Since 1992
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BRIDGTON — Crooked River Counseling, an organizational member of Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition, has just received a contract from Maine Department of Health and Human Services to provide assistance to people in need of substance abuse treatment, including medication assisted treatment for opioid dependence, for those who are uninsured and not eligible for MaineCare or other pay sources.
More details will be announced next month. Currently a group of 60 people from around the Lakes Region have been meeting regularly for the past year, as the Lakes Region Substance Abuse Coalition, to come up with a strategic plan to address the root causes, intervening factors and promising approaches that communities are taking, or can take, to make measurable changes in local rates of opioid abuse.
We’ve learned a lot and have spent time getting organized, as a long-term commitment must be made for the changes in our communities to be implemented in order to reverse current trends. While much emphasis is often placed on educating individuals about the dangers of substances, research shows that it is more helpful to address underlying causes at both the individual and community level.
We now have a nine-member board of directors, have received the required attested letter from the Office of the Secretary of State, providing nonprofit corporation status, and are ready to apply for 501c3 designation from the IRS. The board is busy working to complete its five-year strategic plan sometime in January.
As part of the process we’re reviewing the recommendations contained in the Maine Opiate Collaborative May 2016 Report. Drug overdose deaths, once rare, are now more common than auto-accident fatalities or gun-inflicted homicides and suicides.
According to the CDC, 52,404 American’s died from drug overdose in 2015, with 80 percent of these reported deaths due to misuse of opioids. Maine is 1 of 12 states in the country with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths, and Cumberland County has been disproportionately affected by Maine’s opioid trends significant social, economic and health consequences such as overdose deaths, drug-related overdose ambulance responses, drug-related crimes and EMS naloxone administrations.
In Maine, prescribing best practices for opioids are not yet utilized by all doctors, and there are many barriers to effective treatment for those experiencing opioid dependence. Opportunities to intervene do exist, and the following groups, or community sectors, could help in specific ways: business, civic, education, faith, government, healthcare, judiciary, law enforcement, media, parents, recovery, treatment and youth.
LRSAC seeks volunteers from these community sectors with time and talent. Skills needed are communication and marketing, website design and management, speakers and trainers, fundraising and development, law enforcement and policy experts, to name a few. Recovery experience is valued.
Join with others at the next LRSAC general meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Bridgton Municipal Complex, 3 Chase St., in the downstairs meeting room. Bring your questions, ideas and a willingness to become community change agents.
