2015 GOODMAN AWARD SUBMISSION FORM

Transcription

1 2015 GOODMAN AWARD SUBMISSION FORM I. General Information a. Program Title: Right In Our Backyard b. Agency Name: Samost Jewish Family & Children s Service of Southern New Jersey c. Date Program Began: October 2014 II. Summary Initial Problem(s) to be Addressed by the Program: JFCS has become acutely aware of a new normal that has been brewing in our suburbs. Narcotic addiction, related to prescription pain medication and heroin, has begun to reach epic levels in our community. With heroin in our area at its purest levels in the country, addiction has led to a windfall of deaths. The vast majority of heroin addicts begin with prescription pain pills, often times legitimately acquired. Addiction follows. Then, when the person can no longer afford or acquire the pain pills they turn to a cheap, increasingly potent and uncontrolled alternative-heroin. After several years with little change, overdose deaths in the Philadelphia region involving heroin increased from 138 in 2010 to 287 in 2012, exceeding last year s gunshot fatalities. Admissions for the treatment of heroin addiction also rose in 2012 after a five-year average decline, and now account for 24% of all admissions for drug treatment. Prevention Point Philadelphia, a needleexchange program reports that they used to distribute about one million clean syringes annually, in 2011 that number rose to 1.2 million, in 2012 to 1.7 million and it will likely hit somewhere between million in In addition, because the drug can be snorted rather than taken by needle, the stigma has decreased and use has increased. Moreover, 13% of 8 th graders and 40% of 12 th graders in New Jersey say they can easily get opioids. Brief Overall Program Description: Right In Our Backyard is a community awareness program focused on prevention of opiate addiction. The two-hour panel presentation, structured for teens and their parents, is presented by a group of five panelists, which includes: an addictions specialist, two parents who lost their children to addiction, a young adult in recovery and a member of law enforcement. Each panelist gives a presentation, interlaced with dramatic video snippets (from and power points. The addictions specialist gets the teens up and moving with an interactive true or false to engage them and test their knowledge of the subject matter. In the last half hour, parents and teens are separated for more intimate, candid discussion. Parents are led by the member of law enforcement and the parents who lost children, while the students engage with the individual in recovery and the addictions specialist. The marketing and materials utilized in the presentation are attached for your perusal. This program will highlight the prevalence of this issue to our local Jewish community, normalize discussions on the topic, share warning signs and offer safe and accessible ways to seek guidance and help. III. Components

2 a. Jewish Component: In the fiscal year, JFCS will present this program to the students and parents of Hebrew High schools of 5 area synagogues, and will make a 6 th community presentation to the parents and members of BBYO and teen programs affiliated with the Katz Jewish Community Center. The individual in recovery is Jewish and grew up in the Cherry Hill, New Jersey community. b. Outreach Component: Within its first year, this program and its crucial message will have reached over 400 students and parents in our community, promoting conversation and normalizing the ask for help. c. Community-Building Component: Right In Our Backyard was created to increase awareness in the Jewish community, prevent addiction and addiction-related deaths, and keep our youth healthy and armed with the knowledge to make smart decisions. IV. Outcomes a. Outcomes of the Program to Date: Jewish teens and their parents will be educated as to signs of addiction, effects of addiction, ways to seek help, ways to get out of an uncomfortable situation, disposal methods of prescription narcotics, and how to begin the discussion if they or someone they know is suspected of taking drugs. It is our hope that at some vulnerable point in the future, one or more of the attendees will think about this program and what they have learned and make a choice that will save his/her life. b. Evaluation Method: General feedback from the area Rabbis, educators, parents and students at the schools that have hosted this panel. Surveys are also distributed at the end of each program. V. Sustainability a. Total Program Cost: $10,000 b. Major Income Sources: A private donor who lost his son to addiction has sponsored the program. c. Agency s Plans for the Continuation of the Program: We hope to offer this programming for a second year, with private donor funds. In addition, we are in talks with Camden County, whose Addictions Task Force served as an inspiration for this program, to provide this programming for a fee to the secular community. Addiction awareness is an issue for teens and parents everywhere, and this program may be easily replicated. VI. Contact Information Meredith Cohen, Director of Special Projects and Compliance, (856) , mcohen@jfedsnj.org

3 Right in Our Backyard

4 The Adolescent Brain Passionate Committed Overreactive Not always well directed Prefer high excitement & low effort activities Impulsive Rarely think of consequences GO STOP

5 Risk Factors for Use Genetic: Teens who have a family member who struggles with addiction are more likely than their peers without a similar family history to develop an addiction. Emotional: Teens who suffer from anxiety disorders or mood disorders are more likely to develop addictions as a way of selfmedicating. Teens who have experienced traumatic events such as accidents or abuse often use drugs to numb trauma symptoms. Low self-esteem and social rejection are also risk factors for use. Physical: Chronic use of a substance gradually changes the structure and functioning of the brain. Environmental: Teens who were raised in an environment in which caregivers or parents used drugs or alcohol are more likely to use drugs and alcohol later in life. In addition, teens who begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol at earlier ages are more likely to later develop an addiction.

