Real Talk Brand Ambassador- August

This month I wanted to focus on the addiction of opioids in America. According to the statistics from The Recovery Village (www.therecoveryvillage.com), "nearly 80% of people who are addicted to heroin first start with prescription opioids". This alarms me because this week I was prescribed hydrocodone for my wisdom teeth removal surgery. I expressed to my oral surgeon that this was a concern due to my background knowledge as an ambassador, and we decided to stick to a regime for intake. As I continue to heal, I am thankful for the education from Real Talk and the reigning Miss America, Camille Shrier and her social impact initiative "Mind Your Meds". You can find her instagram handles as @missamerica and @camilleshrier (https://www.instagram.com/camilleschrier/). This platform embraces best practices of reading your medical labels, sticking to the given time schedule, checking the dates of medications, and stocking them up high so they are out of reach from pets and children.

Let's talk about my oral surgery. This was my second major oral surgery and I was not prepared for the change in swelling, soreness, diet and overall pain! I gained insight on how easy the addictive experience can be when you are prescribed heavy drugs. Although they were much needed, I would like to limit my usage if I ever need similar prescriptions for medical needs in the future. I have been used to the use of drugs and alcohol through the observations of media and film almost all of my life. I have recently indulged in HBO's Euphoria, a show that unfolds the life of a teenager who struggles with addiction and recovery. This show goes beyond the typical high school party scene and shows the reality of someone who is struggling with family loss, depression, isolation and is on the road to recovery. I appreciate this series for not glorifying drugs and alcohol, knowing that majority of its audience ranges from ages 18-34 making up 66% of their demographics (Porter, R., 2019,The Hollywood Reporter, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/euphoria-finale-scores-series-high-ratings-hbo-1229647). I am looking forward to the continued plot of season 2.

With all of this in mind, The Recovery Village offers counseling and housing centers for those in need of help. You can book a free presentation with myself and Miss Florida 2020, Michaela McLean by filling out the "Book An Appearance" tab. For more information on the Real Talk presentation, visit https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/real-talk/