At March’s Dine & Discuss, Dr. Jason Wallentine, with Central Peninsula Family Practice & Pediatrics, presented “Opioid Risks, Use, and Misuse Avoidance.”
In 2022, opioid overdoses were the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18-45, as many prescription opioid users would bleed into illicit activities involving fentanyl.
Dr. Wallentine says it’s become a major issue and has affected many lives across the county and generations. “I have to look at the opioid use that I prescribe. I have to look at the opioid use that my field recommends and think about it critically and say, is this really worth the risk? That was one of the things that hit me kind of squarely in the stomach and said I need to rethink how this works and I need to pay attention.”
“Like many of our younger doctors, they are really bringing a new fresh perspective on a lot of these questions like managing pain, and I thought that this was such an appropriate question to ask and presentation to have in today’s day and age when so many are being ravaged by the effects of the opioid epidemic. It was really fascinating tonight to get to see that there are a lot of options that are available to us from really caring, compassionate physicians who are here to make our community a better place to be.”
Dr. Wallentine ended his presentation by saying, “Don’t hesitate. Don’t be afraid of seeking care or seeking treatment with your doctor… I think there was a time to get treatment, it’s now before it takes everything.”
“In all of my training as a physician, as a resident, as a student, it’s really taken the blinders off in terms of how common this problem is. If you have a problem, you need to understand that you’re not the only one. You live in a society of people with very common and very similar problems. Tell your doctor. It will not be the first time they heard that today, but it’ll open the door for them to help. There’s less of a stigma for addiction, for opioid abuse, for even overdose now than there has been in a century.”
Dine & Discuss is an almost 20-year-old event that offers Kenai Peninsula residents the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal while gaining valuable health insights from local medical professionals in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Each Dine & Discuss session features a Central Peninsula Hospital provider presenting on a health topic of community interest, followed by a Q&A session.
This unique community event is free to attend, with dinner available for purchase at $15. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
People are also welcome to come and participate without eating. However, the hospital asks everyone who attends to register whether or not they will be eating so that there is enough seating.
For more information, visit www.cpgh.org/discuss/.