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8-14-25
Corrected Version
| |  | Barnstable County Regional Substance Addiction Council (RSAC) monthly E-newsletter is a tether of communication across towns, providers, organizations, and individuals on Cape Cod providing information on substance use across the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. | |
AUGUST 31ST IS INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
EVENTS TAKING PLACE AROUND CAPE COD ARE LISTED BELOW!
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This International Overdose Awareness Day, we come together as one big family to take action on overdose.
The overdose crisis doesn’t just shatter our families, it fractures our communities.
The losses go deeper than one person, one family or one neighborhood. They ripple out into classrooms, workplaces and the spaces we all share. They cross borders between cities, states and nations.
But in a time when people are searching for connection and safety, overdose also reminds us that our lives are deeply intertwined.
We often instinctively protect our own – our children, our parents, our siblings. We believe in second chances for our loved ones but struggle to extend that same compassion to others. But what if we saw each other as one big family, bound not just by blood, but by shared experiences, responsibility and commitment to each other?
This International Overdose Awareness Day let’s imagine a new meaning of what family can be. A family driven by hope, love and action. We are one big family – not just because we share in the pain of loss, but because we share in the power to change what comes next.
This August 31, we move beyond awareness. We organize, we show up, and we take action. Because no one should carry this grief alone. Every story shared, every voice raised and every step we take brings us closer to a future free from overdose.
Join our family this IOAD.
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BARNSTABLE COUNTY OVERDOSE AWARENESS EVENT | |
This International Overdose Awareness Day, we come together as one big family to take action on overdose.
Come help place purple flags honoring the individuals from Barnstable County who died in 2025 due to an overdose, as well as placing lawn signs with facts and messages around the County Complex. We will have light refreshments.
When: August 18, 2025 at 9 AM *Rain or shine.
If weather conditions on 8/18 are unsafe to be outside we will convene on August 19, 2025 at 9 AM. If the event is postponed, an email will be sent out informing individuals the event is postponed.
Where: Meet at the County Complex on the front lawn of the Superior Courthouse (on 6A) at 3195 Main Street Barnstable Village. On the attached map, meet outside of building letter B where the navy blue star is. Parking is also marked on this map- park anywhere in the middle parking lot.
Questions? Contact Angela Rossi at angela.rossi@capecod.gov.
| YARMOUTH OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY CANDLELIGHT BEACH MEMORIAL | |
International Overdose Awareness Day Candlelight Beach Memorial: Honoring and Remembering Those Lost to Substance Use
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Smuggler's Beach
220 South St., S. Yarmouth, MA
| International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is held annually on August 31st. The theme is "Together We Can" which emphasizes the power of communities when they stand together. IOAD is the world's largest annual campaign to end overdoses, remember those who have died, without stigma, and recognize the grief of their loved ones. If your organization would like to have a resource table at this event, please contact Dawn at (508) 737-0086 or email tdtkber@gmail.com. | FALMOUTH COMMUNITY GATHERING OF REMEMBRANCE | Join us on August 31, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Falmouth Village Green (across from St. Barnabas Church) as we remember the Barnstable County lives we have lost, those struggling, and those in recovery. Sharing of photos and words of remembrance are welcome. Wear purple in support. | RIDE FOR OPIOID ADDICTION RECOVERY (ROAR) | |
The 8th Annual Ride for Opioid Addiction Recover will take place on September 7, 2025. Entry begins at 8:00 AM. The cost is $20.00 per rider.
The ride route will start at Falmouth High School, 874 Gifford Street in Falmouth. We will ride 50 miles through several scenic Cape Cod towns ending at the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Pleasant Lake Ave in Harwich, where lunch will be served. Event merchandise will be on sale and donated items will be raffled off.
Kick stands up at 11:00 AM! Proceeds to benefit those on Cape Cod in need of recovery housing.
| | OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION VIRTUAL TRAINING | | |
Wednesday, August 20 | 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Participants will explore strategies to address the risks of overdose with a harm reduction approach. The scenario-based training providers opportunities for discussion and practice about issues of safety, grief, and moving towards behavior change.
