Volume 53, Issue 15 FEBRUARY 1, 2019 advocate-online.net
Best Picture takes new focus PAGE 3
Self-defense for self-love PAGE 3
Super Bowl Sunday PAGE 4
OPIOID EPIDEMIC HAUNTS THE U.S.A.
PAGE 2
Mental Health program deadline approaches PAGE 4
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OPINION EDITORIAL
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS CONCERNING, NEEDS ATTENTION
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ccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 130 Americans overdose on opioids every single day. Drugs such as the newly infamous fentanyl, heroin, and even prescription pain killers are ravaging our country – and it’s only supposed to get worse. The White House declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in October 2017 and followed with an administration pronouncement that showed “the nation’s opioid death rate is five times higher than it was in 1999, and is likely to remain there or climb higher in the years to come.” In an article titled “The Opioid Crisis is Here to Stay for Years” from U.S. News & World Report, an analysis from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a clearer picture of the growing epidemic. The study shows that opioid mortality has been rising since the late 1990s – when the opioid OxyContin was the hottest painkiller prescribed by doctors; however, after deaths due to this drug began to rise, doctors began limiting access to legally prescribed opioids in 2007. The limitations ended up causing even more damage, however. The report notes: “The demand fueled by those cutbacks led desperate users to turn to heroin and the ultra-potent fentanyl, fueling a shift that caused overdose deaths to start skyrocketing in 2014. The opioid death rate reached its recent peak of 14.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017, with little sign of true progress since then.” Adults aren’t the only ones being affected by this; it has drastically impacted America’s youth. Yale University published a study in December 2018 that
showed that nearly “9,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. died from prescription and illicit opioid poisonings between 1999 and 2016, and that the related mortality rate surged by nearly 270 percent during that period.” The majority of those deaths occurred among those 15 to 19 years old. Treatment options for anyone under 18 are incredibly hard to come by, and the individuals are often not told about – or straightup denied – craving-reducing medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone just because they are underage, the report states: “A study by Dr. Scott Hadland, a pediatrician, assistant professor at Boston University and researcher at Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction and others of nearly 5,000 Medicaid-enrolled youths between the ages of 13 and 22 with a diagnosed opioid use disorder in 2014 and 2015 found that less than a quarter received medication for their treatment within three months of being diagnosed, and most received only behavioral health services. Only 5 percent of those under age 18 received timely treatment with medication.” How did this happen? How can these death rates rise so drastically in a matter of years? It all started with greedy, big business pharma companies and nationwide over-prescription. The epidemic is often looked at in three waves. The first, spanning from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, began with the mass prescribing of opioids, fueled by Purdue Pharma, the creator of OxyContin, by claiming that the drug was a safe, effective alternative to other painkillers and could be used to help anything – even simple
migraines! Of course, the drug (the original Oxycodone – OxyContin is the time-release version that exploded among the public) was originally prescribed specifically to individuals with terminal cancer. This kick-started the widespread misuse and addiction. The second wave took off in the 2000s when heroin flooded the illicit market and drug dealers took advantage of opioid addicts who either lost access to painkillers or sought a ‘better’ and ‘cheaper’ high. We are currently in the third wave, the rise of the synthetic opioid, fentanyl, the more potent, cheaper, and deadlier alternative to heroin and causing many more overdoses. “Even when the consumers (think they) are buying Percocet or
Vicodin online, in many cases what they’re getting is pressed fentanyl... in doses that are unreliable, where there’s a high variability from pill to pill and there’s a risk they’re going to get a lethal dose,” stated FDA (Federal Drug Administration) Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, in an article for US News.com. We suggest individuals who ingest such drugs should test the substance before taking it. Test kits can be purchased online and they could possibly save you or a loved one from overdosing. We at the Advocate encourage anyone affected by this epidemic to reach out for help, and support those they know who are struggling with addiction. If someone you know is suffering
from addiction or you think they might be, check in with them. Ask how you can help. If you need help there are services available here on the Mt. Hood campus, such as the Counseling and Career Center, and for 24-hour support, you can call the opiates hotline at 1-877-326-2204 or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national help line, at 1-800-622-4357. Our weekly editorial is designed to explore compelling issues that affect the community we serve. It has no attributed author because it represents the collective voice of the Advocate editorial board.
