Page 6: Health & Safety

FROM THE SHERIFF’S DESK

October bringing sheriff’s Drug Take-Back Initiative

On Oct. 16 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the Drug Take-Back Initiative. The Sheriff’s Office collected 56.03 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications in April 2021. The collected items were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency and properly disposed of.

The sheriff’s office will have deputies at Cadiz’s Rite Aid and Custer Pharmacy stores on Oct. 16 and 23. The deputies will also be at Neimayer’s Pharmacy in Scio on Oct. 15 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from friends or family members, usually from a home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown into the trash can may be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs flushed down the sewer system contaminate the water supply. The total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since 2010 is up to nearly 14,524,391 pounds.

Sheriff Myers would like to thank all those individuals who participated in this initiative at the three pharmacy locations in the county where deputies were station, and remember the drop box in the Sheriff’s Office is always available in the lobby, 24 hours a day.

Sheriff Joe Myers is letting everyone know that anyone that comes into contact with him or a deputy will see they are sporting pink badges. The pink badges are worn in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every October. The badges will be worn every day during the month.

Family Recovery Center to host seminar on latest drug trends

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

CADIZ—The Family Recovery Center, serving Columbiana, Jefferson, and Harrison Counties, has scheduled an event for Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hopedale’s Volunteer Fire and EMS Department. The event is a free public seminar on learning about the latest drug trends, as written on the information pamphlet handed out: “Operation Street Smart.”

“The goal of Street Smart is to provide current and up-to-date narcotics information on trends, terminology, paraphernalia, and physiological effects to those individuals who deal with today’s youth on a daily basis,” according to Operation Street Smart.

Emily Dodds of Family Recovery led off the proceedings introducing Patricia Allen of the Mental Health Recovery Board, which serves Belmont, Harrison, and Monroe Counties. “We are trying to bring awareness to what our children could be using to inhale or take these drugs,” Dodds explained. “It’s a great program,” referencing Operation Street Smart. Allen added that it’s an opportunity for educating teachers, parents, or anyone on illegal substances.

“What we’ve learned through the opioid epidemic is that substance abuse and addiction touches every community,” she told the board. “And we want to bring awareness to the people who are connected to our youth and know what to look for, in order to better protect our community and, more importantly, to better protect our children.”

Dodds said that from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29, the Recovery Board and Center will be working with Harrison Central High School “to put on Red Ribbon Week.” She also asked and received permission to place red ribbons in front of the courthouse to promote Red Ribbon Week.

Getting help with Medicare in Ohio

CADIZ—More than 63 million people in the United States are enrolled in Medicare, with more than 2.3 million living in Ohio. Every person who receives Medicare benefits has the right to safe and effective healthcare. People who are having problems with their Medicare covered care or services can seek help from the Medicare Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) for their state. Livanta LLC is the BFCC-QIO for Ohio. Since BFCC-QIO’s support the rights of Medicare patients, Livanta’s services are available at no cost.

BFCC-QIOs, like Livanta, are authorized Medicare contractors that protect the rights of individuals who have Medicare. Individuals with Medicare — or their family members or other representatives — can contact their BFCC-QIO if they believe they have not received high-quality care.

Livanta conducts medical record reviews on behalf of hospitalized Medicare patients who believe they are being discharged too soon. They also review medical records for patients in other care settings facing the end of their Medicare covered services. The reviews help ensure that the patient’s medical condition is stable and that a transfer to a lower level of care is appropriate.

Livanta can conduct medical record reviews when patients wish to file a formal complaint about their care. Beneficiaries and their representatives can file complaints about problems such as medication errors, wrong-site surgery, or other adverse incidents. Immediate Advocacy is another service offered by BFCC- QIOs. With Immediate Advocacy, Medicare patients or their families who need help resolving real-time problems can get assistance so that they have access to the right care at the right time.

Ohio residents can reach Livanta with just one call. Livanta’s Medicare Helpline for Ohio is 888-524-9900. For the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Livanta also offers a dedicated teletype phone number at 888-985-8775.

For more information, visit www. LivantaQIO.com or follow Livanta on social media @LivantaCares.

Free Ohio virtual events help explain Medicare

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program is conducting free Medicare Check-up Day webinars around the 2022 Medicare open enrollment period, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, to educate participants about Medicare basics, coverage options, and financial assistance programs.

OSHIIP, a division of the Ohio Department of Insurance, helps Ohioans understand Medicare and determine the best coverage options for their healthcare needs and budget. Coverage and cost evaluation is imperative because Medicare plans can change from year to year.

Medicare 2022 plan information is available at www.medicare.gov.

In addition to webinars, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program is holding on-site events across the state, which are subject to change. For a full outreach schedule, visit www.insurance.ohio.gov. In addition, OSHIIP staff is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800- 686-1578 and OSHIIPmail@insurance.ohio. gov to provide assistance.

The webinars are on Mondays (register at www.insurance.ohio.gov):

Oct. 4, 10 to 11 a.m.

Oct. 12 (Tuesday), 2 to 3 p.m.

Oct. 18, 10 to 11 a.m.

Oct. 25, 2 to 3 p.m.

Nov. 1, 10 to 11 a.m.

Nov. 8, 2 to 3 p.m.

Nov. 15, 10 to 11 a.m.

Nov. 22, 2 to 3 p.m.

Nov. 29, 10 to 11 a.m.

During Medicare open enrollment, Ohioans can:

Determine if their existing coverage will continue to meet their health insurance needs.

Stay on Original Medicare and shop for a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

Select a Medicare Advantage plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits, typically including prescription drug coverage.

Utilize certain financial assistance programs.