Franklin Health Dept: September is National Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month. 

In the past year 1 in 3 adults had a substance use disorder or any mental illness. 

Get help at FindTreatment.gov

Franklin Health Dept: September is National Recovery Month 

Medicare covers opioid treatment services

While prescription opioid pain medications can help treat pain after surgery or an injury, they carry serious risks like addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid use disorder, Medicare covers treatment services that can help.

These services may include medication coverage, counseling, drug testing, individual and group therapy, and more. Certain services, like counseling and therapy, are available both in-person and virtually.

Learn More -> https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/opioid-use-disorder-treatment-services

The first step is talking with a doctor about treatment options. People with Medicare can also visit Medicare.gov to search for treatment locations nearby.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

Thursday is International Overdose Awareness Day, will you join us?

#IOAD We are just under a week away from International Overdose Awareness Day. Every year on August 31st, we join our local, state, federal, and international partners to recognize the impact substance use and overdose have had to those we love and those we have lost.   This year, we are honored to partner with HealthyKP to host a moving memorial in 5 communities. The purpose of this vigil is to bring local and real visibility to the sensitive and often overlooked disease of addiction. This 30 minute event will host a moment of silence, prayer, and a community member speaking about their lived experience. We will also host a memorial table to place pictures and memories of those we have lost to an overdose.  Together, we will say their names.   Will you join us?   We invite you to bring a picture of our loved one to place on our table of remembrance    Flag displays reflecting the 2,357 Massachusetts community members who lost their life to addiction in 2022 will be created on the Wrentham, Franklin, and Millis town commons.  The numbers continue to rise - In 2022, Massachusetts saw a 2.5% increase in overdose fatalities between 2021 and 2022 and a 9.1% increase from pre-pandemic 2016.  - Fentanyl was present in 93% of fatal overdoses where a toxicology report was present - Cocaine was present in 53% of fatal overdoses where a toxicology report was present - 47% of all opioid-related overdose deaths were between 25 and 44 years old; 43% were between 45 and 64 years old How You Can Help - Become an ally! Listen and learn from those with lived experience. We at SAFE would love to introduce you to those in recovery who are open to sharing their story and answering the questions you may have - Create a baseline understanding. The opioid epidemic continues to shift and evolve. It is important to create both a baseline understanding of addiction and the opportunities our community members have to access support - Support local initiatives. Headlines and statistics are important, but healthy communities are the lifeline to recovery and healing. Supporting programs that directly meet with families, youth, and individuals alike to mitigate substance use and provide education on the link between mental wellness and addiction is crucial for long-term change.  - Become a SAFE BUSINESS. Become a leader in your community and allow community members to know that they are welcomed and can ask for help in your space. - Book a training with us to learn how to administer Narcan!   Addiction is not invisible We hope you will join us on August 31st to honor those we have lost and to support all those who are still grieving.  Fact of the week  Did you know that SAFE holds the only fully subsidized Narcan training and distribution license in our area of the state?  Our Contact Information SAFE Coalition 31 Hayward St., Unit 2c Franklin, MA 02038-0434 774 847 9474 http://www.safecoalitionma.org

SAFE Coalition near term event schedule starts with Overdose Awareness Day - Aug 31

"Coming to a community near you!

Interested in learning more from the SAFE team?

We would LOVE to meet you at any of our upcoming events!

Questions? email us at info@safecoalitionma.org"

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/100064793556083/posts/pfbid02QyzzAyEkde4WA6HC3gTshjFiwU2stP2tf7DyQvgqus8WhHgqzAgpQSVKdmH5B8bol/

For more about the SAFE Coalition and the programs they offer visit them on the web at ->  https://www.safecoalitionma.org/

SAFE Coalition near term event schedule starts with Overdose Awareness Day - Aug 31

Multi-town moving memorial vigil - Aug 31

JOIN US, AUGUST 31, 2023 - Join us in remembering and honoring all those who have lost their life to addiction by attending our MULTI-TOWN moving memorial vigil.