Learning Objectives:
- Name 2–3 principles of harm reduction
- Describe 4–5 different harm reduction strategies
- Explore the stages of change framework and how it can influence change talk/behavior
- Practice safety planning strategies
- Name 2–3 precautions to improve program safety
For questions about this training, please contact Michael Leonard at mleonard@hria.org
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BOSTON'S CHILDREN'S ANSWERS PARENTCAST: HOW IS VAPING HURTING KIDS? | Vaping has become alarmingly common among kids and teens, but how much do we really know about its risks? In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Arnold speaks with pulmonologist Dr. Alicia Casey about the dangers of vaping, its effects on adolescent lung health, and what parents need to know to protect their kids. | | BOSTON CHILDREN'S ANSWERS PARENTCAST: HOW RISKY IS TEEN ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE—COULD IT LEAD TO ADDICTION? | |
In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Arnold welcomes Dr. Sharon Levy, pediatric addiction specialist and chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Together, they explore the realities of adolescent substance use: how it starts, when it becomes dangerous, and how parents can best support their children.
Dr. Levy shares practical advice on prevention, early warning signs, treatment options, and how to foster open, honest communication with teens. This episode is designed to help parents feel informed and empowered to take action if concerns arise.
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BACK TO SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH IN MIND: FREE TOOLS FOR KIDS, TEENS, AND THE ADULTS WHO SUPPORT THEM | |
As students head back to school, MHA is here to support your outreach with materials designed to meet the moment and beyond.
We’ve launched a new Back to School with Mental Health in Mind webpage. This page directs students and caregivers to articles about common issues and concerns that arise as a new school year begins.
We've also created printable handouts about depression, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, and suicide prevention that you can share with your community.
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Y12SR "connects the dots" between the ancient wisdom of yoga, the practical tools of 12-step programs, and the latest research on trauma healing and neurobiology.
No membership required! All are welcome to participate.
| | FREE ACUPUNCTURE/MEDITATION FOR WOMEN – REGISTRATION REQUIRED! | | |
HOW is offering a free, evidence-based, outer ear acupuncture treatment called Acudetox, known to reduce anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD, and support recovery from substance use. It provides a calming effect and promotes mental wellness in a supportive group setting. Offered by licensed practitioner Heather Louks, this treatment will leave you at ease and relaxed!
Wednesdays, August and Beyond
Week 1: 1:00–2:00 PM
Week 2: 10:00–11:00 AM
Week 3: 4:00–5:00 PM
Week 4: 5:00–6:00 PM
Week 5 (if applicable):10:00–11:00 AM
How to register:
Email pam@helpingourwomen.org or call (508) 487-4357
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Join a community of people parenting in recovery! Pregnancy and parenting young children can be a hopeful and exciting time. It can also be stressful and overwhelming, especially while working on your recovery.
FIRST Steps Together offers...
- Support for your recovery and parenting journeys from someone in recovery who has been there and understands
- A space to connect with other parents in recovery
- Help with your other services and providers
- Connections to resources and agencies to help with housing, benefits, childcare and other needs
- Groups, care coordination, and the option of working with a mental health counselor
- Flexible services at home, in the community and/or online
You may qualify if you are expecting a child or are a parent of at least one child up to age
10 (even if they don’t live with you) AND you have ever used opioids or stimulant.
Questions? Email jody@capecodchildrensplace.com
| | MEDICAID UPDATES FROM CLEANSLATE | | |
You may have heard about important changes to Medicaid - here are the top three things you need to know:
1. A new law signed by President Trump adds work requirements for Medicaid eligibility.
2. These requirements don’t have to go into effect until the end of 2026, but states can choose to implement them earlier.
3. Patients receiving treatment for substance use disorder are exempt from these work requirements.
That last point is critical: Patients who are currently in treatment - or who begin treatment - will still be eligible for Medicaid under this law.
What does that mean for you? If you're working with Medicaid patients who are struggling with addiction, helping them get into treatment is not only the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do. On its own, addiction recovery will be immensely important for their health and their lives, but it will also ensure that they maintain their Medicaid eligibility. That means that, by going into addiction recovery, Medicaid patients will continue to be covered for ALL their healthcare needs, not just addiction treatment.
At CleanSlate, we help patients navigate Medicaid enrollment paperwork as part of their recovery journey. Here in Massachusetts, we have MassHealth enrollment experts who can help get our patients covered.
