On Thursday, August 17th, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven outlined his efforts to provide tools to health care and law enforcement to prevent and treat opioid and drug abuse at the Drug Free Communities (DFC) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) State Meeting.
The press release said “…opioid and other substance abuse bring terrible tragedy to families and communities across our nation.”
DFC funds are allocated to partners and to create a reduction in substance use among youth and HIDTA coordinates law enforcement agencies across government to reduce drug production.
“North Dakota is one of 14 state identified by the Centers for Disease Control as experiencing a significant increase in drug overdose deaths from 2013 and 2014” said the press release.
This year was the first year of funding under the 21st Century Cures Act and North Dakota received $2 million to fight opioid abuse.
Amber Bach-Gorman, assistant director of North Dakota State University counseling center and coordinator of clinical and crisis services, said she is “supportive of the fact that the state is making” health and wellness “a priority in general” and “it’s a positive move as health and wellness is important.”
Bach-Gorman said “NDSU counseling center is a resource” for students who question having substance abuse.
The NDSU counseling center’s website provides resources and links for students to access when they question having substance abuse, whether drug or alcohol.
“If students are questioning having substance abuse its recommended that they come in (to the counseling center) and meet with a counselor to find the best steps for the student to take and what would work best for the student” said Bach-Gorman.
NDSU facilitators are trained in SMART Recovery, self-management and recovery training.
The SMART Recovery website said the “4-Point Program helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behavior.”
Bach-Gorman said “any student on campus should go to the counseling center” first if they have questions about substance abuse.
NDSU’s counseling center provides individual and group counseling for students with concerns of substance and impulse control.
There are AA groups that meet on campus every Wednesday at noon and a more extensive schedule can be found at the NDSU counseling center website.