Substance Abuse Awareness

In the United States, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a growing issue. 

 

What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?

If a pregnant woman uses drugs (including some types of medicines), the baby could be born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. According to Mayo Clinic (2018), the baby's "signs and symptoms, which often begin shortly after birth and might last days to weeks, include: tremors, jitteriness, diarrhea, uncoordinated sucking reflexes that lead to poor feeding, irritability, high-pitched cry, and poor sleep." If you want to learn more about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, check out the CDC's "Primary Prevention and Public Health Strategies to Prevent Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" website.

 

Wilkin County currently is partnered with Children's Dental Services' on a Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome grant. This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award. The contents included in this website and materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

 

Opioid Use

Wilkin County is committed to fighting the opioid overdose epidemic. We will monitor trends, build county capacity by gathering resources, improving data collection and supporting use of evidence-based strategies and increase the community's awareness on opioid misuse. 

 

If you or someone you know is suffering from substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems and are seeking treatment facilities, you can click on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) website here to locate the nearest facility/provider. 

 

Naxolone (Narcan) is a FDA approved medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. According to SAMHSA (2022), "it is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone." Naxolone is a short-term treatment and the individual who overdosed will need medical assistance as soon as possible. Naxolone can be given through the nose, into the muscle, under the skin or through a vein. To learn more about overdoses and Naxolone, click here for SAMHSA's website.   

 

Wilkin County will be receiving opioid settlement funding over the next several years. A Substance Use Advisory Council was created to identify, collaborate, and respond to Wilkin County's opioid misuse issues. The Council will utilize the Community Health Assessment and the Community Health Improvement Plan to guide the work and focus on using evidence-informed approaches that prevent and address addiction.