A Bitter Pill: Northern hosts anti-addiction events

Montana State University-Northern will host four days of activities next week meant to raise awareness about the issue of prescription drug abuse.

The events will include a traveling art exhibition, the screening of a documentary and panel discussions.

"Prescription drug abuse is an issue that affects our community, and we want to increase awareness and give people additional information about treatment and resources in our community," said Amber Spring, a counselor with the office of student support services at Northern, who is collaborating with the Hill County Health Department and Northern's offices of Student Health Services and Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs to put on the events.

Initially, the four days of activities were supposed to consist solely of an art display depicting the impact prescription drug abuse on both addicts and their loved ones.

Other events were later added to the schedule, Spring said.

She added that prescription drug addiction is more difficult to tackle than alcohol or street drug abuse.

"It is difficult for us, for instance, to determine a person's level of pain, so when they are taking pain meds we don't necessarily see that as an issue until it becomes too late," Spring said.  

Activities will kick off Monday at 7 p.m at Northern's Vande Bogart Library  with the opening reception for "Bitter Pill, Montana Lives Affected By Rx Abuse."

The exhibit will be on display throughout the week.

Spring said the exhibit was put together by Resolve Montana, a state program committed to educating the public and curbing prescription drug abuse. The display showcases work from 30 artists that range from poetry to acrylic and pencils drawings and three dimensional pieces. Refreshments will be served at the reception.

Other activities will include:

• "Chasing the Dragon," a documentary film shown noon Tuesday in the Northern Student Union Ballroom. The film is made up of first-hand accounts of individuals who became addicted to opiates and how drug use affected their lives personally and professionally and, in some cases, led to legal consequences, Spring said.

A brief discussion will follow the film screening and lunch will be served.

• A discussion about prescription drug abuse in Hill County will take place Wednesday at 3:30 p.m in Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Center. C.J. Reichelt, team leader with the Tri-Agency Safe Trails Drug Task Force, and Hill County Justice of the Peace Judge Audrey Barger, who presides over the Hill County Drug and DUI courts, will talk about the issue from the vantage point of law enforcement and the courts.

• A panel discussion of health and addiction specialists is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m in Hensler Auditorium. Spring said participants will include Suzanne Lockwood, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, addiction counselor Carolyn Staples and Tammy Rawlston, a  pain management specialis.

Representatives of law enforcement and reservation communities and individuals in recovery will also be on the panel to share their experiences.