Addiction and Health - Addiction Series Episode 8

The range of effects addiction can have on a person are drastic, and often are deeper than those who are trying to help someone through addiction can ever realize. On this episode we’ll hear from Mark Maggio with the Phoenix House, Rebecca Crane from Dial Help and Dr. Adam Frimodig from UP Health System. The three of them will dive into the many negative health consequences addiction can have.

You can watch the video above, or listen to the audio version below.

Highlights from Episode 8

Mark Maggio, Phoenix House

• “It definitely has a negative consequence to the person’s overall health.”  
• “Nutritional issues, deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.”
• “Significant impact on general health issues.”

Rebecca Crane, Dial Help

• “On a personal level, it erodes every aspect of a person’s health.” 
• “The children in the home are at risk from abuse and neglect, but about half the time it’s because the parents are using.”
• “It seems to find its path into ever service division we have and have had.”

Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

• “Drastically wide range of effects.”
• “Significant emotional changes, whether it’s anxiety, depression or even bipolar being induced.”
• “There’s a phenomenon known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia, which basically means the more pain medication you take, the more pain you have.”

Looking Ahead

The significant impact of addiction can absolutely erode every aspect of a person’s health, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Today we heard from Mark Maggio, Rebecca Crane and Dr. Adam Frimodig, and in episode nine all of three of them will be back, along with four other leaders in our community to talk about the solution to our community’s addiction problem.

More About PHF’s Addiction Series

Visit phfgive.org/addiction to see a list of all episodes, find resources on addiction in our community and to subscribe to receive an email when the next episode drops. Be sure to subscribe to the Portage Health Foundation’s YouTube channel to never miss a video episode or find PHF Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts to catch the audio version of this podcast. 

How to Get Help

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, know that there are resources available in our community. Dial Help is a great place to start as they have a crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week based here in the Copper Country. You can call 906-482-HELP, text 906-35NEEDS or chat live at dialhelp.org.