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Happy
New Year!
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Welcome to 2008!
Portland's Overdose Prevention Project (OPP) is happy to share the 2nd edition e-newsletter! We've had a lot of positive feedback about our newsletter and are thrilled to be able to bring together such a wealth of information on an ongoing basis!
In this issue you will find National and local-level news, publication links, community updates as well as training opportunities.
We hope that you had a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to collaborating and keeping you informed in 2008!
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Community Responding to Local Crisis Situation
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A special task force has convened to address the needs of pregnant and mothering women seeking treatment, recovery and childcare resources in Portland. At a prevention providers' meeting in late November, DHHS/Child & Family Services community workers shared that pregnant and addicted mothers in the Parkside and East End neighborhoods were expressing a need for greater access to treatment and recovery-related services.
When this was brought to our attention, it made sense to respond quickly with a coordinated community effort and it was decided that this group would come together to assess the situation further and address the need.
The Women's Task Force Group will be meeting on January 16th from 2:00-3:30 at Discovery House in Portland. If you would like more information about this group and its members, please contact Ronni Katz at 756-8116. |
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News You Can Use
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MAAR Celebration
In
September, the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery (MAAR) hosted the
2007 Recovery Celebration in Augusta. MAAR Coordinator Debbie Dettor grouped some
pictures together for all to see!
Click Here for the Recovery Celebration Pictures!
NH Town Hall Update
"Representatives from nine US Presidential campaigns appeared at the
December 2, 2007 Plaistow, NH Presidential Town Hall, where they spoke
and responded to questions about candidates' positions on key addiction
prevention, treatment and recovery issues, including ending insurance
discrimination."
Click Here FMI About the NH Town Hall Update
Methadone Diversion, Abuse, and Misuse: Deaths Increasing at Alarming Rate - A Report from the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC)
"From 1999 through 2006 the number of methadone-related deaths increased
significantly. Most deaths are attributed to the abuse of methadone diverted
from hospitals, pharmacies, practitioners, and pain management physicians. Some
deaths result from misuse of legitimately prescribed methadone or methadone
obtained from narcotic treatment programs, including use in combination with
other drugs and/or alcohol.
Methadone is a safe and effective drug when used as prescribed; however, when it is misused or abuse--particularly in combination with other Rx drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol--death or nonfatal overdose is likely to occur. This assessment analyzes increases in methadone diversion, abuse, and misuses that have occurred since 1999." Click Here for the Full NDIC Report (USDOJ)Methadone Is Recovery:
"NAMA is an organization composed
of methadone patients and health care professionals that are supporters
of quality opiate agonist treatment. We have thousands of members
worldwide with a network of international affiliated organizations and
chapters in many places in the United States.
The primary objective of NAMA is
to advocate for the patient in treatment by de-stigmatizing and
empowering methadone patients. First and foremost, NAMA confronts the
negative stereotypes that impact on the self esteem and worth of many
methadone patients with a powerful affirmation of pride and unity.
Click Here for the Methadone Is Recovery Website
National Drug Intelligence Center National Drug Threat Assessment 2008: New England Regional Overview "The distribution and abuse of heroin, primarily South American heroin, and prescription
narcotics such as OxyContin and Percocet (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone) pose
the greatest drug threats in the NE Region. In some areas of the NE Region, heroin
abusers who sought methadone treatment to combat their addiction are now abusing
methadone. Consequently, many treatment providers are substituting buprenorphine
products in place of methadone."
Click Here for the Full NDIC Assessment of the NE Region
The 'Bupe' Fix: An investigation by the Baltimore Sun
"There's a new narcotic on the street in Baltimore and other communities - and taxpayers helped put it there. The hexagonal orange pills some users call "bupe" are championed as an
exceptional treatment for heroin and pain-pill addicts. Federal
officials have spent millions of dollars to help create and promote
buprenorphine, and are encouraging thousands of private doctors to
prescribe it. But making buprenorphine widely available has also made it easy for
patients to sell the narcotic illegally, leading to growing abuse, an
investigation by The Sun found. Some people have died after misusing it
with other drugs."Click Here for the Full Baltimore Sun ArticleOvercoming Addiction: Baltimore Sun Editorial"Overcoming addiction can be a lengthy, complicated process, and doctors
and patients could use more navigational help. Federal law requires
doctors who prescribe bupe to take eight hours of training, but that
may not be enough. The training requirements could be expanded,
including more peer mentoring as the pool of doctors allowed to
prescribe the drug increases. Similarly, more patient counseling should
be provided, along with expanded support services."Click Here for the Full Baltimore Sun Editorial on Addiction When the Road to Recovery Goes Through Campus: Under the Influence / An Occasional Series on College Drinking"James Jones' first shot at college ended before it began. In August 2004, days after his freshman orientation at West Virginia
University, he went into treatment for a drinking problem that had
grown so all consuming he walked away from an engineering scholarship
without taking a single class."
Click Here for the Full Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Article
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"Quick Links" |
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OSA & the NE Inhalant Abuse Prevention Coalition Online Training
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"Ever wish you had known more about
inhalants? Now You Can Learn."
*Inhalants are often the first substance to be abused by youth.
*Inhalants, along with tobacco and alcohol, are one of the substances abused by younger children.
*Because inhalants can cause death the first time they are tried, any experiment is dangerous.
"Let's Put Inhalant Abuse on the Radar" |
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The OPP Event & Meeting Calendar |
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Calendar Listings The Overdose Prevention Project will publish meetings, events and upcoming class offerings using Localendar.com. Please submit your listings as soon as they become available. You can click the Localendar.com icon (above) for the OPP Calendar page; this page is also available for viewing or for forwarding anytime by clicking: http://www.localendar.com/public/OverdosePrevProject.
Next Meeting
The next OPP Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for February 6th from 2:00-3:30. If you would like to inquire about attending a meeting, please contact Ronni Katz at rmk@portlandmaine.govor 756-8116.
APExThe
Advocacy Partnership Exchange (APEx) is forming and we have several
providers already on board to serve as panel members for the upcoming
workshops. The schedule and topics are being developed and as the planning details
come together, we will keep you informed. APEx mission: Striving toward the peak of partnerships by engaging
the community in meaningful exchange to promote healthy lifestyles for those affected by addiction.
Click Here to Email Amanda FMI |
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Who We Are... |
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Overdose Prevention Project Members
Portland's
OPP is made up of numerous statewide and local treatment and prevention
providers as well as other state and local agencies. Representatives
are from: Discovery House, CAP Quality Care, Portland Police Department
and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, OSA, Community Substance Abuse
Centers and various departments within the City of Portland's Public
Health Division (Health & Human Services Department).
Contact Us
Call Ronni Katz, City of Portland Public Health Division's Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator at 756-8116 or Amanda Edgar,
City of Portland Public Health Division's Community Health Promotion
Specialist at 756-8053 for more information about the OPP's efforts or
to learn more about community resources!
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What We Do... |
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Our Mission
To prevent drug overdoses by providing support, advocacy, education & outreach to the Portland community through positive collaborations & partnerships. |
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Sign Up! Share our E-News!
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The Overdose Prevention Project is supported by the
Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) & the City of Portland's Public Health Division, Health & Human Services Department 
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If you have questions regarding the content provided in this e-newsletter, please email Amanda Edgar at aedgar@portlandmaine.gov. |
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