|
Join Our List
|  |
|
Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
|  
|
|
|
|
Issue: #044
|
April 29, 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.
|
| NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY | |
 This 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.
 |
| SPOTLIGHT ON PREVENTION | |  Social Norms Campaigns: A Closer Look
What are social norms?
Social norms are the rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society. They often cause people to alter their own behavior in order to conform or fit in to a particular group.
Social norms can be both positive and negative. Norms such as courtesy while driving or saying please and thank you are positive examples of expected social behavior. An example of a negative social norm is the perception among teens that "all teenagers drink alcohol", suggesting that it is a normal for them to do so.
Why are social norms used in prevention?
The social norms approach to behavior change attempts to break a cycle of misperception by presenting accurate information about the social environment and by using positive group messages to affect widespread behavior change.
Research shows that the social norms approach is an appropriate and effective strategy for targeting a wide range of substance use behaviors in middle and high school students.
A successful example of a social norms campaign directed at alcohol use took place at Northern Illinois University, where researchers presented factual data to students and faculty. The intervention produced a reduction in heavy drinking (45% to 25%) and an increase in those that abstained from drinking (9% to 19%) over a ten year period.
This type of intervention has been duplicated across the country at both the collegiate and high school levels, often resulting in reductions in heavy drinking of 20% or more within two years.
For more information:
This information is excerpted from Issue Brief 2: Use of a Social Norms Campaign. For more information, please view the full Issue Brief.
To see more examples of social norms campaigns, please visit the MassTAPP Social Norms Gallery 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. |
| HEADLINES | | 
Cape Cod Times - Rep. Keating introduced legislation Tuesday that he said would save veterans' lives at home by requiring health care providers affiliated with the Veterans Administration to be educated about best pain management practices.
Cape Cod Times - The Barnstable Police Department has received a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division as part of their 2016 Underage Alcohol Enforcement Grant Program. This grant will be utilized specifically for personnel costs associated with targeted enforcement of underage drinking law violations.
AP - The first U.N. General Assembly special session to address global drug policy in nearly 20 years heard major differences on the approach to drug use on its second day on Wednesday.
CNN - Overdoses linked to opioids killed more than 28,000 people nationwide two years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The deaths include those involving heroin and prescription drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Here are four things to know about these narcotic.
|
| 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 | |
A component of SAMHSA's wellness initiative which encourages consumers, health care providers, peer workers, clinicians, families, and communities to plan activities in the community during National Wellness Week. Organizations provide the name of the host and the organization along with details of the event on a customizable flyer.
Promoting Wellness: A Guide to Community Action
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 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.
For more information, read/download the Issue Briefs here: Issue Brief 3: Coming Soon!
 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.
|
| FROM THE REGIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL | | 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!
|
|
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,
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
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
