Barnstable County Regional Substance
Abuse Council E-Newsletter 
Join Our List
Quick Links
In This Issue
Analysis of Substance Abuse on Cape Cod
Free Narcan Training
From Calmer Choice
Documentary Screening
MOAPC Coordinator
DEA Alert
In the Headlines
Students in Recovery Financial Award
News from SAMHSA
Amazing Grace
News from Gosnold on Cape Cod
Research and Reports
Save the Date
Mutual Support Groups
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
ISSUE: 023
April 2, 2015

 
Welcome to the e-Newsletter from Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council. This newsletter is designed to provide timely information on substance abuse and other related topics for people living and working in Barnstable County. 
 
This publication will be sent out periodically to our mailing list.  Please forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues who may be interested in this information.  If you are not on our mailing list, you can join by clicking on the button to the left.

 

If you have information you would like included in future e-newsletters, please follow the submission instructions outlined at the bottom of this page. 
BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL
Today's meeting of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council has been canceled.

The next meeting of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council is scheduled for:

Thursday, May 7, 2015 - 4:00 - 5:30 PM
Harborview Conference Room in the Barnstable County Complex, 3195 Main Street, Barnstable Village

These meetings are open to the public. Meeting agendas are posted publicly on the Barnstable County website, in front of the Barnstable Superior Courthouse, and are available upon request.
ANALYSIS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON CAPE COD: A BASELINE ASSESSMENT

The Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council has completed an Analysis of Substance Abuse on Cape Cod: A Baseline Assessment.  View the Full Report here, and the Executive Summary here.

 

The purpose of this report is to provide a snapshot of substance dependency, and the related costs, for Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It has been created to inform programming and policy needs to be defined by the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council.  The Council's goal is that Barnstable County will have a coordinated and comprehensive regional approach to substance abuse across the continuum of prevention, treatment and recovery, harms reduction and law enforcement.

 

If you have questions about the report, please contact Vaira Harik.

 

FREE NARCAN TRAINING
A free Narcan Training and Overdose Prevention Education Hour hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod will be offered on Thursday, April 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at the clubhouse, 31 Frank E. Hicks Drive, Mashpee.

The training session, put on by the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, provides attendees the certification to administer Narcan or to keep it in their home and/or place of business, as well as a free Narcan kit from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health upon completion of the training.  


 

Anyone can attend the instruction, which will be completed in less than an hour. Attendees will learn about risks for overdose, how to recognize an overdose, how to respond to an overdose situation, and how to administer Narcan.

FROM CALMER CHOICE
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 
1:00-2:30 PM
Cape Cod Community College
Tilden Arts Center

Dan Harris, ABC News co-anchor of Good Morning America and Night Line, has found a way to be happier, calmer in the midst of one of the most competitive careers on earth.

Please join Calmer Choice as we welcome Dan, author of 10% HAPPIER. He will be joined by panelists Cheryl Bartlett, Executive Director of Cape Cod Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative; Carol Woodbury, DY School Superintendent; and Fiona Jensen, Executive Director of Calmer Choice.

Register: www.calmerchoice.org or call 508-274-8901
Tickets: $10 in advance. $15 at the door. Free for students with valid ID.

 

To view an event flyer, please click here.

DOCUMENTARY SCREENING
What Happened Here: The Untold Story of Addiction on Cape Cod

Join The Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, Barnstable County Human Services/Regional Substance Abuse Council, and the Cultural Center of Cape Cod on Thursday, April 16th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

This documentary film, by local filmmakers Sam Tarplin and Nate Robertson, tell the stories of addicts, families, law enforcement, clinicians, and community leaders who are affected by addiction and recovery on Cape Cod.  Don't miss the opportunity to experience this powerful documentary and meet the local filmmakers, Sam Tarplin and Nate Robertson.

Free admission; donations welcome. Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth.  Light refreshments will be served. See the attached flyer for more information. This event is rescheduled from January 28th when we were snowed out!

View the event flyer here.
MASSACHUSETTS OPIOID ABUSE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE
Department of Human Services Seeks Coordinator for Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative (MOAPC) in Barnstable County

Barnstable County, through its Chief Procurement Officer and on behalf of the Department of Human Services, seeks a qualified contractor to assist the Department in coordinating the "Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative" (MOAPC) in Barnstable County.

 

Download the RFP here. Specifications may be obtained from the Barnstable County Purchasing Department, Superior Courthouse, P.O. Box 427, Barnstable, MA  02630.

 

Proposals will be received at the Superior Court House, Office of the County Commissioners, Purchasing Department, 3195 Main Street, P.O. Box 427, Barnstable, MA  02630 on or before April 7, 2015 by 10:00 AM.

 

Please share this information with qualified individuals who may be interested in applying.