Wrentham, Town Common 1:00 PM

Norfolk, Town Common 2:00 PM

Millis, Town Hall 3:00 PM

Medway, Thayer Estate 4:00 PM

Franklin, Town Common 6:00 PM

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CwBPX7exqwa/

Multi-town moving memorial vigil - Aug 31

Hold the date -> International Opioid Awareness Day - August 31, 2023

International Overdose Awareness Day August 31, 2023 - Moving Memorial Vigil and Flag Display ... more details coming soon

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvso7-pxnqI/

some of the flag display from Aug 31, 2022

CommonWealth Magazine: "2022 numbers paint bleak picture, with renewed calls for supervised injection sites"

"THE STATE WAS already swimming upstream against the opioid epidemic, but new numbers showing record high opioid-related overdose deaths brought an undercurrent of despair to Healey administration discussion of how to stem the toll.

There were 2,357 confirmed and estimated fatal opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts last year, or 33.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to the Department of Public Health. The figure marks a 2.5 percent increase from 2021 and a 9 percent jump from 2016’s pre-pandemic peak, which itself capped a startling rise in deaths over the prior five years. Populations of color and rural areas have seen the largest jumps in opioid overdose deaths.

....

Public health officials warn that drug dealers mixing synthetic opioids like fentanyl and other substances into their offerings have created an extremely dangerous cocktail. 

“We have a toxic drug supply,” said Deirdre Calvert, director of the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. “And it doesn’t matter if you’re using opiates or not. You’re at risk if you’re using drugs that are bought illicitly.”

Continue reading the article online -> 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/drug-addiction/healey-administration-grapples-with-record-high-opioid-deaths/

CommonWealth Magazine: "2022 numbers paint bleak picture, with renewed calls for supervised injection sites"

Medicare covers opioid addiction treatment services

Medicare covers treatment services that can help people recover from opioid use disorder.

Treating Opioid Addiction While prescription opioid pain medications can help treat pain after surgery or an injury, they carry serious risks like addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction, Medicare covers treatment services that can help. These services help people with Medicare recover from opioid addiction and include medication coverage (like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone), counseling, drug testing, individual and group therapy, and more. Certain services, like counseling and therapy, are available both in-person and virtually. Learn More The first step is talking with a doctor about treatment options, and where to go to get help. People with Medicare can also visit Medicare.gov and select their state to find local treatment programs. Sincerely, The Medicare Team This message is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was created and distributed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You're receiving this message because you signed up for email updates from the Medicare Team.

Join the SAFE Coalition today on the Town Common to mark International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day VIGIL

In addition to our candle light vigil, we will be placing 2,290 purple flags on the Franklin Town Common at 4:30pm These 2,290 flags represent the number of lives lost in Massachusetts last year to an opioid overdose. Thank you to the amazing volunteers who have joined us the last two days completed the Millis and Wrentham tributes Millis Flag Display Wrentham Flag Display SAFE Coalition PO Box 434 Franklin, MA 02038-0434

Why 2290 purple flags?

"In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day, an annual observance in Massachusetts and around the world, Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Department of Public Health Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Barrelle, DPH Director of Bureau of Substance Addiction Services Deirdre Calvert, and other state and local officials today joined families, friends, and volunteers in planting 20,000 flags on Boston Common, signifying the Massachusetts residents who died as a result of drug overdose in the past 10 years. The Baker-Polito Administration also issued a proclamation declaring August 31st Overdose Awareness Day across the Commonwealth.

The purple flags were planted at the Common’s Liberty Mall in front of the State House to honor and remember individuals who lost their lives to overdose, acknowledge the loss felt by family and friends, raise awareness, and remove the stigma of drug-related deaths. An information booth was set up to offer addiction prevention and recovery support resources."

Continue reading the press release online -> https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-recognizes-overdose-awareness-day-and-recovery-month 

Franklin's awareness event is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 PM on the Town Common. The SAFE Coalition is hosting the event and planting 2290 flags to recognize the number of overdose deaths in MA during 2021.

