SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Last week the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department and the Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services told WHBL News they are preparing to work with other local entities to start a local campaign connected to the statewide "Dose of Reality" effort. That effort is intended to combat the growth in heroin and prescription drug addictions in the area.
With the campaign starting next month, Sheriff Todd Priebe and Public Health Nurse Liz Abler provided information when it comes to helping a family member or friend suffering from an addiction start to detox.
Priebe says the first step is change the environment that the person lives in. “The first thing is cleaning out the house - anything and everything that is drug related. It’s the spoons, the needles, the prescription meds and things of that nature.” Also recommended is ending all contact with people who were responsible for providing the substance that led to the addiction.
Abler says if one is going to help a person end their addiction, they will need to be ready. “Being prepared and having all of these things in the house before the person starts the recovery process because, believe me, they’re not going to want to fell like going to the store to get these things. They are going to need a family member.”
Once the detox begins, it will be important to have items ready to help a person get through the physical pains. “Like Imodium can help with the stomach," says Abler, "Advil can help with aches and pains. There’s things that are over the counter that can help with sleeping like Melatonin or Unisom. It’s important to get their vitamins like calcium, potassium, magnesium because those are going to speed up the recovery process. Also you lose those because you are going to suffer from the signs and symptoms similar to having the flu. It can be like having a flu that’s ten times worse than having the normal flu.”
"They’re going to have diarrhea, constipation, body aches, insomnia, sweats, chills. You might hear a lot of times about the skin feels like it’s crawling or burning," says Abler. "They say it’s the worst thing, but it’s really worth it. If people can start the recovery process, and to know that they may have relapses. Relapses are very common, but we want to try to help these people work through this.”
Abler adds that while loved ones can help a person detox, there is help available in the county. “We do have some recovery coaches in our county now, and that’s something that people may be able to access that will help them with recovery.” More details on the "Dose of Reality" campaign will be public starting in January.