DEA ALERT
DEA Issues Nationwide Alert on Fentanyl as Threat to Health and Public Safety
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today issued a nationwide alert about the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues/compounds. Fentanyl is commonly laced in heroin, causing significant problems across the country, particularly as heroin abuse has increased. 

 

"Drug incidents and overdoses related to fentanyl are occurring at an alarming rate throughout the United States and represent a significant threat to public health and safety," said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "Often laced in heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues produced in illicit clandestine labs are up to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30-50 times more powerful than heroin. 

To read the full alert, please click here.
IN THE HEADLINES
News Articles from Around the Country
Health and Human Services officials said the department would put more federal money and effort behind programs to distribute naloxone, an overdose-reversal medicine to first responders and family members.

Needle Exchange Is Allowed After H.I.V. Outbreak in an Indiana County

Earlier this month, the United Nations Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) approved a resolution that called for justice and health agencies to work together to provide a range of alternatives to incarceration for those affected by a substance use disorder. 

SAMHSA News: Not for Human Consumption: Spice and Bath Salts

Michael Botticelli, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, shares how personal experience has helped him advance efforts to combat the U.S. opioid epidemic.
STUDENTS ACHIEVING RECOVERY TOGETHER
Students in Recovery Financial Award
Presented by the family and friends of Chelsea Joslin and START (Students Achieving Recovery Together) at Cape Cod Community College, these are non-commencement, endowed scholarships. One to three scholarships are awarded per academic year, are not to exceed $3,000, and are equally split between the Fall and Spring semesters.

For more information on this award, please click here.
shiny-black-header.gif
Narcan Training
Students Achieving Recovery Together will be hosting a free Narcan training, put on by the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 2:30 PM.  The training will be held on the campus of Cape Cod Community College, with a location to be determined.  

To visit the START Facebook page, click 
NEWS FROM SAMHSA
Revised Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment Programs

The revised Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment Programs, published by SAMHSA, are now available. SAMHSA periodically revises the guidelines to reflect best practices based on current evidence and changes in health care delivery.

 

The revised guidelines contain updated information on patient assessment and treatment planning, overdose prevention and relapse prevention, and patient-centered, integrated, and recovery-oriented care. Guidance is provided on the use of telemedicine and the role of various health professionals in opioid treatment programs (OTP).

 

To view the revised guidelines, please click here.
AMAZING GRACE
Summer Camp for Children of Incarcerated Parents
The mission of Amazing Grace of Cape Cod is to operate programs for children who currently have, or have had, a family member incarcerated. These programs will demonstrate unconditional love, with the intention of breaking the chain of intergenerational incarceration

 

For more information, please visit the website here or view the program brochure here.
NEWS FROM GOSNOLD ON CAPE COD

Gosnold and Falmouth PD Team up for High School Social Host Lesson On April 1, Gosnold's Prevention Division teamed up with the Falmouth Police Department to present a Social Host lesson on underage drinking prevention to freshman health classes at Falmouth High School. The students filled out a brief freshman alcohol survey, and took home a mandatory assignment on the Social Host Law that was completed with a parent or guardian.


 

Scholarship Opportunity 

Gosnold on Cape Cod, is offering a $2,500 scholarship to a graduating Cape Cod senior who has been accepted and is entering college in the Fall of 2015.  The student must plan to major in psychology, social work or another field of study that is relevant to addiction and/or mental health.

 

Interested applicants must complete an application and a 1,000 word essay responding to a specific issue about addiction. To receive an application contact Jodi Landers or click here.

RESEARCH AND REPORTS
A recent study looking at a group of young users of injection drugs, found that recent maintenance opioid agonist therapy with methadone or buprenorphine (know often as Suboxone) for opioid use disorders, such as heroin addiction, was associated with a lower incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

 

This study looked at opioids and chronic pain.  On adjusted analysis, the average rate of opioid misuse was estimated at 21 to 29 percent. Misuse was defined as using opioids contrary to instructions, regardless of harmful or adverse effects.  Adjusted average rates of opioid addiction-defined as continued opioid use with actual or potential harmful effects-ranged from 8 to 12 percent. 

SAVE THE DATE

Opioid Abuse Prevention & Education in Schools:  Impacting Student Success

DCU Center, Worcester

May 15, 2015

8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (sign in 7:45-8:30)

 

This conference is being held as the opioid crisis impacts everyone in our state. It is for School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Administrators.  Dr. Ruth Potee will be speaking on the impact of substances on the developing brain and how this negatively impacts academic success.


 

Joanne Peterson from Learn 2 Cope will be offering resources for educators and families dealing with this issue. Karen Jarvis Vance will be speaking about the positive impact of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) screening in her school district, and more.  Cost: $75 pp. (includes breakfast, lunch and all printed materials)

 

Registration available at www.neushi.org.