You can join the remembrance event and volunteer to help set up the flags

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/08/safe-coalition-asks-you-to-join-them.html

MA DPH coordinate 20,000 purple flags on the Boston Common

SAFE Coalition asks you to join them WEDNESDAY for International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day

In addition to our candle light vigil, we will be placing 2,290 purple flags on the Franklin, Wrentham, and Millis town commons. These 2,290 flags represent the number of lives lost on Massachusetts last year to an opioid overdose. Would you like to join us in placing the flags? I would like to volunteer! Copyright (C) 2022 SAFE Coalition. All rights reserved.. Our mailing address is: SAFE Coalition PO Box 434 Franklin, MA 02038-0434

Opioid deaths continue to rise in MA "It’s pretty terrifying"

"THE NUMBER OF OPIOID overdose deaths in Massachusetts rose by 9 percent in 2021, a worrying number in a state that had started seeing some success in addressing the opioid epidemic when COVID-19 hit and reversed that progress. 

“These are sobering and devastating statistics,” said Deirdre Calvert, director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "

Continue reading the CommonWealth Magazine article

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/drug-addiction/opioid-overdose-deaths-up-by-9-percent-last-year/

"More people died of opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts last year than in any previous year, according to a grim new report out Wednesday that reflects both the mental health toll of the pandemic and the pervasiveness of fentanyl-contaminated drugs.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s twice-yearly opioid report showed that opioid-related deaths surged by 9 percent in 2021, to an all-time high of 2,290 lives lost. That is lower than the 15 percent increase seen nationally. But Massachusetts continues to have a high rate of overdose deaths compared to other states, the 17th highest in 2020, the most recent year for which state-by-state comparisons are available."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/08/metro/opioid-related-overdoses-surged-9-percent-2021-mass/

"However, according to the State data, Franklin's situation was trending in a better direction. Some 7 people lost their lives in 2018 , 5 in 2019,  3 in 2020, and 3 in 2021.

"Today's report underscores the harmful impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the scourge of fentanyl have had on those struggling with addiction, and we are committed to continuing our work with the Legislature and our colleagues in the addiction and recovery community to boost access to services and treatment," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement."

Continue reading the Franklin Observer article

https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/82690/mass-opioid-overdose-deaths-reached-new-high-2021?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

At the end of August 2021, there was an event on the Town Common in recognition of the 2104 opioid deaths in MA during 2020. Stay tuned, it is likely there will be a similar event at the end of August 2022.

2104 purple flags on the Town Common to acknowledge the opioid deaths in 2020

Town of Franklin has officially joined in the MA statewide opioid settlement

"The Town of Franklin has officially joined the statewide opioid settlement and looks forward to continuing its work at the local level with 

@SafeCoalitionMA   @FranklinPSNews  @franklinpolice   @FranklinMAfire"

"Municipalities have until Jan. 2 to join statewide opioid settlements that will provide up to $537M to the state, cities & towns over 18 years to fund additional prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery efforts.

@MassAGO

http://ow.ly/UgGH50H9oBK. 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1470402435948728323

Town of Franklin has officially joined in the MA statewide opioid settlement

Opioid deaths: "1,613 people have died in opioid overdoses in Mass. this year"

"Opioid overdoses continued to claim the lives of hundreds of Massachusetts residents in 2021. In the first nine months of this year 1,613 residents have died, a 1 percent increase over the same period in 2020, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health.

The semiannual report suggests the crisis may be stabilizing after a 5 percent spike in deaths in 2020, when the effects of the pandemic erased the state’s progress in combating illicit opioid use. The annual number of opioid-related deaths peaked at 2,110 in 2016, declined slightly over the next three years, and rose to 2,106 in 2020.

Information gathered from emergency medical services providers around the state also point to a leveling-off. The percentage of EMS trips that were related to opioid use, including nonfatal overdoses, changed little from June 2019 to June 2021, hovering at just over 2 percent."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/10/metro/1613-have-died-opioid-overdoses-massachusetts-this-year/

Critical Conversations, an event on mental health and substance abuse co-sponsored by Franklin Public Schools and the SAFE Coalition, is scheduled for Nov 18  -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-public-schools-ma-announces.html

It was 2104 for the 2020 calendar year.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/09/community-acknowledgement-of-2104-lost.html

It was 2104 for the 2020 calendar year

Franklin Public Schools, MA announces Critical Conversations - Nov 18

Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) tweeted Wed, Nov 10, 2021:

"Some conversations are better to have sooner rather than later.

Start and continue the talk on Mental Health and Substance Use during our Critical Conversations panel on 11/18 at 6 PM. 

