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Heroin Gets Headlines, but Alcohol Use Disorder a Constant Problem in the Background

In light of the opioid addiction epidemic, discussions about substance abuse tend to focus on this growing public health crisis. It’s justified, given the dramatic rise in the numbers of people becoming addicted and dying from opioids. But when research shows that alcohol is responsible for 71 percent of substance use related deaths in Barnstable County, it's clear that we mustn’t lose sight of the devastating impacts of alcohol dependence and abuse. On The Point, we take a closer look at alcohol abuse in our region and the efforts of the newly formed Cape Cod Alcohol Coalition, created to better educate the public about the potential risks of alcohol use.

Guests on the program are: Vaira Harik, Senior Project Manager with the Barnstable County Department of Human Services, Jamie Binienda  an investigator with the Alcohol Beverage and Control Commission, member of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Use Council and the founder of the Cape Cod Alcohol Coalition, and Maureen Wicklund, curriculum leader at the Sandwich Public schools.

More information about Alcohol Use Treatment and Help at these links:

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NIH Alcohol Treatment Navigator

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Mindy Todd is the host and producer of <i>The Point</i> on WCAI which examines critical issues for Cape Cod and the Islands. She brings more than 40 years of experience in radio and television to WCAI.