Barnstable County Regional Substance
Abuse Council E-Newsletter 
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In This Issue
Analysis of Substance Abuse on Cape Cod
News from MOAR
Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative
Department of Human Services
News from Gosnold on Cape Cod
Spotlight On Underage Drinking
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ISSUE: 028
 June 16, 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. 
ANALYSIS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON CAPE COD: A BASELINE ASSESSMENT
The Human and Financial Costs of Substance Abuse: Infographic

Over the past year, the Barnstable County Department of Human Services undertook a comprehensive analysis of substance abuse in Barnstable County.
 

This baseline assessment provides a snapshot of substance dependency and the related costs for our region, and is helping inform the policy and programming direction of the Regional Substance Abuse Council. View the Full Report here, and the Executive Summary here.


Using data from the analysis, the Department recently undertook development of an important infographic to clearly highlight both the human and financial costs of substance use in Barnstable County.
 

To view or download the inforgraphic, please click here.

NEWS FROM MOAR
MOAR Community Forums

Massachusetts Organizations for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) is pleased to have Cape Cod Healthcare partnership to host three community forums on addiction recovery.  People in recovery, families, friends, policymakers, coalitions and community members are invited to attend.

Join us to speak up and celebrate the successes of recovery and hear from local and statewide health and recovery advocates. The last forum will be held:

  • June 16th at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans, MA 02653 from 5-7:30 pm

Please RSVP to attend the events: maryanne@moar-recovery.org or call 617-279-3395. Please include the date and location for the forum you plan to attend.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE
Barnstable County Seal Department of Human Services Seeks Coordinator for Massachusetts Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative (SAPC) 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  Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative" (SAPC) in Barnstable County.   The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) has awarded Barnstable County a one year grant  for the period July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 with options to renew through 2022.
 
The purpose of the Massachusetts Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative (SAPC) Initiative is to implement or amend local policy, practice, systems, and environmental change to prevent underage drinking and other drug use and to increase the number and capacity of municipalities across the Commonwealth addressing these issues.  The SAPC Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all collaborative activities and regional strategies; coordinating all efforts among collaborative members; conducting training and presentations; and providing support to regional sponsored activities.
 
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 July 7, 2015 at 10:00AM.   No exceptions will be allowed.
 
Specifications may be obtained from the Barnstable County Purchasing Department, Superior Court House, P.O. Box 427, Barnstable, Massachusetts 02630 and can also be found at
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES NEWS

The Barnstable County Department of Human Services is pleased to announce: 

www.HealthyConnectedCapeCod.org


An easy-to-use online clearinghouse for health and human services resources on Cape Cod.  We have created a single point of entry to connect to an array of online tools ... without having to keep track of every website address!  


 

By visiting one easy-to-remember website address, HealthyConnectedCapeCod.org users can link to:
  • BCHumanServices.net - Our flagship website highlights community announcements, updates from our regional partners, and Department reports and publications
  • Behavioral Health Portal - Features mental health and substance abuse information, state and federal legislation, self-help guides, and a robust directory of services
  • Health and Wellness Portal - Provides an overview of health data about our region, including County health rankings, and model practices
  • Mass211 Service Directory - Links users to essential resources and a basic needs service directory
  • Human Services e-Newsletter - Spotlights regional events and pertinent news for our community
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A healthy community is a connected community, so check out some of the information you'll be connected to on HealthyConnectedCapeCod.org today!

NEWS FROM GOSNOLD ON CAPE COD
Upcoming Events

Playing Above the Influence - On June 19, 2015, Gosnold will be hosting Playing Above the Influence with the Bourne Braves.  Please view the flyer for more details.


Other News

Gosnold on Cape Cod Receives Quality Innovation Award for Young Adult Opiate Program

Earlier this month, Gosnold on Cape Cod was honored by Tufts Health Plan for its Young Adult Opiate Program, which was developed in response to the opiate crisis and increased overdose rates that have affected young adults throughout the state. After observing that many young adults were relapsing despite successful completion of detoxification programs and high levels of family support, Gosnold created and implemented a more comprehensive and personalized approach to recovery which includes individual coaching, medication assisted treatment, technology assisted interventions, counseling services and more. The Young Adult Opiate Program has been successful in improving several critical outcomes including longer periods of remission and increased employment among participants.

For more information about this program, please contact Gosnold at (508) 540-6550.

SPOTLIGHT ON: UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION
Information and Resources:

Falmouth Prevention Partnership - Underage Drinking
The Falmouth Prevention Partnership is a community coalition dedicated to creating a healthy and safe environment for Falmouth youth. 

Teenage Binge-Drinking Could Influence Brain into Adulthood
New research on rats, supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), reports that adolescent binge drinking can disrupt gene regulation and brain development. Such individuals' brains may show structural and functional abnormalities in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. 

MassTAPP Resources - Underage Drinking
The Massachusetts Technical Assistance Partnership for Prevention (MassTAPP) supports communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in addressing substance abuse prevention. Their expert staff offers technical assistance, capacity building, and resources to Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS)-funded programs and other communities across the state.

Distance Learning Courses: Best Practices to Reduce Underage Drinking
The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center (UDETC) offers no-cost distance learning opportunities featuring courses that present best practices and strategies for enforcement of underage drinking laws and efforts to reduce underage drinking. Funded by an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant, these web-based, on-line courses allow flexible scheduling, reduce travel costs and offer the ability to learn at your own pace in an online environment. 

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For many kids and teens, summer means fun and relaxation. However, the freedom of the summer months can mean an increased risk for underage drinking. In fact, the average first use of alcohol by young people in the United States peaks in June and July.

 

As the school year ends and summer begins, parents may have more time to connect with their children and more opportunities to have meaningful talks. SAMHSA's app "Talk. They Hear You." can help parents prepare for one of the most important conversations they may ever have. 

 

This free app, available through the App Store, Google Play™, the Windows® Store, and Windows® Phone Store, features an interactive simulation that uses avatars to help parents practice bringing up the topic of alcohol, learn the questions to ask, and get ideas for keeping the conversation going.

 

The app is part of SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You." Underage Drinking Prevention National Media Campaign, which encourages parents and caregivers to talk with children early about the dangers of alcohol. Access additional resources and information about the campaign and underage drinking prevention here.

BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL
The next meeting of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council is scheduled for:

Thursday, July 9, 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.
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".
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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.
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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 Chamber of Commerce, 
5 Bates Road, 
Mashpee, MA
 02649. To learn more, view the Parents Supporting Parents Facebook page.
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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 508-366-0556 or visit their website at www.capeteens.com.
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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.
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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.

Tuesday 6:00-730 PM
Gosnold Counseling Center
1185 Falmouth Road
Centerville, MA 02632		Wednesday 6:00-7:30 PM
Gus Canty Community Center
790 Main Street
Falmouth, MA 02540
Sunday 1:00-2:30 PM
Scituate Senior Center
27 Brook Street
Scituate, MA 02066		Sunday 4:00-5:00 PM
(Educational Group)
Falmouth Hospital - Faxon Center
100 Ter Heun Drive
Falmouth, MA 02540

For more information, contact Mary Fisher, 844-558-4357, mfisher@ gosnold.org.
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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.

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E-NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
To submit materials, please contact Samantha Kossow at SAC@barnstablecounty.org and include the following information:
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  • Website link if available 
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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.