good time to make the community aware of drug trends in Carson City, but as a coalition we need to stay diligent about monitoring and combating substance abuse year-round,” she said.During the community health assessments that took place over the last two years, community stakeholders identified alcohol and substance abuse as one of the key community issues to be included in the Community Health Improvement Plan. Carson City Health and Human Services is pleased to work with organizations with such as Partnership Carson City and others to address the problem of drug abuse in our community.If you would like additional information about substance abuse, or would be interested in scheduling a presentation about drug-related topics, please visit Partnership Carson City’s website at pcccarson.org. For more information about Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCHHS. Carson City Health and Human Services:900 E. Long St., Carson City.Call 775-887-2195.Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday; call for appointment. Well-child visits: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays.Men's clinic: 4-6 p.m. Mondays. Immunization Day: 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 1-4:30 p.m. Thursdays.Douglas County Community Health:1538 Highway 395 North (corner of Spruce Street and Cemetery Lane).Call 775-782-9038.Hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.Monday is Immunization Day: No appointment needed, 1-4:30 p.m.