Learn more here: https://t.co/yhf1nlYD3s"

 

Critical Conversations: Identifying and addressing mental health and substance use among families and within our community. Is a collaboration between the SAFE Coalition and Franklin Public Schools. This event will be held in the FHS auditorium and live via Zoom.

Mental Health and Substance Use are two critical issues that have a wide range of impacts among our families and within our community. We invite the Franklin community to join us for an evening of learning, listening, and engaging with local panelists of diverse perspectives representing education, health care, law enforcement, parent/guardians, and people with lived experience.  
 
The evening will include: 

• Opening remarks from Jen Knight, Executive Director of the SAFE Coalition
• Panelist Discussion 
• Audience General Questions
• Breakout Sessions with each Panelist as well as a Hidden in Plain Sight display facilitated by our SATF Student Representatives

Panelists

• Detective Mike Colecchi, SAFE Coalition Board Member, Franklin Police Dept.
• Dr. Wendy Cohen, SAFE Medical Director and family practitioner
• Dan Lagarce, Person in Recovery
• Jeff Roy, State Representative
• Jim Derick, SAFE Board of Director President, co-founder and Parent
• Jen Knight-Levine, SAFE Executive Director, co-founder
• Josh Hanna, Franklin High School Principal

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/ypItJfHT3s

Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczOWZWc1Buc2RLZ2QxWTktaDZUWWxTbTB1YkRZ/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-5jDLyEjZLaSKlr1sJrVZfQ

Franklin Public Schools, MA announces Critical Conversations - Nov 18

"Opioid epidemic grinds on in Mass. at elevated rates"

"AS THE COVID-19 pandemic continues to fill headlines, the opioid epidemic grinds on with few signs of improvement. In this research brief we analyze recent data on opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts, including data from the COVID time period, to help us keep sight of a crisis that continues wreaking havoc on lives to this day.

At the peak of the opioid epidemic in 2016, Massachusetts reached 29.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, more than two times the national rate (for further detail on the causes of this increase, please see our 2018 report Opioid Addiction Is a National Crisis. And It’s Twice as Bad in Massachusetts). While this rate has stopped climbing quite so dramatically, as of 2016 it has held steady at historically high rates, remaining in the high 20s per 100,000 and spiking back up to 30 per 100,000 during the peak of the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Fortunately, there are signs that opioid-related overdose deaths may yet decrease in 2021. During a Public Health Council meeting in August, MassDPH presented preliminary data showing that the first six months of 2021 saw an estimated 5 percent decrease in total deaths from the same period in 2020, which would roughly bring Massachusetts back to 2019 levels. "

Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/opioid-epidemic-grinds-on-in-mass-at-elevated-rates/ 

Direct link to report -> https://www.bostonindicators.org/reports/report-website-pages/opioids-2018

"Opioid epidemic grinds on in Mass. at elevated rates"

Community acknowledgement of the 2104 lost to an overdose during 2020 (photo essay)

I had been out on my daily walk, approaching the Town Common and saw folks putting out purple flags. Remembered that International Overdose Awareness Day - Aug 31 was going to be celebrated with a vigil and prayers here later today. As I got closer I recognized Jim Derick and asked if he needed a hand. He did and pointed me to the box of flags.

I got busy spreading them out.

2104. Two thousand, one hundred and four.

Say that slowly. Let the number sink in. That is the number of MA residents who left us during 2020 due to an overdose. Recall a couple of years ago, the prevalence of the #2069 signs. While there is more help available today, the struggle is real.

I did go back to the Town Common for 6:30 PM

Jen Knight-Levine and Jim Derick opened the gathering welcoming the 70-80 folks who showed up.

Jen Knight-Levine and Jim Derick opened the gathering welcoming the 70-80 folks who showed up

Rev Kathy McAdams and Rev Eric Cherry provided a moment of reflection

Rev Kathy McAdams and Rev Eric Cherry jointly provided a moment of reflection

Kathy Truitt told the story of her and her son's struggles and how it empowers her to this day.

Kathy Truitt told the story of her and her son's struggles

The group took a brief candle light walk on the Common to the Veterans Walkway for a final prayer.

a brief candle light walk on the Common to the Veterans Walkway for a final prayer

For me, the one photo that tells the story of the evening and the constant struggle.

the one photo that tells the story of the evening and the constant struggle