Battle Ground naturopath organizes health network to focus on opioid addiction

May 28-- May 28--Jill Stansbury is exploring new ways to help Clark County.

Stansbury, a licensed naturopath with almost 30 years experience, is cutting back hours at Battle Ground Healing Arts. But she's looking to replace that gap through work with Clark County Community Health Network.

The network is a local volunteer organization that wants to address county's opioid epidemic and environmental health.

Stansbury has treated patients with opioid addictions and has had family impacted by the opioid epidemic, which killed more than 39 people in Clark County in 2017, and nearly 48,000 nationwide, according to the most current statistics.

"I've seen the struggle people have had with general medicine not always being in their camp to get them healthier," she said.

Stansbury wants to increase the options available for people struggling with opioid use. She said the network would help pair people with treatment centers and mental health services, while also showing them resources that naturopathic medicine can offer. The network offers education classes on recovery, and can connect people with physicians who specialize in opioid recovery.

"I think alternative medicine has some tools that are worthy of knowing about or worthy of people's journey to recover," Stansbury said.

She also wants to create networking events so that local leaders can come together to discuss health issues. The network will offer seasonal events and classes such as diabetes workshops and nutrition classes. Additionally, the network will operate a farmers market in downtown Battle Ground throughout the summer that will support Clark County organic farmers.

"The overall mission is broad and I hope will evolve over time," Stansbury said.

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