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SUD CARE CONTINUUM ECHO: USING MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING IN CLINICAL WORK | |
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM
As part of the twice-monthly SUD Care Continuum ECHO® series, Brittany Carney, DNP, FNP-BC, will describe the basic skills used in motivational interviewing and identify areas where practice can be improved using motivational interviewing. The didactic will be followed by a de-identified patient case presentation from an ECHO® participant and recommendations from the panel of experts and attendees.
Questions? Contact info@addictiontraining.org
| | SUICIDE PREVENTION SUMMIT AT CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGE | | Save the Date! September 12, 2025 | | |
Cape Cod Community College and the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition will host a Suicide Prevention Summit on Friday, September 12, 2025 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. This in-person event will be held at Cape Cod Community College and feature presentations that address the issue of suicide in our community and how we can create hope through action through college, school, and community partnerships.
Rory O'Connor is the keynote speaker. Rory is world renowned in the field for his Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicide Behaviour for more info:
Speakers from Johns Hopkins will also be there to discuss the ERPO law in Massachusetts.
Thank you to the Cape and Islands District Attorney Office for helping to make this event possible!
Join our email list to ensure you receive up-to-date information! capeandislandspc@gmail.com
| | BHI IS HIRING A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST FOR THE PASS PROGRAM | | |
Position Summary
Behavioral Health Innovators, Inc., is seeking a Licensed Mental Health Therapist to support the Cape Cod PASS Program — an innovative, school-based behavioral health intervention designed to support students facing in-school or out-of-school suspension for non-violent offenses as well as supporting any middle or high school student identified with mental health or substance use concerns.
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FOOD 4 KIDS SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM | |
Food 4 Kids works to alleviate childhood hunger and promote literacy on the Lower and Outer Cape by bringing together The Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal) and local communities to provide free meals and free books for children and teens in the summer when schools are out.
Food 4 Kids (F4K) operates as part of the Massachusetts Summer EATS program, our state’s branding for the federally funded USDA Summer Food Service Program. The USDA provides 47% of our funding, the remainder comes from grants, business sponsorships, individual donations, and fundraising events.
Each summer weekday that school is out, 49 days over 10 weeks, we serve free meals and give away free books to 450 – 700 local Cape kids ages 3.5–18. Meals are served where the kids are — local recreation and community programs, libraries, parks/public spaces. All meals and books are provided free to the programs and all the children. Children do not have to be enrolled in a program to receive a free meal. Families are welcome to bring their children to any of our locations for a free meal and a chance to win a book.
For weekly menu and more information visit: https://www.food4kidscapecod.org/
| YMCA CAPE COD SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM: FREE MEALS FOR KIDS & TEENS | |
Healthy Lunches for Cape Cod’s Kids
Did you know that one in five children in America doesn’t know where their next meal will come from? Even here on beautiful Cape Cod there are families working hard to make ends meet, but cannot. YMCA Cape Cod can help. When summer break begins millions of kids across America find themselves without the National School Lunch Program to keep them full.
Your child does not have to go hungry. Turn to YMCA Cape Cod’s Summer Meals Program so your kids 18 and under can get their fill of food and fun. We are proud to be serving the children in our community!
Program contact: mreilly@ymcacapecod.org
| | BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL 2025 FARMERS MARKET CALENDAR | | Nutrition educators have assisted in coordination of Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod with the mission of connecting people and businesses on the Cape with locally grown farm and sea products. Through Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, resources are created to assist individuals and families in purchasing, cooking, and storing fresh foods. Below are collections of cooking videos, recipes, cookbooks, and other resources to help families and communities better understand Cape Cod’s local food system and access to fresh, local food. | |
FOOD ACCESS CAPE COD
Be sure to download our Cape & Islands Food Access Resource Guide! This publication is updated regularly by the Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and contains all the information you need for food accessibility.
| | | ARE YOU REPRESENTED ON OUR NETWORK OF CARE SERVICE DIRECTORY WEBSITE? | |
The Barnstable County Department of Human Services’ Network of Care (NOC) SERVICE DIRECTORY website, is a robust local health and human services directory with resources for individuals, families, and agencies on Cape Cod with public health questions and concerns.
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