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Harm Reduction and Guidance During COVID-19 for Those Who Use Substances
This fact sheet - a collaboration by the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Global Health Justice Partnership, and Crackdown - lists very practical advice for individuals using substances on how to do so safely during the pandemic. This comprehensive resource highlights:
- Potential increased risk of contracting COVID-19 because of the negative impacts of opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol on breathing
- The similarity between withdrawal symptoms and symptoms of coronavirus
- The importance of stocking up on supplies like naloxone and syringes and even the alcohol and drugs themselves
- Avoiding using alone
- Requesting the possibility to take home supplies of Methadone or Buprenorphine from your treatment provider
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Regional Opioid and Other Drug Prevention and Policy Workgroup |
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The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America just released this new fact sheet:
What's Trending
Opioids and the Pandemic: A Deadly Mix
From June 2019 to May 2020, fatal overdoses increased 18.2% in the United States. Connecticut was one of the states that saw a more than 20% increase compared to the previous 12 month period.
Illicit Fentanyl is moving west. 10 western states saw a 98% increase in overdoses involving this synthetic opioid.
Call to Action:
- Education on overdose reversal
- Expand access to naloxone or Narcan
- Educate the public about the dangers of illicit Fentanyl
- Expand awareness about treatment availability
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Visit drugfreect.org for information and resources on overdose prevention
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March Narcan Training Dates
Please join us!
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Drug Free Schools Committee
Resources for Youth, Parents and Families
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A 4-Step Process for Building Student Resilience
A special education teacher developed worksheets to help students identify their stressors and a coping plan that works for them. The steps:
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Identify Stressors - helping students identify what is making them feel stressed, upset, or sad.
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Identify typical reactions to those stressors and then rate those reactions from worst to best.
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Brainstorm alternative ways to respond. The individual comes up with their own unique list of positive coping skills. Having a list of possible coping strategies available can help (like this comprehensive list from positivepsychology.com). They can even create a poster of the coping activities they choose.
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Evaluate how coping skills are working. Check-in with self and others.
What's great about this process is that it does not have to be done in the classroom. Parents can help their children go through this at home and it can even be helpful to adults. Identifying and managing stress is important at any age!
Click here to learn more and to connect to the simple and practical downloadable worksheets that go along with each step. |
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by Dempris Gasque
NAMI Blog Excerpts:
"For many, Black History Month is a reminder of everything our ancestors endured and overcame. Its a declaration of the strength of African American people. And while I am honored by the leaders whose ideologies we reflect upon; I find it hurtful and damaging that we are still too scared to address our scars and how they affect our mental health."
"We are perceived as strong for we are tenacious, but strength and resilience should not be built solely through suffering."
"It is time for America to address our need for healing...with a focus on equity."
Dempris Gasque is a community advocate with a passion for human rights. He is a Co-Author of the bestselling book, "There is No Health Without Mental Health Anthology: Men & Mental Health...Let's Talk About IT!!" Dempris is a NAMI NC Executive Board Member and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International member.
(from the American Psychiatric Association)
- Rates of mental illnesses in African Americans are similar with those of the general population. However, disparities exist in regard to mental health care services. African Americans often receive poorer quality of care and lack access to culturally competent care
- Only 1 in 3 African Americans who need mental health care receives it
- The rate of illicit drug use among African Americans is slightly higher than the national average (12.4% vs 10.2%)
- Compared with Whites, African Americans are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care, less frequently included in research, and are more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care (rather than mental health specialists)
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Region 5 Suicide Advisory Board |
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Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Receives 9-8-8 State Planning Grant
Funds Will Be Used to Prepare State for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 Dialing Code
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Hartford, CT – The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) today announced it has received the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (Lifeline) 9-8-8 State Planning Grant to develop a strategic plan for Connecticut in preparation for the nationwide rollout of the Lifeline’s new 9- 8-8 number. In July 2022, 9-8-8 will become the new national three-digit number for the Lifeline, providing mental health crisis and suicide response. To view the press release, click here
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Download the 2019 Suicide Lifeline CT report |
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March QPR Webinar Training Dates
Please join us for this gatekeeper training. All are welcome!
"Suicide Prevention is
Everyone's Business"
-QPR Institute
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Know the Risks of Marijuana
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), marijuana use is up. 17.5% of those surveyed (age 12 and older) reported past year use- that's up from 15.9% reported in 2018. Past 30 day use is reported as 7.4% age 12-17, 23% age 18-25, and 10.2% age 26 and up.
Risks include:
- Mental Health- studies have shown links between marijuana use and depression, anxiety, suicide planning and psychotic episodes
- Marijuana can can brain IQ loss- up to as many as 8 points when people start using at a young age
- Driving- those under the influence of marijuana have slower reaction times and decreased coordination
- Marijuana during pregnancy can cause fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development
- Using marijuana can affect one's daily life in many negative ways- causing relationship problems, low job or education performance, and reduced life satisfaction
- Research shows that marijuana is addictive
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Problem Gambling Awareness |
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March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM)
PGAM is a grassroots campaign designed to increase public awareness of problem gambling and the availablility of prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Click here to connect to the National Council on Problem Gambling web page where you will find a PGAM toolkit including:
- FAQs about Problem Gambling
- Social media sample posts
- Podcasts and articles you can share
Stay tuned for more information next week on statewide initiatives
Visit ccpg.org for a list of events scheduled in CT
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40 Developmental Assets Framework |
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The Developmental Assets® are 40 research-based, positive experiences and qualities that influence young people’s development, helping them become caring, responsible, and productive adults.
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External Asset #13 which falls under the category of
"Boundaries and Expectations"
Young people need clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best
Neighborhood Boundaries
Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people’s behavior.
Young people fare better when they have adults in their lives who expect them to do their best. To achieve the most positive effects, neighbors need to be involved in providing rules, monitoring behavior, and setting high expectations. Remember: everyone is someone’s neighbor.
How do we build this asset?
- Get to know the people who live near you- the adults and the children.
- As a parent, talk to your child about the important of following the rules in the neighborhood and the community.
- Get together with other adult neighbors—parents and nonparents. Discuss neighborhood boundaries. Identify three boundaries everyone agrees on, such as no alcohol at teen parties. Agree to help enforce the boundaries.
- When you see young people making a positive contribution and setting a good example, be sure to thank them.
The 40 Developmental Assets® may be reproduced for educational, non-commercial uses only. Copyright ©1997 Search Institute®, 3001 Broadway Street NE, Suite 310, Minneapolis MN 55413; 800-888-7828; www.searchinstitute.org. All rights reserved.
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Workforce Development
Trainings and Opportunities (some with CEUS offered!)
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