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Issue: #041
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March 18, 2016
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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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| NEWS FROM THE STATE HOUSE | |  Governor Baker Signs Landmark Opioid Legislation into Law
The bill includes numerous recommendations from the Governor's opioid working group, including prevention education for students and doctors, and the first law in the nation to establish a seven day limit on first-time opioid prescriptions.
Other provisions from the Governor's recommendations include a requirement that information on opiate-use and misuse be disseminated at annual head injury safety programs for high school athletes, requirements for doctors to check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database before writing a narcotic prescription, and continuing education requirements for prescribers - including training on effective pain management and the risks of abuse/addiction associated with opioid medications.
Several measures were passed to empower individuals and update current prevention efforts. Patients will receive access to non-opiate directive forms and the option of partially filling opioid prescriptions in consultation with doctors and pharmacists. Schools must annually conduct verbal substance misuse screenings in two grade levels and consider effective addiction education policies.
This bill also strengthens access to insurers and the bed-finder tool website; requiring patients receive information on FDA-approved medication-assisted therapies after being discharged from a substance use treatment program; and ensuring civil-liability protection for individuals who administer Narcan.
For more information about the bill, please click here. To view the full text of the new legislation, please click here. |
| NEWS FROM CAPE COD HEALTHCARE | |
CCHC Pharmacies Now Carry Naloxone
 The opioid overdose antidote, naloxone, also known as narcan, is now available without a doctor's prescription at the Stoneman Outpatient Center pharmacy in Sandwich and will be available beginning Monday, March 14, at the new Fontaine Outpatient Center pharmacy in Harwich.  "This new policy is saving lives," said Peter Scarafile, pharmacy director at Cape Cod Healthcare. "Given the impact opioid overdoses is having on the Cape, we want to take a leading role in naloxone education, not only those who are addicted to opioids, but their friends, family and the general public. As part of the healthcare system, our pharmacies are very well positioned to dispense this drug." The state last year approved the distribution of naloxone through designated pharmacies without a physician prescription. Most insurance plans cover the cost of the drug.
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| NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY | |
 On Saturday, April 30th from 10a.m. - 2 p.m., thousands of pounds of prescription drugs will be disposed of safely across Cape Cod during the 11th Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day thanks to the dedication and hard work of our town's Police Departments.
We know unused prescription medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused, and abused. And with recent water quality studies on Cape Cod finding medications at detectable levels, the Rx Take-Back Day helps divert unwanted medications from being flushed down the toilet where they contaminate our ground and drinking water.
April 30th provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications and the importance of protecting the Cape's natural environment. So drop off your unwanted or unused medications at any Cape Cod Police Department on Saturday, April 30th. No paperwork to fill out, no questions asked.
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| FROM THE REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL | |  First RSAC Issue Brief PublishedThe Barnstable County Department of Human Services is producing a series of issue briefs that will present factual information on an array of topics related to substance use.
"Issue Brief 1: Use of Scare Tactics in Prevention Messaging" explores the effectiveness of a 'Scare Tactics' strategy in messages targeted at substance use prevention among youth.
"Research has shown that messages based in fear may actually be counterproductive by appealing to risk-taking members in some members of target audience."
For more information, read/download the Issue Brief here.
 Substance Use Resource & Information Guide for Cape Cod
This easy-to-read guide includes emergency hotline numbers, treatment system information, definitions, and information about local treatment options that help individuals and their families dealing with substance use. Printed versions will be available soon. If you are interested in printed versions of this resource guide, please contact Barnstable County Human Services for more information at SAC@BarnstableCounty.org.
For a list of additional publications created by the Department of Human Services, please click here.
Addiction
on Cape Cod
" Where We Stand - Addiction on Cape Cod" is an information and 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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| PIER RECOVERY CENTER OF CAPE COD | |  209 Main Street (rear entrance)
Hyannis, MA 02601
The PIER Recovery Center of Cape Cod gives individuals an opportunity to become part of the recovery community, offering support and tools to enhance a life free from alcohol and other drugs. At the center, you will find a safe environment where you can grow, explore, give back to the community and find your personal path to recovery.
The center provides support to a diverse population with English, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean speaking staff on-site. All paths to recovery are welcome!