Advisers
Dan Ernst Howard Buck
THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson Assistant News Editor Chloe Collins Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias PA G E 2
Arts & Entertainment Editor Mariah Getch Opinion Editor Position Open Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin Graphic Design Team Angeles Ramirez Khaled Marei Photo Team Maysee Thao
Shyann Tooke Video Team Andy Carothers Drevsen Shadley Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open Ad Manager Darcy Hitchcock
Social Media Manager Nicole Freemont Staff Writers Julia Empleo Sadie Klein Kurt Larson Jennifer Salazar Omar Saradi Positions Open Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald
@mhccadvocate
@theadvocateonline
@mhccadvocate Get Involved! Come visit us during our weekly meetings on Monday and Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in our office, room AC1369.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | NEWS
FEBRUARY 1, 2019
OSCARS PREVIEW
THE BEST MOVIE IS... Kurt Larson the advocate
The 2019 Oscars are almost upon us, and this year’s nominations have just been released. So who will win America’s largest popularity contest at the 91st Academy Awards event? That answer may not be as straightforward as one may think, as the way Best Picture (arguably the most important category to win) is chosen is actually incredibly vague and very much based upon which studio is willing to spend the most money campaigning for its nomination, rather than the real artistic merits of that film. But that is neither here nor there. So, who are the nominees anyway? Currently the eight films listed for best picture are “Black Panther,” “A Star Is Born,” “Roma,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “The Favourite,” “Vice,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Green Book.” If you know anything about the nominees listed, the first thing you’ll likely notice is the surprising prevalence of films centered around African American stories and casts. Hollywood, clearly trying its hardest to distance itself from the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of years past, has put a massive emphasis on Afrocentric films in this year’s nominations. Unfortunately, this has made the 2019 Best Picture contenders feel somewhat manufactured and pandering, even more so than usual. That’s not to say, however, that the films chosen are not deserving
of their nomination, as almost every film on the list has its own merits that would uniquely qualify it to be elected as this year’s best movie. Black Panther, for example, is widely considered to be the most culturally relevant film to hit theaters in the last decade, and would be the first comic book, superhero movie to ever win Best Picture, if it’s selected. As a general rule, the Oscars desperately avoid awarding the nomination to sci-fi/fantasy and/ or horror films for this category. In fact, only three sci-fi and horror films have ever won Best Picture: “Lord of The Rings: Return of The King;” “Silence of The Lambs;” and “The Shape of Water.” Another big first for this year’s Oscars is Roma, a Netflix-produced drama by director Alfonso Cuarón, which saw a simultaneous streaming and limited theatrical release, potentially making it the first streaming exclusive to receive an award for best picture if all goes to plan for Netflix. As for the other films on the list, they’re all the typical Oscar fodder for the most part, sporting amazing performances and/or excellent storytelling. They are, overall, exemplars of true cinematic achievement. Except for Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book, however, which were generally critically panned and really stand out as more audience pandering picks than genuine best-picture nominations. To view the full, unabridged version, visit: advocate-online.net
SAFE LOVE? EXPERTS TO SHARE SELF-DEFENSE TIPS THURSDAY Sadie Klein
the advocate
This Valentine’s Day, Mt. Hood’s student government Student Activities (SA) leaders have funded a selfdefense workshop, bringing instructors from Krav Maga Self Defense & Fitness to teach students, faculty and staff basic self-defense techniques. Krav Maga is a tactical, mixed martial art that uses a combination of techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, and aikido. It was created by the Israeli Army many years ago, for individuals of any size or age
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to be able to defend themselves from an attacker. The historical custom on Valentine’s Day is to celebrate love, romance and your special partner; this year, SA wants to promote the idea of self-love, and a great way to do so is by being able to defend yourself from physical attacks. This event will be hosted from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Union, geared for any/all genders. “It will be fun and interactive,” says Shi Wen Wong, Student Activities coordinator. And Valentine’s Day itself will be celebrated: Free roses and cards will be given away, on a first come, first served basis.
The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.
Advertising Manager Darcy Hitchcock is a transfer student from Ohio studying science. She plans to attend University of Western States for a Doctorate of Chiropractic with her best friend and husband, Devin. When not studying or working, you can find her dreaming of endless summer days, roaming through nature, practicing yoga, meditating with essential oils and crystals, reading, playing guitar, ukulele, or tambourine and singing, and eating all the fruit or vegan pizza her heart desires. She is also a 5-going on 6-year ‘husband lottery’ winner! (She can promise you that...) PA G E 3
NEWS | SPORTS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
A CAREER IN HELPING OTHERS Mental health program students find a home in their cohort Cassie Wilson the advocate
MHCC has many unique programs that are highly regarded in the local community, and the Mental Health, Social Services, and Addiction Counseling Program is one of them. It’s a limited-entry program, with its Friday, April 12 application due date approaching. If you have a passion for helping people, but aren’t interested in a field such as nursing, this could be the program for you. STUDENT EXPERIENCE Two second-year students in the program talked to us about their experience in their time at Mt. Hood as they both prepare to graduate in June. Linda Steffanson, age 66, hadn’t been in school for 25 years, but after working at Sandy Community Action Center for seven or eight years decided to come back to get her degree. Steffanson said that she first got into the program 30 years ago, but had to leave school due to a family situation. When she decided to come back to Mt. Hood, she looked through all of her options, and the mental health program was still the