6 The brain responds to the increased surges of artificial dopamine by creating less of its own naturally occurring dopamine Without drugs, a user may feel flat, depressed, anxious, physically ill and unable to enjoy things that normally bring pleasure

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8 Opioid is prescribed or taken recreationally Dopamine surges, reduces pain, increases pleasure Drug is repeated Brain changes occur, tolerance develops, withdrawal symptoms Use is repeated to seek pleasure and avoid withdrawal Opioid Dependence

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11 Signs of Opioid Overdose Slow breathing Cold, clammy skin Bluish tinge to lips and fingernails Shaking Weak, thready pulse In order to combat the fatality rate of overdoses, Governor Chris Christie's office, the state attorney general, and the Department of Health and Human Services are allowing first responders to carry and administer Narcan, which is used to temporarily counter the effects of opioid overdoses.

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14 Types of Treatment Inpatient Intensive Outpatient Medication-assisted 12 Step Programs

15 Counseling Resources Seabrook House Princeton House The Retreat at Lancaster Caron Foundation Livingren Foundation Rehab after Work Jewish Family & Children's Services (856) Meridian Counseling Services (856) Step Programs NA.org Nar-anon.org al-anon.alateen.org

16 Relapse is common and drug addiction has similar rates of relapse as other chronic illnesses. Relapse serves as a trigger for renewed intervention.

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18 Behavioral Signs of Opioid Use Drop in grades for no apparent reason, loss of interest in school, skipping school Stealing, money issues Change in friends; not wanting parents to meet friends; change in hangouts or hobbies Bursts of euphoria Personality changes: disrespectful, irritable or violent Sudden, inexplicable need for money Being more secretive, paranoid, anxious or depressed Change in personal hygiene Legal issues

19 Physical Signs ofopioid Use Increased sleeping Changes in appetite; weight loss Frequent illness Constant runny nose Appearing lethargic Nodding off suddenly Slurred or slow speech Poor coordination, slow gait Yellow, sallow or waxy skin with frequent breakouts that weren't an issue in the past Extreme drowsiness Dry mouth Flushed skin on face or neck Nausea or vomiting Slowed breathing Drooping eyelids

20 Cognitive Signs of Opioid Use Decreased ability to problem solve Unclear thinking Decreased decision-making capabilities Disorientation Decreased self-control Inability to pay attention in school Impairment of short-term memory

21 Proper Monitoring of Medications

22 Parents should keep track of kids' medicines and hold on to larger quantities Parents should keep their own prescriptions of anxiety, pain and stimulant medications out of reach from kids and dispose of extra quantities Parents should make sure kids aren't overprescribed pain medications after minor procedures (wisdom teeth removed, dental work, broken bones, etc). This is a common way kids get introduced to opioids Even "good kids" who themselves aren't abusing medications commonly share/give away prescription medications so they must be monitored by parents Prescription drugs are the gateway to other drugs Addiction starts with prescription pain medications, moves to buying pain medicines (more expensive), and moves to the lessexpensive heroin

23 Talking With Your Teen

24 Ask your teen's views. Listen to your teen's opinions and questions about drug use. Discuss reasons not to abuse drugs. Emphasize how drug use can affect things important to your teen such as sports, driving, health and appearance. Consider media messages. Some television programs, movies, websites or songs glamorize or trivialize drug use. Talk about what your teen has seen or heard. Discuss ways to resist peer pressure. Brainstorm with your teen about how to turn down offers of drugs. Respond if your teen asks about your own drug use. If you chose not to use drugs, explain why. If you did use drugs, share what the experience taught you. Practice good boundary setting. Poor boundaries can predispose kids to drug use. Help kids understand how their brains work. Explain how drugs impact the brain.

25 Be calm, kind, simple and direct Tell your teen that you love him/her, and you are worried that he/she might be using drugs or alcohol Tell your teen you will not tolerate any drug use Explore contributing factors, such as stress, unhappiness and social issues Tell your teen you are there to listen and want them to be a part of the solution Tell your teen what you will do to help them Know that you will have this discussion many, many times.

26 Guidelines for Drug Disposal

27 The FDA and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy developed federal guidelines that are summarized below: Follow any specific disposal instructions on the prescription drug labeling or patient information that accompanies the medicine. Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so. Take advantage of community drug take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. The DEA, working with state and local law enforcement agencies, periodically sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Days.

28 Drop Off Locations Cherry Hill Police Department 820 Mercer Street Cherry Hill, New Jersey Voorhees Police Department 1180 White Horse Road Voorhees, New Jersey Haddon Heights Police Department 625 Station Avenue Haddon Heights, New Jersey Winslow Police Department 125 South Route 73 Braddock, New Jersey 08037

29 THIS YEAR IN THE US, MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE FROM DRUG OVERDOSES THAN FROM VEHICLE CRASHES. In fact, since 1999, the annual tally of painkiller overdose deaths has quadrupled in the country and an epidemic of opiate and heroin abuse has hit the suburbs of Southern NJ. Dear Hebrew High Teens and Parents, Perhaps this headline is news to you or perhaps it is something that you are painfully aware of already. As the Executive Director of Jewish Family and Children s Service I began to explore the issue of opiate abuse in our community over a year ago and was introduced to a world that shocked and saddened me. There has been a heightened use of prescription opiates in our community that are leading many, especially those in their teens and twenties, to experiment and potentially face addiction to drugs such as heroin. The program that we are offering, in conjunction with your synagogue, will highlight many aspects of this crisis and will include eye opening presentations by law enforcement, a parent who has lost a child to overdose, a young individual in recovery, an addiction specialist, as well as social workers. Becoming educated and learning about strategies that promote safety in the home and outside are our best defense. I encourage you to join me in this fight and look forward to seeing YOU on your scheduled night. Sincerely, Marla Meyers, MSW Executive Director

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