| |  | 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. | | SAMHSA Kicks off Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month! | | |
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) works to help people across the country find support and treatment for substance use and mental health challenges.
For many people, January is a turning point—a time to pause, reflect, and imagine life in a healthier place. It’s often when people consider taking that first step toward treatment or recovery. SAMHSA is here to meet people in that moment with reliable information, encouragement, and hope.
Each January, SAMHSA leads Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month, a national observance focused on raising awareness about treatment and recovery options. This year’s theme, “Treatment Works! Find the Path that Works for You,” reminds us that recovery is not one-size-fits-all—and that help is available in many forms.
As we start the year with a focus on fresh beginnings, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is sharing resources to help people better understand substance use disorder, learn how commonly used substances affect the body and mind, and explore treatment options that support long-term recovery.
Check out helpful information and resources:
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By the end of January, SAMHSA hopes the resources shared during the month will help you or someone you know to seek help and find the resources they need. Everyone should have an opportunity to live to their fullest potential.
Read more about Treatment Month and how we can all work together to connect people contemplating or seeking help for their substance use to seek screenings, treatment, or recovery services.
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SafeSpot: A Lifeline on the Phone to Prevent Overdose Deaths
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SafeSpot is a free, confidential, 24/7 phone line that helps keep people safe if they are using drugs alone. Trained operators stay on the line to offer support and, if needed, quickly connect callers to help. Information shared is confidential and used only in an emergency.
📞 Call SafeSpot: 800-972-0590
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The NAN Project-Saving Lives One Story at a Time
The NAN Project strives to reduce mental health stigma and prevent youth suicide by providing proactive peer-to-peer education through hopeful stories of lived experience to young people and their communities.
| Cape Teens Rising: A New Name for the Alternative Peer Group Program | |
The Alternative Peer Group (APG) program has been rebranded as Cape Teens Rising, a new name that reflects the strength, growth, and resilience of the teens it serves. While the name has changed, the program’s mission remains the same. Cape Teens Rising continues to offer free, wraparound support for Cape Cod teens navigating substance use and mental health challenges.
Cape Teens Rising is offered through a partnership between Duffy Health Center and Behavioral Health Innovators. The six-month program includes twice-weekly sessions where teens connect with peers facing similar experiences and receive guidance from a therapist, recovery coach, and peer support staff.
With a focus on helping teens reset, grow, and flourish, the program emphasizes confidence-building, recognizing progress, and supporting participants as they work toward personal goals.
Enrollment is currently open at the following locations:
Dennis — Tuesdays & Thursdays
Falmouth — Mondays & Wednesdays
For more information, please email CapeTeensRising@duffyhealthcenter.org
| CCAPE Offering Addiction Recovery Coach Pre-Certification Program | | upcoming community events | | |
5th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Event
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Human Trafficking Awareness Month Event
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time dedicated to education, advocacy, and action to protect the most vulnerable among us. Changing the World Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to making communities safer through awareness, education, and collaboration, is hosting its:
Date: Friday, January 30
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Great Awakening Coffee House
This powerful and inspiring event will highlight progress being made on Cape Cod and across Massachusetts, and will feature moving, real-life stories shared by survivors of human trafficking.
| | Annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast | | |
Join the community for the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast, honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Action Team of the Nauset Interfaith Association, with support from the United Methodist Foundation of New England and the Justice in Our Time Fund.
- Monday, January 19, 2026
- 8:30–10:30 AM (continental breakfast begins at 8:00 AM)
- Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal), Orleans
Guest speaker Reverend Liz Walker, author of No One Left Alone: A Story of How Community Helps Us Heal, will share insights on healing, community, and justice. The program will also feature music by Candida Rose, a tribute to the late Rev. Ken Campbell, and presentation of the MLK Action Team Racial Justice Award.
Attendance is free but ticketed, and space is limited.
| | Clothing the Cape: An MLK Day of Service with AmeriCorps Cape Cod | | |
Join AmeriCorps Cape Cod on Monday, January 19, 2026 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for "Clothing the Cape," an MLK Day initiative benefiting the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.
Featuring:
- FREE clothing shop/swap
- Sewing workshops with Latinx in Action and Stitchology
- Kids’ activities
- FREE community lunch
Hygiene item and new/gently used coat donations will be collected until January 16. Donation locations are as follows:
- Sturgis Library
- Centerville Library
- Orleans Conservation Trust
- Snow Library
- Dennis Memorial Library
- Harwich Town Hall
- Harwich Community Center
- Eldridge Library
- Brewster Ladies’ Library
- West Yarmouth Library
Donations and any leftover day-of swap items will be donated to the Harwich Family Pantry to support local families this winter.
- Walk-ins welcome for the clothing shop
- Bringing garments is encouraged, but not required
- Registration is encouraged for lunch & sewing workshops
| | Grief Support Workshop: Navigating the New Year | | |
Join a psychoeducational workshop, Tips for Navigating Grief in the New Year, on Tuesday, January 27, from 6:30–8:00 PM.
The start of a new year can be especially challenging for those who are grieving. This workshop acknowledges the complex emotions that often arise during this time and offers practical tools to help participants navigate change with compassion and care.
The workshop is free for Massachusetts residents thanks to funding from MA-BSAS (use promo code MASS at registration). A $10 fee applies to out-of-state participants. If cost is a barrier, please contact Laura@sadod.org.
Join us for understanding, guidance, and connection as you move into the year ahead.
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Join long-term care providers, behavioral health professionals, and community partners for this in-person forum focused on strengthening care for residents with substance use disorders in long-term care settings.
- February 4, 2026
- 1:00–4:00 PM (check-in begins at 12:45 PM)
- Cape Cod & Islands Association of Realtors, Yarmouth
The forum will feature expert insights from Dr. Rossana Lau-Ng, panel discussions on prevention, treatment, and recovery, and opportunities to connect with regional care partners.
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January BSAS Training & Professional Development Opportunities | |
The Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) has released its January 2026 training and professional development opportunities, including a wide range of virtual and in-person workshops focused on substance use, grief, trauma-informed care, inclusion, ethics, and recovery-oriented practices. Many trainings are free or offer scholarships, and some provide continuing education units (CEUs).
View the full list of January trainings, registration details, and information on BSAS’s new TRAIN Massachusetts learning platform here:
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Buy Fresh Buy Local 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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