Baltimore County, MD Hello Baltimore County, 1 Sep 2016

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Update on STIs and Opioid Overdoses

Description

County Health Officer Dr. Wm. Gregory Branch offers expert advice on preventing overdoses and sexually transmitted infections.

A

Welcome to hello, baltimore county., I'm your host, ellen kobler.. The good doctor is with us today: dr. gregory branch,, director of baltimore county health and human services..

A

He's here to give us the facts and some sound advice related to sexually transmitted infections and the increasing problem of opioid addiction..

A

Thank you so much for joining us.. Thank you for having me, ellen.. Tell us. What's the current status of --.

A

You call it stis, sexually transmitted infections, --.

A

We don't diseases anymore -- in baltimore, county,.

A

And why it is such a concern for the health department.

B

Well, sexually transmitted infections have been a concern.

B

From a public health perspective for generations.- and we know that when we talk about sexually transmitted, infections,.

B

We're talking about diseases like gonorrhea,, chlamydia,, syphilis,, hiv.,.

B

It is of paramount concern because we know that in baltimore county, over the recent years, we've had an increase.

B

In our sexual transmission, infections, specifically in syphilis and in hiv.,.

B

And so it's very, very important that we get the word out.

B

To tell people that they need to be careful and that we've got to prevent this particular disease.

A

And syphilis and hiv --.

A

To me, it almost feels like that's a disease or an infection from the past,.

A

But you're saying that it's still present and it's still expanding.

B

It is still present,, it's still expanding, and it's still here.

B

It's so important that people understand and realize that I do recognize that people will say, "well,. I got syphilis.

B

And so, therefore, I can get a shot and get penicillin.".

B

Right, is that how it works? it does work that way.

B

however, when a person is infected with syphilis,.

B

They may or may not have any symptoms.

B

so therefore,. They may spread that syphilis to multiple people prior to getting treated.

B

And then also,, if a person never has any symptoms.

B

And they have syphilis for quite some time, that syphilis can cause some major, major complications.

B

In the future, for that person, up to and including dementia,.

B

Up to and including blindness., so you can have some major issues if you're going to have some of these sexually transmitted, infections.

A

So you might not know you have it., so it sounds like you should go and get tested.

A

go, get tested. go to your doctor.

B

Speak to your doctor., I always say, "if. You are sexually active,.

B

Go get tested for sexually transmitted infections.".

A

All right,, and what can someone do to prevent stis?.

A

Clearly,, we always say a proponent for condom use.

B

Is extraordinarily important.

B

also, talk with your partners.

B

It's also very important just to have a conversation with them.

B

Find out their medical history,, your past medical history,.

B

And speak with your providers,, your doctors,.

B

Your nurse practitioners,, the physician's assistant that you see.

B

Speak to those providers, use condoms, and protect yourself.

A

What is the department of health doing in response to this increase in these infections?.

B

One of the things I think is so important is we would like to be able to test and treat people.

B

So, starting in october of this year, you'll be able to go to.

B

Any of our health centers five days, a week,.

B

Monday through friday, and you can be tested and treated for a sexually transmitted, infection.

A

Is there a charge for that?.

B

At this point, now, there's no charge for that. or you can come in. if you think that you're, possibly infected or if you have any questions,.

B

Come on in and we'll help you.

A

And even if you don't think you're infected, but you know that you maybe haven't used protection. The way that you should,.

A

It sounds like there's no reason not to just go and get tested.

B

Yes. come on in and talk with us and let us test you.

A

Okay. all right., and so now let's move on.

A

Another problem that is becoming increasingly troubling in baltimore county --.

A

And truly across the nation, -- is opioid addiction.

B

Yes. and overdose deaths.

B

tell us about that.

A

Well,, like you said,, it is now a part of the entire nation.

B

And when you talk to people,, so many people --.

B

The majority of people out there -- have been affected by this particular disease.

B

and so,. Many people are overdosing on narcotics at this particular time,.

B

Specifically heroin and also when it's laced with fentanyl.

B

That's what's causing a lot of the deaths now, that fentanyl.

B

And so, by putting those medications together, by putting those drugs together,, we have an increase in opioid deaths, --.

B

Not only around the country, but also in baltimore county.,.

B

So it's heroin, but opioids also come in pill form.

A

And sometimes they're prescribed for valid medical reasons.

A

And then get out of hand., how does that happen?.

B

Some of the common stories you'll hear is a young person.

B

Who had an athletic injury? And because they were in pain,?.

B

They may have had surgery, the doctor prescribed them. Some opioid medications very validly.

A

And what are some of those drugs?.

B

Like oxycontin, oxycodone,, tylox,, percocet.,.

B

They can kind of get almost any of those types of medications.

A

These are very commonly prescribed.

B

Very common-- that are commonly prescribed.

B

and then what happens is that that person may then grow--.

B

Have a tolerance to those medications and grow addicted to them.

B

And then, once the doctor feels that the person doesn't need the medications any longer secondary to that injury,.

B

The person now may be addicted., and so that person then turns to something like heroin,.

B

Which is very, very cheap on the streets.

B

and when? Obviously, if you get any of these drugs on the streets,.

B

You don't know what is in that medication.

B

and so clearly we're going to have people who are overdosing on medications.

B

What is the county health department doing.

A

To try to reduce both the opioid use, as well as opioid overdoses?.

A

You've got a "new d.e.a.l." program.

B

Yeah., we call it the new d.e.a.l., I mean,. We are clearly in crisis and we need to do something really strong and hard to fight against this disease. and so,. One of the things that we wanted to do is we want to get the medications out of people's homes.

B

if you're not using your narcotics,, if you're not using those medications, any longer, put them in our drug boxes.

B

That's the "d" of the new d.e.a.l..

B

The drug boxes are right outside all the police, stations.

B

You just drop it in there and it's gone., no questions. Asked. we'll take care of that.

B

okay.. That's so very, very important. do not put those in the toilet bowl or down the drain,.

B

Because that gets into our water system., if you can't get to our drug boxes,, we say crush it up.

B

And put it in cat litter or coffee grinds and throw it in the garbage.

B

Okay, and you've got a contact phone number for people that need help.

A

Yes., if anybody needs any help at all,, they can call 410-88-reach.

A

R-E-A-C-H. there you go., okay, and they'll talk to who, when they dial that number?.

B

When they call up,, it will have a staff member there who will listen to what their concerns are and guide them in the right direction. To being able to get help.

B

and a person can call if they're the one that feels.

A

That they're in trouble or if it's a loved one.

B

It's a loved one, or they just have questions,. They can just call.

B

So anyone can call 410-88-reach.

B

In the minute we have left, what are sort of the key messages.

A

You want to get out to people that are watching this?.

B

I think it's so important that people realize that opioid abuse.

B

Is something that affects everyone? --, young,, old --, irrespective of all populations., and one of the things that we offer in baltimore county.

B

And across the state is the narcan training,, which is very, very important.. The narcan training is the antidote for a person who's in overdose.

A

It literally saves their life.. It literally saves their lives.

B

And so what happens,? We teach them, how to be able to administer that before the emergency paramedics can arrive.

A

Okay, and people can find out about that on your website-- on the website, yes.

B

Or the 410-88-reach, r-e-a-c-h.

B

A

Thank you very much, doctor. thank you. and thank you for watching hello, baltimore county..

A

You can get more information about these health issues and more.

A

By connecting with baltimore county government on facebook and twitter., we'll see you next time.

A

( ♪♪♪ ).