The Dangers of Fentanyl: An EMT’S Perspective

Despite its well-established grip in Appalachia, the West Virginia opioid epidemic hasn’t always looked the same. The crisis has changed, ebbed, and flowed to reveal new challenges along the way. It’s a familiar pattern, according to 29-year-old Paramedic, Nathan Weese, who describes opioid-related emergencies as arriving in “waves”. Public health experts echo his theory, crediting the epidemic’s first wave to over-prescribed opioids in the mid-1990s, followed ... Continue Reading »

What is “stigma”—and how it impacts addiction.

There are many obstacles when it comes to facing substance misuse. Navigating withdrawal, repairing friendships and coming to terms with the aftermath of addiction. These are examples of the hard parts we can see. Did you know there’s another challenge that goes unseen, but is felt by nearly every person battling addiction? It’s called stigma. And it’s rooted in the myth that addiction is not a disease, ... Continue Reading »

The Effects Of Substance Use On Appearance

In 2019, West Virginia had the highest drug overdose-related death rate in the US, coming in at a staggering 52.8% per 100,000 residents. Outside of Delaware (48%), the closest ranking states to West Virginia were Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, proving that the drug epidemic is happening right in our backyard. Drug usage results in a number of unhealthy consequences, from dissension within the family to self-disfigurement. Read on to discover how substance abuse can ... Continue Reading »

The Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Chances are you or someone you know has been affected by substance abuse or addiction. In 2018, West Virginia ‘led’ all other states in opioid-related deaths occurring per 100,000 residents with a total of 42.4%, nearly 10% higher than the next leading state. This doesn’t have to be your fate. We know this topic is a personally sensitive issue to most people. Below we discuss some of the major causes of substance use ... Continue Reading »

Array ( [ajax_url] => /?wc-ajax=%%endpoint%% [stripe] => Array ( [key] => pk_live_51Kj59ZDeqHIRbkHIfNo7BzwCi3jyr2hW9wVaPZ93SVy8TlnXPM9bMoGAtjCXPKGl8FRpsytmEuCicW3EB9Gv0ceY00q0NNOZyh [allow_prepaid_card] => yes [locale] => en [is_link_enabled] => [is_payment_request_enabled] => ) [nonce] => Array ( [payment] => 3586601c82 [shipping] => 0c5018f797 [update_shipping] => 1faa3bddbd [checkout] => aef7cb81a9 [add_to_cart] => 535f325edb [get_selected_product_data] => f9d7598ae1 [log_errors] => 37efc0df56 [clear_cart] => bcee32fc8a ) [i18n] => Array ( [no_prepaid_card] => Sorry, we're not accepting prepaid cards at this time. [unknown_shipping] => Unknown shipping option "[option]". ) [checkout] => Array ( [url] => https://gamechangerusa.org/checkout/ [currency_code] => usd [country_code] => US [needs_shipping] => no [needs_payer_phone] => 1 ) [button] => Array ( [type] => default [theme] => dark [height] => 48 [locale] => en [branded_type] => short [css_selector] => [label] => [is_custom] => [is_branded] => ) [login_confirmation] => [is_product_page] => [product] => )