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Articles written by Valley County Care Coalition


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  • Harm Reduction In Practice

    Valley County Care Coalition Haley Genster, For the Courier|Sep 7, 2022

    In the earlier community education article "What is Harm Reduction," which was printed in the Aug. 31 issue of the Glasgow Courier, the harm reduction model was defined as a practice of strategies that reduce drug-related harm to the individual and community through programs to support well-being and lessen infectious disease transmission. Addiction and drug use are understood through the disease model as substance-use disorders. Evidence shows that harm reduction strategies do not encourage...

  • What is Harm Reduction?

    Valley County Care Coalition Haley Genste, For the Courier|Aug 31, 2022

    In Valley County, almost five percent of high school students have tried meth or heroin. Just over eight percent have tried cocaine, MDMA, or hallucinogens. Almost one-fifth have used a prescription medication other than as prescribed. 2021 American overdose deaths break record: over 107,000, or one death every five minutes. The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) asserts that harm reduction “emphasizes direct engagement with people who use drugs to prevent overdose and infectious disease transmission, improve t...

  • Looking Out for LGBTQ+ Youth

    Valley County Care Coalition, Haley Genster For the Courier|Jun 15, 2022

    With increasing acceptance and information, more people are understanding themselves as and identifying as part of the LGBT community. Part of growing up is exploring what it means to be you and having the pleasure of your loved ones knowing you in your authenticity. Like cisgender kids (pronounced ‘sis’, aka their gender aligns with biological sex), kids who don’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth know who they are at an early age – even if they don’t have the vocabulary to describe it. Studies have shown that by elementar...

  • A Breath of Fresh Air for Behavioral Health

    Valley County Care Coalition, FOR THE COURIER|Feb 16, 2022

    For far too long, there has been a stigma surrounding mental health, making it incredibly difficult for the very people who need it the most to reach out. With an estimated 44 million people living with a mental illness and around 60% of them not receiving any treatment; something needs to be done to address this topic. In recent years, change has been happening. Communities are rallying for a seat at the table and those without a voice are finding space to speak freely. Behavioral Health is now talked about more than ever and professionals in...