SUBSTANCE ABUSE

SUBSTANCE ABUSE/ADDICTIONS COMMITTEE

This Committee was formed by the merger of the Greater Taunton Health and Human Service Coalition's (GTHHSC) Substance Abuse Committee and GATHER's Addictions Committee. The Committee supports the following initiatives:

SUBSTANCE ABUSE WHITE PAPER

A combination of substance abuse trends, statistics and treatment for CHNAs #24 (Attleboro/Taunton), #25 (Fall River) and #26 (New Bedford).

SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROUNDTABLES

This annual event has focused on alcohol and other drug prevention and intervention issues impacting dual diagnosis clients, first offenders/significant others, youth and families, and reintegration issues for juvenile and adult offenders. The most recent was held on 10/19/05 at the Holiday Inn, Taunton, and was entitled "Kids, Cops and Courts".

Brief descriptions of previous round tables, along with several full reports may be found on the Substance Abuse Round Table page.

COMMUNITY DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Community Drug Education Program started with an idea that originated in Probation, for 1^st offender drug users. It was clear that the court systems focus their attention primarily on chronic substance abusers. In an effort to reduce the chronic substance abuse, we have to first address those entering into the system for the first time. A request was made to several human service providers to come together to further discuss this idea. The collective thought was to bring this issue to the attention of the larger community. Community Partnerships, Inc. who utilized the Substance Abuse Roundtable III to work on this issue. Institutional leaders and decision makers spent a daylong session debating the merits of such a proposal and protocol, and agreed on the format and curriculum. The curriculum was developed with the agreement that this group would meet in smaller sessions to finalize this community wide drug education initiative, working out the mechanics and logistics of putting the program in place. In 1999, four series were held, and three were held in 2000. It is important to note that at the conclusion of each series, a debriefing is scheduled to review the quality of content and to determine if changes need to be instituted to enhance the program as it exists.

This three segment evening education and awareness program is staffed by community volunteers from the courts, schools, human service agencies and representatives from the recovery community. The program is presented to approximately 30-40 court ordered first offenders, family members, and friends as an attempt to divert their further court involvement. The Program is also open to community members who are not court involved.

PARENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

This five session parent education program is based upon the science based curriculum Preparing For the Drug Free Years. Seven Committee members have been trained to provide the program free of charge to interested parents, agencies, etc.

WOMEN AND ADDICTIONS

This public awareness campaign held during the month of March, outreaches to women through displays in public and school libraries and public service and community access programming through local cable networks. In 2002, information was shared in high schools in Attleboro and Taunton, and at the Taunton Public Library.

ALCOHOL AWARENESS

This public awareness campaign, held in April, targets different populations. This year's campaign will address drunk drivers, particularly in regards to the rise in out of school drunk driving youth.

SERVE SAFE

Two committee members are trained to provide low cost server education training/certification to restaurant, bars and package store owners/employees. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association BarCode: Serving Alcohol Responsibly is a training that is offered to establishments in the Greater Attleboro/Taunton area. The four-hour training educates servers on the effects of alcohol, checking identification, terminating service and discusses the responsibility and liability of establishments that serve alcohol. An exam is given at the end and individuals that successfully complete the training receive a lifetime certification. Proposed legislation is attempting to make this training a requirement for all servers of alcohol. Owners can take advantage of this informative training for themselves and their staff and receive a reduction in their insurance at the same time! Anyone interested in scheduling a training or would like to know when the next area training is scheduled should contact Donna DeFaria at 508-821-3593.

YELL (ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES)

This new initiative, based on the successful Cambridge Prevention Coalition's project, focuses on reduction of underage drinking in the GATHER area. A new subcommittee, YELL (Youth Endorsing Legal Lifestyles), has received funding from the Bristol County Savings Bank and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.