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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.
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| FROM THE REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL | |
 Where We Stand - Addiction on Cape Cod
" Where We Stand - Addiction on Cape Cod" is an information/resource document about the work our community has been doing to address substance use issues on Cape Cod, basic facts about addiction, and links to local resources.Please share this resource with others who may find it helpful and informative!
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| | At the December 3, 2015 Regional Substance Abuse Council Meeting, the members showed support for a #StateWithoutStigMA |
People who struggle with addictions to prescription painkillers and heroin (opioids) face a wide range of stigmas.
When people are labeled primarily because of their addiction, they are being negatively stereotyped and face physical and mental barriers to seeking treatment.
To learn more about the #StateWithoutStigMA campaign and show your support, please click here.
Regional Substance Abuse Council Announces RFP for Media Campaign
Barnstable County, through its Chief Procurement Officer and on behalf of the Department of Human Services, seeks a qualified contractor to develop a public health education campaign for Barnstable County about substance use and addiction on behalf of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council (RSAC).
To learn more and to download the bid documents, please visit the Barnstable County purchasing website. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is listed under "Public Health Education Campaign."
Proposals must 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 February 2nd at 10:30 a.m.
Please share this information with qualified individuals who may be interested in applying.
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| FROM THE STATE HOUSE | |  Commission on Substance Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System
The Special Commission on Substance Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System was created pursuant to Section 42 of Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014, "An Act to Increase Opportunities for Long Term Substance Abuse."
The Special Commission is charged with investigating and studying the development of criteria for mandated treatment or monitoring of nonviolent offenders with substance addictions and to expand effective, evidence based addiction treatment programs for nonviolent substance addicted offenders.
The Commission submitted its comprehensive report on December 31, 2015. To learn more about the Commission or read the report, please click here.
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| FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL | |  Draft CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is publishing new guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. The agency is working for timely release of the guideline while ensuring that the development process: 
- Meets scientific standards
- Includes expert consultation
- Allows for appropriate stakeholders to provide input
- Facilitates partnership development to enhance dissemination and uptake
The purpose of the CDC guideline is to provide recommendations for the prescribing of opioid pain medication for patients 18 and older in primary care settings. Recommendations focus on the use of opioids in treating chronic pain (i.e., pain lasting longer than 3 months or past the time of normal tissue healing) outside end-of-life care.
For more information and to view the guidelines, click here.
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| NEWS FROM THE MA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH | |  Updated Overdose Data
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has released this week new and updated data on overdose deaths as part of their work to track the progression of the opioid crisis and target services.
The newly released data includes updated 2014 overdose death data, demographic information, estimate data for the first nine months of 2015. To view this updated data, please click here. |
| LOCAL HEADLINES | |  Attorney general announces task force in opioid abuse fight
SouthCoastToday - State and federal law enforcement agencies pledged Wednesday to band together to crack down on doctors and other health care providers who illegally prescribe or dispense opioid painkillers.
State tightens addiction center rules
Boston Globe - Under regulations approved Wednesday, the state's licensing authority over substance abuse treatment programs is being extended to doctor practices that treat more than 300 patients with medications to control addicts' cravings.
Women civilly committed for addiction no longer will be sent to prison
WCVB - Thursday the House and Senate voted to make it illegal to civilly commit women with addictions to prison.
Mass. Men Hit Particularly Hard By Opioid Crisis, New Data Show
WBUR - Over the first nine months of 2015, 76 percent of the confirmed overdose deaths in the state were men, according to the latest quarterly opioid snapshot from the Department of Public Health.
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| COMMUNITY FORUM AND FILM | | | Teen Opioid Abuse Prevention
The Lower Cape Prevention Partnership will be showing the film If Only, produced by the Wahlberg Foundation and Jim Wahlberg, on Wednesday, January 27th, 6:30-8:00 PM at Monomoy Regional High School - Auditorium. This 40-minute film shows how prescription drug abuse can put the lives of our kids in danger and how parents play a crucial role in prevention.
There will a short speaker presentation and Q&A following the film. Community stakeholders will outline what is being done on Cape Cod to combat the opioid epidemic. Please call Sheila House at (508) 430-7836 with any questions about LCPP or this event. View the event flyer here. |
| NEWS FROM GOSNOLD ON CAPE COD | | 
Guiding Good Choices - January Offering
The Guiding Good Choices curriculum consists of four interactive workshops designed to teach participants how to establish clear family guidelines, give children the tools and opportunities they need to make good decisions, improve children's involvement in the family, and enhance overall family connectedness.
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Every Wednesday for 2 remaining weeks: 01/27, & 02/03. Now Offered at Two Locations:
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| FROM THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY | | 
Submit Your Input for the 2016 National Drug Control Strategy
The Administration recently released its evidence-based plan to build a healthier, safer, and more prosperous country by balancing public health and public safety efforts to prevent, treat, and promote recovery from the disease of addiction.
The 2015 Strategy continues our dynamic, reform-oriented approach to drug policy, and reflects our desire to seek out individuals who will help improve and refine our efforts. It was the product of extensive dialogue and consultation with partners, policy makers, practitioners, and subject matter experts across the Nation and around the world.
The ONDCP is beginning to develop the 2016 Strategy, and your input will be vital as they seek to continue the Administration's record of drug policy reform. Please email your comments directly to 2016Strategy@ondcp.eop.gov no later than February 1, 2016.
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BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL
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The next meeting of the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council is scheduled for:
Thursday, February 4, 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.
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| 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". |
| MUTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS | |
For a downloadable PDF version of the information listed below, please click here.
 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.
Parents Supporting Parents  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,
02649. To learn more, view the Parents Supporting Parents Facebook page. 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.
|  Alateen
Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking.
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. 
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 6:00-7:30 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 11:00-12:30 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 | Monday 6:00-7:30 PM
Harwich Police Department
183 Sisson Road
Harwich, MA 02645
| Wednesday 6:00-7:30 PM
(Grief and Addiction)
Gosnold Counseling Center
1185 Falmouth Road
Centerville, MA 02632
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For more information, contact Mary Fisher, 844-558-4357, mfisher@gosnold.org.
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.
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| 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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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
 A healthy community is a connected community, so check out some of the information you'll be connected to on HealthyConnectedCapeCod.org today! |
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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
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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.
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