Barnstable County Regional Substance

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In This Issue

News from Barnstable County Human Services

Panel Discussion on Opiate Addiction

Research and Reports

MOAR

League of Women Voters

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Lower Cape Prevention Partnership

No Wrong Door to Recovery Conference

News from SAMHSA

News from HAC

News from Washington, D.C.

News from the RSAC

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Issue: #043

April 19, 2016

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.

FROM BARNSTABLE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES

Second RSAC Issue Brief Published

The 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 2: Use of a Social Norms Campaign" explores the effectiveness of a 'Social Norms' strategy in messages targeted at substance use prevention among youth.

For more information, read/download the Issue Briefs here:

Issue Brief 1: Use of Scare Tactics in Prevention Messaging

Issue Brief 2: Use of a Social Norms Campaign

Health and Wellness Service Directory Launched

Barnstable County Department of Human Services is pleased to announce the launch of a newly revised and updated local Public Health and Wellness Service Directory containing services providers and organizations serving the health and human services needs of Barnstable County.

The Public Health and Wellness site's comprehensive database provides search tools to access local resources on aging, disability, mental health, substance use, housing, and many more public health and wellness areas.

As the companion to the Department's Behavioral Health web platform, the Public Health and Wellness site is a powerful web-based platform that converts analysis of all health data into customized community health indicators. The tool is especially valuable for assessment and community health planning. The site also provides data and information about community services, laws, and related news.

Key features of the website include: easy access to vital health information to individuals and families; local, state, and national health data; integrated sets of data, public health model practices and CDC Interventions with each health indicator; and the latest developments via the online learning centers, library, and advocacy tools.

PANEL DISCUSSION ON OPIATE ADDICTION

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 | 7:00 PM
Freedom Hall, Main Street, Cotuit

Mashpee Enterprise - Cotuit Library will host a panel discussion for the public at Freedom Hall, Main Street in Cotuit, on Cape Cod's opiate addiction crisis on Wednesday, April 20, at 7 PM.

While this topic has been in the news a lot of late and has been the subject of several documentaries, many in the community remain uninformed about how taking a legally prescribed medication can lead to a serious and lethal drug addiction and what can be done to prevent and treat it.

The discussion will be moderated by the Reverend Angela Menke Ballou, pastor of Cotuit Federated Church. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions of the panel. Panelists will comprise representatives from the medical and behavioral health sector, law enforcement, human services, and state and town delegates, including:

Brian Mannal, State Representative, Second Barnstable District
Jessica Rapp-Grassetti, president and Precinct Seven councilor, Barnstable Town Council
Vaira Harik, senior project manager, department of human services
William Ferney, M.Ed, LADC I, director of substance abuse treatment, Odanata Psychotherapy
Chief Chris Olsen, Cotuit Fire Department
Chief Paul B. MacDonald/Deputy Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend, Barnstable Police Department
Donna Beers, RN, a mother who was featured in HBO's "Heroin Cape Cod, USA"
Christine Fay, someone with personal experience

The Opiate Addiction Panel Discussion is free and everyone is welcome. Contact the library at 508-428-8141 or fbausman@clamsnet.org.

RESEARCH AND REPORTS

Extended-Release Naltrexone to Prevent Opioid Relapse in Criminal Justice Offenders

New research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) revealed that the initial relapse rates among opioid-dependent adults in the criminal justice system was lower for participants receiving extended-release naltrexone than for those receiving treatment as usual (brief counseling and referrals for community treatment programs).

Administered as a monthly injection, naltrexone is an FDA-approved sustained-release, opioid antagonist for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence.

This study is the first large randomized trial of extended-release naltrexone versus usual care conditions among criminal justice involved adults. The findings showed that 24 weeks (six monthly injections) of extended-release naltrexone resulted in a significantly lower opioid relapse rate (43 percent vs. 64 percent) among the two groups. Additionally, while there were no overdoses observed in the extended-release naltrexone group, there were seven in the usual care group, with three resulting in fatalities. - NIDA

Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students - United States, 2011-2015

During 2011-2015, substantial increases were observed in e-cigarette and hookah use among high school and middle school students, whereas significant decreases were observed in the use of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, and bidis, resulting in no decline in tobacco use overall.

During 2015, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle (5.3%) and high (16.0%) school students.

MOAR - MASSACHUSETTS ORGANIZATION FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY
Thursday, April 28th, 2016 \| 5:45 PM PIER Recovery Center of Cape Cod 209 Main Street, Hyannis (rear entrance) MOAR and PIER Recovery Center invite you to a special gathering to start a Cape Cod MOAR Action for Recovery Network. View the event flyer below or download here.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Medical Marijuana: Truths and Fictions

Saturday, April 30, 2016 - 9 AM-12 PM

Cape Cod Community Media Center, Dennis Port

"Medical Marijuana: Truths & Fictions," an educational forum co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and and Gosnold on Cape Cod, will be held Saturday, April 30, from 9 AM to noon at Cape Cod Community Media Center, Shad Hole Road, Dennis Port. Everyone is welcome.