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter
MUTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS
Learn to Cope  
Learn to Cope is a support group for parents, family members, spouses, and caregivers who have a family member who is addicted to opiates, alcohol, or other drugs.

Learn to Cope offers experienced facilitators, resources, informational material, guest speakers (in long term recovery or professionals in the field), overdose education, and Narcan enrollment at all weekly meetings.  

Weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 PM at the Yarmouth Police Station, One Brad Erickson Way. For more information call (508) 738-5148 or visit their website.

shiny-black-header.gif
Parents Supporting Parents 
*Please note new meeting location*
Parents Supporting Parents is a group of people who have come together as parents and family members coping and dealing with children/loved one's addiction.

Their mission is to support, strengthen, and educate one another as they share their lives.  Their goal is to help their loved ones find and live in recovery, and for all members to live a healthy lifestyle.

Weekly meetings are held on Monday 6:30-8:30 PM  at Mashpee TV, 168 Industrial Drive, Mashpee, MA 02649. To learn more, view the Parents Supporting Parents Facebook page.
shiny-black-header.gif
Mothers Helping Mothers
Mothers Helping Mothers is a support group for women struggling with the emotional difficulties associated with addiction and recovery during the pregnant and postpartum phases of life.

Free childcare is provided during the meetings by The Children's Study Home.  Anyone planning on attending the meeting and needing childcare is asked to call ahead.  All ages are welcome. 

Weekly meetings are held every
Tuesday 7:30-9:00 PM at the John Wesley Methodist Church in Falmouth at 270 Gifford Street and every Monday 5:30-7:00 PM at the Federated Church in Hyannis at 320 Main Street. 

For more information, contact Deborah at (774) 392-0446 or Danielle at (508) 209-7533
.
shiny-black-header.gif
Alateen
Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking.  
 
There are two regular meetings run by Cape Cod Alateen: 
 
Wednesday - 7:00-8:00 PM in S. Dennis:  Church of the Nazarene, 209 Upper County Rd.
Friday - 7:30 - 8:45 PM in Cataumet: Cataumet Methodist Church, 1091 County Rd. 

For more information, call 508-394-4555 (M-F 10AM - 3PM) or visit their website at www.capeteens.com.
shiny-black-header.gif

Nar-Anon
Nar-Anon Family Groups is a twelve step fellowship that offers a recovery program for those affected by someone's addiction.  The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend.

Nar-Anon is adapted from Narcotics Anonymous and uses Nar-Anon's Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts.  

Weekly meetings are held Friday nights 6:00-7:00 PM at St. David's Episcopal Church in South Yarmouth.  For more information, visit the Nar-Anon website.
shiny-black-header.gif
Gosnold Family Support Groups
The Gosnold Reaching Out program is a resource for family members and loved ones affected by addiction. It assists the family at all stages of addiction through education, intervention, and support. 

Information and Education Forums help family members gain a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms of addiction, treatment options, and stages of recovery. An educated and supportive family has a positive impact on treatment outcomes.

To learn more about these groups, view the Weekly Family Support Group flyer.

shiny-black-header.gif 
Other Resources
Al-Anon - The primary purpose of Al-Anon is to help families and friends of alcoholics. Members of Al-Anon learn to live happily whether the alcoholic continues to drink or not. We learn that alcoholism is a disease and that we are not alone. 

Alcoholics Anonymous - Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.

Narcotics Anonymous - NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using.
MASSACHUSETTS SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE

For tens of thousands of Massachusetts resident struggling with alcohol and other drug related issues, (800) 327-5050 is an important number.   

 

The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline provides free and confidential information and referrals for alcohol and other drug abuse problems and related concerns.  The Helpline is committed to linking consumers with comprehensive, accurate, and current information about treatment and prevention services throughout Massachusetts.  

 

Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Language interpreters are always available. 

 

For online service and more information, click here.

Join Our List
E-NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Did you know that a full archive of the previous editions of this e-Newsletter are available on the Barnstable County Human Services Department website?

View past editions of the Regional Substance Abuse Council e-Newsletter and the Human Services Department e-Newsletter at www.bchumanservices.net and click on "E-Newsletter".
E-NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
To submit materials, please contact Samantha Kossow at SAC@barnstablecounty.org and include the following information:
  • Descriptive Title
  • Brief Description of the Content 
  • Relevant attachments, submitted in PDF or text format 
  • Website link if available 
  • Contact information of the person submitting the information the contact person for the event 

logo

Posting of articles submitted for publication in the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council E-Newsletter is at the discretion of the Department.  All articles must be submitted in text format to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  To request this newsletter in alternate formats, please call Kathie Callahan at (508) 375-6628 or TDD at (508) 362-5885.