How Opioids Affect Exercise and Athletic Performance

Sports and exercise keep your body healthy and strong. So why is it that many healthy, strong athletes have such a high risk for substance abuse disorder— particularly with opioids (1)? In all age groups, from youth sports to professional leagues, we see many athletes and fitness lovers succumb to substance abuse and opioid addiction. What are the risks involved in exercising while taking opioids? And what are some precautions to ... Continue Reading »

Cody’s Story of Hope

Today, 28-year-old Cody Ramsey of Cross Lanes, West Virginia spends most of his time supporting others through sobriety. As a peer recovery support specialist supervisor of a behavioral health agency and a program director of a sober living facility, he keeps busy managing employees and new residents, all while playing the roles of husband, father, and occasional rider of his beloved side-by-side. But Cody’s life didn’t always look ... Continue Reading »

Opioids and Bad Skin—What’s the Connection?

Some negative side effects of opioid use are invisible. A failing heart or weakened immune system, for example, aren’t seen by the naked eye. Others, however, are hard to miss— like sore, red, or damaged skin. Your skin is a vital organ. Much of your skin health depends on genetics, but environment and lifestyle behaviors impact it greatly. Your skin can tell a story of hydration, self-care, and good ... Continue Reading »

Eight reasons why I choose to live my life drug free.

By Sarah Davis, Hurricane High School As a high school senior ready to graduate, I have found many reasons to live a successful, drug-free life. Living a sober-minded life is not always easy, or the popular choice, but it is a wise decision to make. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, teenaged drug use in West Virginia is evident. In West Virginia, 12- to 17-year-olds are 5.43% more ... Continue Reading »

My top 10 reasons why I choose to stay drug-free as a teenager.

By Addyson Porter, Logan High School Many people, especially teenagers, will turn to drugs at some point in their life. Whether it is to try something new, distract from pain or trauma, or any other reason that may persuade a young person to try drugs, they are incredibly harmful. I have seen many lives ruined by the horrors of addiction. To me, it is not worth all of the damage, ... Continue Reading »

Stressed? 5 Drug-Free Ways to Manage Stress as a Teen

Sometimes, life feels tough. The upcoming test that stands between a pass or fail grade? A championship game you’ve practiced for all season long? A tough break up, argument with a friend, or disagreement with your parents? Regardless of age, gender, or race, no one is immune to the natural human experience we all know as stress. And as we age, our sources of stress expand. The more responsibilities ... Continue Reading »

Opioid Myth vs. Fact: How Much Do You Know About Opioid Abuse?

Opioid use is spreading rampantly across the country, and we’re no strangers to its consequences in West Virginia. With over 70,000 deaths in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of fatal overdoses in West Virginia had increased more than four times the 1999 total. And more than two-thirds of those deaths were linked to opioids. One culprit in the steady rise of opioid fatalities is misinformation—... Continue Reading »

How to Talk to Your Kids About Substance Abuse

At GameChanger, our mission is to prevent drug abuse before it happens. It’s a big task here in West Virginia, the state leading the nation in prescription drug abuse. Nationally, data shows drug use among 8th graders increased by more than 60 percent between 2016 and 2020. And more than 5 percent of 12th graders included in the same study abused opioids other than heroin. Given the statistics, it’s not a matter ... Continue Reading »

Teenage drug addiction: 5 ways to support a teenager in recovery

Parenting throughout the teenage years isn’t easy. If you’re a caregiver of a teen who’s recovering from addiction, it’s another level of hard. Finding the sweet spot between protecting your child from harm and honoring their privacy, space, and growing independence is a challenge on its own. And throwing substance abuse into the mix is an even bigger obstacle to overcome. If your child or teen ... Continue Reading »

Asking For Help When Struggling With Addiction

Many people struggle with addiction. What happens after they admit to themselves that they have a problem? After admitting that there is a problem with their use of drugs or alcohol, the next step is asking for help from others. Those that struggle with addiction can be wary of asking for help. Asking for help means that they must admit to something they would probably prefer not to mention. Asking ... Continue Reading »

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