The Narrative

When thinking of possible risks within the home, the medication nested in the back of the medicine cabinet is often overlooked. Firearms, blades, and other possible means of suicide are often the first to be addressed, leaving one of the most accessible and dangerous lethal means open and available.

Perhaps it is some low intensity opioids that were prescribed to you when you had a minor operation, or blood thinners which were prescribed do to a relatives chronic illness. These medications are often highly prescribed, highly accessible, and in specified quantities and proportions; highly deadly.

The increased levels of lethality for prescription as well as illegal drugs such as cocaine or fentanyl has to do with the level of the drugs potency in relation to ones body mass. This is important to note as when a drug is prescribed, the potency as well as the amount is specifically calculated and curated to the individual that requires the prescription, making the ingestion from another who possibly has a different body mass even more of a danger, increasing lethality for that individual.

In efforts to try to collectively remove this often unseen risk from homes and families, the DEA promotes a nation wide Drug Take Back Day, this year on Saturday, April 26th. This is a day that stands to solve a serious problem but so too is it a day of unity and empowerment, fostering advocacy and action towards a problem that in one way or another touches us all.

Who?

Throughout Mesa County, there are a myriad of organizations and initiatives that take this day as an opportunity to promote safe medication practice and awareness of the opioid crisis which has touched this nation at large. The Mesa County Opioid Response Group (MCORG) is an intuitive under the Western Colorado Area Health Education Center, aimed toward addressing the western regions opioid crisis. Through this program as well as many others including Porchlight Health, the VA, Intermountain Health, and so many others not only stand as advocates a participants of Drug Take Back Day, but so too offer a range of addiction-centric resourses to help bolster these efforts.

When and Where

To end this weeks newsletter, I wanted to list the number of areas and resourses that are available so that you may participate in this day which helps to save lives.

It seems like a small thing, that mostly empty bottle of pills nested in the back of the medicine door, but if we know anything about suicide prevention, the small things make the greatest impacts.

Here are a list of departments that are participating in this day:

US Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service: 2121 North Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

Rifle Police Department: 201 E 18th St, Rifle, CO 81650

St. Mary’s Hospital: 2635 N 7th St., Box in Main Lobby, 970-298-2273

Canyon View Pharmacy: 2373 G Rd. Suite 120, Mon.- Fri. 8:30AM – 6:30PM Sat-Sun.9:00AM -3:00PM ,970-644-4380

Safeway: All locations, Hours vary by location 970-257-0233

Palisade Pharmacy: 707 Elberta Ave. Suite B, Mon.-Fri. 9AM-6PM Sat. 9AM-3PM,970-464-5668

Local Initiatives and Involvements

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 2025 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN MESA COUNTY Register Here!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): September 18-19, November 6-7 This two-day workshop(16 hours) helps participants learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing signs, providing a skilled intervention, and developing a safety plan to keep someone alive.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): September 26, October 17, December 5 This eight (8) hour training teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth MHFA): August 29 This Six and half (6.5) hour training for adults who regularly interact with people ages 12-18. It introduces common mental health challenges, typical adolescent development, and plan for how to help in crisis and non-crisis situations

Soul Shop™: October 2 This 90-minute workshop equips faith community leaders and other people of faith to train their congregations to minister to those impacted by suicidal desperation.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call or text 988. The National Suicide Hotline is staffed around the clock with certified members of the American Association of Suicidology. Or the Crisis Text Line, text CO to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform.