GLEN DANIEL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Students and staff at Liberty High School came together last week to discuss and address one of the greatest issues affecting both our state and nation: the opioid crisis.
“It is not a secret that our area has been hit hard by the Opioid Epidemic,” says educator, Liberty alumna, and longtime Raleigh County resident, Allison Milam.
Milam was a key figure in the coordination of what would become Liberty’s High School’s first Annual Opioid Crisis Awareness Week, having been inspired by the effect narcotics have had on the area over time.
“I grew up in this area and I’ve lost over 30 friends and past classmates to overdoses,” she reveals.
But it was the Liberty students themselves who provided the spark needed to get the ball rolling on this incredible local event.
“What made me want to bring this to the Raider Nation was the students. As a teacher, I have heard countless stories and experiences that, quite frankly, keep me awake at night. We expect our students to come to school and concentrate on schoolwork when they are dealing with situations that you could only imagine.”
Once she got the ball rolling on the program, folks were eager to contribute. Liberty High Principal Greg Betkijian – also an alumnus of the school – for example gave the go-ahead without hesitation.
“It was a lot simpler getting the support than I expected,” Milam explains. “It took a lot of creative scheduling, countless hours, and a ton of community support. There was actually so much community support that we had over 50 experts volunteer their time to educate the students.”
That isn’t to say that everything came together overnight, however, as contact with those who would eventually be involved was preceded by many months of brainstorming and planning.
A multitude of community organizations and representatives made their way to the school to educate students not only on the dangers of drugs, but also on the finer details of substance abuse which often fall between the cracks in discussions surrounding the topic.
“[The students] have heard their entire lives “DON’T DO DRUGS”, but we felt they needed more information than just that,” Milam says.
Among those to speak were Liberty alumni Sharon Allen with One Voice, Patsy Stoots with HealthNet, Indie Akers with WORK for Jesus, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Dominick Cangemi, and Dr. Kelli Jarrell, who made the trip from Cincinnati to give back to her alma mater and spend three days discussing her specialty with the students.
Other local names and entities who presented throughout the week include Paul Blume – Raleigh County Magistrate, Ben Hatfield – Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney, Travis Stewart, and Kellie Gunnoe with the Raleigh County Family Support Center.
Along with members of law enforcement and community organizations, several individuals in active recovery boldly stepped up to tell their own stories in the hopes of providing students with additional perspective in the making of their own personal choices.
Emergency responders were involved in the informative event as well, with EMS and fire services engaging in an overdose simulation situation with the students, and law enforcement conducting a K-9 demonstration on school grounds.
“This week learning about drugs has been amazing,” says Liberty junior Daisy Hatcher. “I’m glad we are getting the education about them so we can help and protect more people.”
Junior cheerleader Rylei Belcher remarked of the event’s potential impact, “I’ve really enjoyed this week. I’ve learned so much and I really think that it will make an impact on some of the students.”
The discourse hit closer to home for some students than others, with Senior Maggie Whitten touching on her own experience and its pertinence to the week’s events.
“For the kids like me who never saw their parent recover, it was amazing seeing how recovering is possible. I went in today thinking I would get nothing from it, but I was wrong,” she asserted.
Following Thursday’s overdose simulation, stars were drawn by students on a glass wall within the school’s cafeteria to symbolize a loved one they had lost or that they hope can succeed in recovery. Many faculty and staff members drew stars of their own for loved ones.
“Inside the walls of Liberty this week, there were a lot of tears, a lot of learning, and hopefully the start of healing,” says Milam, who also states that the planning for next year’s Opioid Crisis Awareness Week is already underway.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, visit https://dhhr.wv.gov/office-of-drug-control-policy/programs/Pages/default.aspx or https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment to find resources in your area.