To view the March newsletter from the PIER Recovery Center, click here. Their March 2016 calendar and schedule is available here. |
| SANDWICH TOWN HALL MEETING | | | What We Can Do in Sandwich About Substance Abuse Prevention - A Town Hall Meeting
Monday, March 21, 2016 | 7:00 PM
Sandwich Town Hall, 130 Main Street, Sandwich
A community meeting on substance abuse prevention will be held at 7 p.m. March 21 at Sandwich Town Hall.
The town's Substance Abuse Prevention Committee is sponsoring the event, which will include input from Dr. Kevin P. Hill, who specializes in the field of addiction. Hill is author of "Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth About the World's Most Popular Weed" and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He will answer questions at the end of his presentation.
Sandwich Police Chief Peter Wack will talk about a proposed local bylaw to make smoking marijuana in public illegal and punishable by a $300 fine. The event will also with small-group discussions led by the abuse prevention committee. - Cape Cod Times
For more information, view the event flyer here. |
| FROM THE CDC | | 
CDC Releases Comprehensive Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
This week the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a set of guidelines for primary care clinicians to follow when treating adult patients for chronic pain in out-patient settings.
The recommendations established by CDC aim to provide safer, more effective care for patients with chronic pain, and ultimately reduce prescription opioid use disorder and overdose.
The "CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain" lays out specific instructions for the prescribing process from start to finish, advising clinicians to exercise caution when prescribing opioids and primarily focus on nonopioid therapy for most types of chronic pain.
However, the Guideline reviews best practices for clinicians to follow when prescribing necessary opioid therapy, including open communication with the patient about the known risks and benefits, setting realistic goals for pain and function, and prescribing the lowest effective dose.
The guidelines, including clinical tools, patient/partner fact sheets, graphics, and a decision-making checklist for clinicians is available here. |
| FORUM: OPIOID CRISIS | | Opioid Crisis: Thinking Outside the Box
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 | 8:30 am - 12:30 PM
Back Bay Events Center, Boston
The event is hosted by William James College and co-sponsored by the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
This Forum will present the opioid crisis from policy, academic, and frontline perspectives. Our target audience is policymakers, clinic administrators and clinicians. Opioid abuse has risen to epidemic proportions in Massachusetts and across the nation.
The Forum will focus on innovative harm reduction strategies, approaches to racial and ethnic disparities in access to treatment, and state of the art prevention and early intervention programs.
For more information and registration, please click here. |
| YARMOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMITTEE | | Save the Date!
April 13th, 2016 | 6:00-8:30 PM
Mattacheese Middle School
Please save the date for the upcoming Town Hall Forum with the Yarmouth Substance Abuse Committee! Look for more details coming soon about this event, including speakers, information about social hosting laws, door prizes, and more!
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| LOWER CAPE PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP | | | Community Forum and Speaker
Wednesday, May 11th | 6:30-8:00 PM
Monomoy Regional High School - Auditorium
Community forum and speaker event. Kevin Hill, MD, psychiatrist and addictions researcher from McLean Hospital will be talking about underage drinking, teens and marijuana, and opioids.
To learn more about the Lower Cape Prevention Partnership, please click here.
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| POSTER CONTEST | |  MOON Study Poster Contest - now taking entries!
As part of a 3-year study on opioid safety in pharmacies, the MOON (Maximizing OpiOd safety with Naloxone) Study team at the Boston Medical Center and Rhode Island Hospital is holding a Poster Contest.
As you may know, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are in the midst of an opioid epidemic with an increasing number of people dying each year from opioid overdose. One effective strategy to reduce the number of deaths during an epidemic is to build public awareness through effective health campaigns.
The contest is now open to the public and the deadline to submit an entry is Thursday, March 31, 2016. Four prizes (2 -$1000 prizes and 2- $500 prizes) will be awarded to the top 2 posters in each category representing either 1) an opioid safety theme or 2) a naloxone awareness theme. There is no cost to enter. Winners will be announced by May 1st.
For more details on how to create and submit your poster(s), please visit
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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, April 14, 2015 - 4:00 - 6:00 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 83 Pearl Street in Hyannis.
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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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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