Vivitrol: A Shot of Hope
By: Cate Chevnov
The opiate epidemic is all too real and close to home. Essex County ranks number two in Massachusetts in overdose deaths between 2000 and 2015. Since 2012, more than 41 deaths have been reported in Salem, Massachusetts. College students are at a particular risk for prescription abuse; about half of all college students in U.S. have admitted to being offered a prescription drug for non-medical use by their sophomore year. The national Center on Addiction reports that student abuse of painkillers is up 343% since 1993. Opiate prescriptions include, Percocet, Oxycontin, Vicodin, Fentanyl, Morphine, among others.
Salem State University is not immune to these horrors, and we, as a community must come together and address this issue with sensitivity and haste. The first step is to inform students and faculty on the warning signs of addiction, such as:
⦁ Poor academic performance and lack of motivation ⦁ Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities ⦁ Trouble with the law and/or traffic incidents ⦁ Forgetfulness, violent outbursts, or depression ⦁ High-risk sexual behavior and/or drastic changes in weight or sleep patterns
Salem State offers a variety of services and resources to help students and faculty deal with addiction and dependence. Counseling services are offered directly on campus and welcome walk-ins and appointments for assistance in all aspects of student life. They are located at the Ellison Campus Center, room 107 and can be reached at (978)-542-6410. Lieutenant Stephen Turcotte, reports that “There have been no overdoses on campus, and every patrol car is equipped with an AED (automated external defibrillator) and Narcan”.
An underutilized treatment for opiate addiction is available, and making patients and practitioners aware of this 'miracle drug' is vital to continuing this fight against the opiate epidemic. The prescription, Vivitrol, is different because it offers a non-addictive, non-narcotic approach to staying sober. It is a once a month injection, containing Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist and it works by attaching itself to the opiate receptors in the brain, barring opiates from having any pleasurable effects. Matthew Henson, a representative of Alkermes, the manufacturer of Vivitrol, states, “The treatment has been effective, and, along with counseling, could offer a promising path to recovery for the addict.” Alkermes reports that in 2015, more than 45,000 patients were treated with Vivitrol, and project 75,000 patients will be treated with Vivitrol by the end of 2016. With such an incredible treatment being made available and more accessible every day, we surely can't keep it a secret.
In 2009, Dezra Kenney established Kenney & Associates in Salem, MA as a Vivitrol only treatment center, treating over 200 patients. Though Kenney passed away in 2015, her practice continues to administer Vivitrol. Katie Gorham, a nurse practitioner previously of Kenny & Associates explains, "Dez believed in Vivitrol, she [suggested working] a twelve step program, and encouraged patients to engage in group and individual counseling." Gorham stated, "Education is power. Many people do not know about Vivitrol, but they do seem receptive once they are informed." Henson also expresses, "Caregivers and patients who are informed, are empowered to take control of treatment." Vivitrol is an amazing tool that is creating a whole new perspective on how patients and families approach addiction recovery. For more information on Vivitrol, please visit Vivitrol.com.
Caitlyn Chevnov was born in Phoenix, AZ and raised in Middleton, MA; she is currently a senior at Salem State University. She has since been happily married for 3+ years and is awaiting the birth of her 2nd son. Caitlyn currently lives with her parents, her husband and son in Middleton, and wants to use her bachelor's degree to work in publishing and editing. In her free time, Caitlyn likes to read, write, paint, play with her son, and is a passionate sailor in summertime.