choice for her. “I’m really surprised with how well I’m doing,” she said. “I’m on the honors society.” She said she did have worries returning to school at her age, thinking she might struggle to remember the material as her memory hasn’t always been great, but it hasn’t been an issue for her. After re-entering the program, Steffanson learned that Sandy Community Action Center was an internship opportunity for students, but with her years of time there, she went to SnowCap Community Charities in east Portland for new learning opportunities. Fellow second-year Mt. Hood student Crystal Garriga explained that students in this program have to complete 480 hours of an internship. She has spent almost a year at the Clark County Juvenile Justice Court in Vancouver, Washington. Garriga said, “They do restorative justice, which is moving away from the punitive way of working. I enjoy that piece. It’s a really cool part of it.” Similar to Steffanson, Garriga, age 37, opted to go for her degree a bit later in life. It’s been nearly 20 years since she graduated from high
school, and making the decision to come back to school wasn’t quick and easy. “It was really hard for me because I also believed out of high school that you didn’t need a college education to be successful,” she said. “I was totally not willing to be in debt to go to school, so I just believed a career would fall in my lap or I would be guided to the place to be finding a good job and doing what I really wanted.” Garriga decided she’d need to go to school, and then heard about the mental health program from an MHCC student who was interning at the same food bank where Garriga was volunteering. “I looked at the brochure and thought, ‘I can’t believe I can still be all these things’, ” said Garriga. She also was shocked she wasn’t too old to start a career in social work. The program has students of all ages, and both Garriga and Steffanson say they are an extremely cohesive bunch. Asked what they thought the highlight of the program has been, both said, “The cohort of students.” Steffanson said, “The wisdom in these young people and the support they give each other and me is just
totally amazing.” Garriga said the things students are learning may contribute to them working in harmony. “We’re supportive, we validate by listening. All the stuff we’re learning, we’re able to use it,” she said. Garriga added that instructor Karen Green has been impactful in her learning experience. She said Green spent many years working in social work before teaching at Mt. Hood. “She was affecting a lot of kids’ lives, then, in a positive way most likely because of the kind of person she is,” said Garriga. “Now she’s teaching us to go out and be her, essentially, so I think that’s just a really cool thing, to pass the baton, on her part.” Garriga is applying to the School of Social Work at Portland State University, and is excited to explore potential career opportunities as she likes many of her options and feels like the job market has opened up to her as a result of her education. Steffanson will be done with schooling in June and is interested in teaching parenting classes and counseling parents. There are many job opportunities that come upon completing this
program at MHCC – several types of counseling positions, entry-level social work positions, and more. HOW TO APPLY If you’re interested in joining the Mental Health, Social Services, and Addiction Counseling Program, the application window is open now and is due for completion by 5 p.m. on April 12 – with no late exceptions. There are some reading, writing, and math prerequisites that must be met to be admitted to the program. After applying, there are group interviews for candidates in May, a mandatory orientation in June, and then the program would begin in earnest come September and the Fall Term. There are other qualifications that need to be met if you’re accepted into the program, such as immunizations, a background check, drug screening, and sobriety requirements. To learn more, those interested can attend an information session from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 in Room AC2761 (the Health Professions Division conference room). You can also visit mhcc.edu/mentalhealth for more details.
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY KICKS OFF IN ATLANTA Julia Empleo the advocate
Super Bowl LIII is set to kick off this Sunday in Atlanta. The New England Patriots come back to the big stage again, after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 41-33, in Minneapolis at last year’s Super Bowl. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and head Coach Bill Belichick are headed to their ninth Super Bowl together, winning five of them in 18 years, while the Los Angeles Rams are trying to win their first championship since 2000. The two teams met back in 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI, where the Patriots beat the then-St. Louis Rams, 20-17, on a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri. On Sunday, Brady & Co. will try once again for ring No. 6, against the team PA G E 4
that sent them on their journey to become the greatest dynasty in football history. According to the SportsLine’s No. 1 NFL handicapper, New England is f avore d
by 2.5 points in the matchup, after both teams rallied their way to thrilling overtime wins in their Jan. 20 conference title games.
The NFC Championship was probably the most
Graphic by Angeles Ramirez / the Advocate
controversial game heading to
the Super Bowl. After the New Orleans Saints scored 13 points in the opening quarter, and the Rams scored 10 points in the second, you knew it would be a close game, and it was.
Both teams ended up with 23 points in four quarters, then the Rams won after Greg Zurklein’s 57yard field goal in overtime. The
26-23 victory might have not been possible without a missed pass interference call by the officials in the last minute of regulation, which really hurt New Orleans. Later that day, the AFC Championship was the most watched conference title game in five years. New England hit the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, who a lot of fans expected to win it all this season. The Patriots jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead before the Chiefs rallied to send the game into overtime – where Tom Brady did what Tom Brady does. New England won the game, 37-31. Now it’s time to see how this Super Bowl will go. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time, in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Check it out on CBS (KOINTV 6 in Portland), or its streaming apps.