Speakers:

Dr. Kevin Hill, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard McLean Hospital, author of "Marijuana, The Unbiased Truth about the World's Most Popular Weed".
Raymond Tamasi, President, Gosnold on Cape Cod
Vinny DeMacedo, State Senator, Plymouth & Barnstable District, member of the Special Committee on Opioid Addiction Prevention, recently visited Colorado to witness that state's experience with both medical and recreational marijuana.

View the event flyer here.

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.

LOWER CAPE PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP

Community Forum and Speaker

Wednesday, May 11th | 6:30-8:00 PM

Monomoy Regional High School - Auditorium

The Lower Cape Prevention Partnership and Harwich Youth Services present
An Evening with Dr. Kevin Hill: An informative talk on underage drinking, teens & marijuana & opioids.

From the heroin epidemic to policies concerning the use of marijuana, addiction-related issues are in the news on a daily basis. Harvard Addiction Psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Hill, author of Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth About the World's Most Popular Weed, will educate us on the science of addiction and offer a window into what treatment for addiction looks like in this 1-hour presentation covering alcohol, opioids, and marijuana. View the event flyer here.

To learn more about the Lower Cape Prevention Partnership, please click here.

NO WRONG DOOR TO RECOVERY CONFERENCE

Monday, May 16, 2016 - 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Four Points by Sheraton, Norword, MA

Purpose
No Wrong Door is a recovery conference offering opportunities to learn skills, coping strategies, and resources that support and maintain personal recovery from addiction. Topics addressed will be relevant to the needs of the Recovery Community.

Target Audience
This conference is designed by and for individuals and family members embracing the challenge and opportunity of recovery. Although providers may benefit by attending, the conference has been created to offer support & resource information to the Recovery Community.

Description
This full day event begins at 8:00 am with registration & continental breakfast. Welcoming remarks will begin at 9:00 am, then a morning keynote address will be followed by seven different workshops (please click agenda at the top of the page). Lunch will offer opportunities to network, visit resource tables and the Wellness Room. Recovery stories will be shared and then seven afternoon workshops are offered before a closing ceremony and handing in evaluations with suggestions for the next conference in 2018.

Objectives

As a result of attending this conference, participants will:

Gain increased knowledge of treatment options and recovery supports in MA
Be inspired to advocate against the stigma of substance use and mental health conditions as well as of medication assisted treatment
Gain tools and resources to better navigate individual/family/young peoples' recovery toward successful outcomes
Learn strategies on how to improve one's joy and wellness in recovery

For more information or to register for this event, please click here.

NEWS FROM SAMHSA

National Prevention Week

National Prevention Week is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, mental and/or substance use disorders.

The overall theme for 2016 is "Strong As One. Stronger Together." Explore the National Prevention Week website to learn more about how you can get involved, from planning a community event to participating in the "I Choose" Project.

To learn more about National Prevention Week, please click here.

FROM HOUSING ASSISTANCE CORPORATION

HAC Report Connects Substance Use and Homelessness

Housing Assistance Corporation has published the white paper "Closer to Home: Substance Abuse Treatment Options for the Homeless on the Cape and Islands" The report is the first in an ongoing effort by HAC to develop white papers to help the Cape and Islands make informed decisions about the future of housing for the region's diverse population.

HAC is highlighting substance use disorder in this report because it is an illness that is pervasive among our clients; it's affected about 80 percent of our shelter guests and many of the other people we help with housing issues. Read more ...

NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

HHS Takes Steps To Increase Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Medication

The United States Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a new rule to allow physicians to prescribe the opioid use disorder treatment medication buprenorphine to an increased number of patients. The proposed change is designed to strike a balance between expanding access to this important treatment, encouraging use of evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and minimizing the risk of drug diversion.

If adopted, the proposal would allow for a qualified and currently waivered physician to prescribe buprenorphine for up to 200 patients. Buprenorphine is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug used as part of MAT, a comprehensive way to address the recovery needs of individuals that combines the use of medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders.

Buprenorphine-because of its lower potential for abuse-is permitted to be prescribed or dispensed in physician offices, significantly increasing its availability to many patients. When taken as prescribed, buprenorphine is safe and effective.

HHS welcomes public comment on this proposed rule, which will be open for 60 days starting Wednesday, March 30, 2016. To review and comment on the proposed rule, please click here.

FROM THE REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL

Substance Use Resource & Information Guide for Cape Cod

Barnstable County's Regional Substance Abuse Council's Substance Use Resource & Information Guide for Cape Cod is now available in PDF form to download and print.

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.

Where We Stand -

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!

BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL

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

Thursday, June 2, 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".

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,

5 Bates Road,

Mashpee, MA

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.

For more information, call 508-366-0556 or visit their website at www.capeteens.com.

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

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.

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

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.