P&L DISCUSSIONS
Jack Galusha
Hampshire, I’m very familiar with how dangerous the drug crisis is and how it can affect communities. Getting a direct, inside scoop as to the dynamics of the nation’s opioid crisis provides a perspective that most are unaware to and helps create a well-informed dialogue.
1. What goes on in a typical day of work?
“During the day, we have a constant stream of patients coming in for treatment. Patients show up to see doctors for a prescription. It can be very stressful throughout the day. There is no shortage of mental health patients seeking therapy. Sometimes there are patients who can’t be prescribed so there can be screaming and yelling at times. We have had some patients overdose in the bathrooms, I wouldn’t consider my work safe.”
2. What type of people do you think most commonly succumb to opioid addiction?
“I tend to see two different types of people. There are the homeless people who more than likely have mental health issues. Then there are normal people who needed to take pain medication after surgery that become addicted to medication like Oxycodone. I've found that both types of people have suffered from some sort of abuse in the past. Both groups are commonly addicted to Xanax.”
3. Do you see a balance or an imbalanced ratio between men and women who suffer from drug abuse?
“It's pretty much dead even, if not, I would say more men than women. I can understand that men would wait to get treatment before women though.”
4. With Three kids in school, what would you like to see these schools do to help prevent drug addiction?
“I think that education and talking about it is the first defense to prevent these actions. I think that's all you can really do, I find that more abuse victims and people who have a family drug history to be in the office often, we tend to see relatives in the same treatment facilities.”
5. In New Hampshire, we are currently suffering from an opioid crisis, what do you think would need to change in order to relieve the situation?
“I think that there are too many prescriptions that are being given out to people who might not need them. Doctors not knowing family history of
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