Substance Use Disorder Resources and Information

Substance Use Disorder

The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines a substance use disorder (SUD) as a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of Substance Use Disorders.

Opioid use has impacted virtually every aspect of life in our communities. Opioid overdoses have increased significantly in Massachusetts over the past two decades. In fact, since 2000, opioid‐related deaths in Massachusetts have increased 350%, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Bourne Substance Free Coalition

The Bourne Substance Free Coalition is composed of a group of volunteers who work to educate the community about the dangers of substance use and the importance of making positive life choices. They have been involved with a number of community wide programs educating residents of all ages about the dangers of substance use. They are proud to bring dynamic speakers into the schools and host community-wide forums. At least twice a year they set up the “Hidden in Plain Sight” mock bedroom that highlights items that may indicate a teenager is involved in high-risk behavior. Residents may also see stickers on liquor store bags reminding them to “Think before buying for a minor” which are the result of their Sticker Shock events.

Through the help of local funding from the Cook Family Charitable Fund, the Bourne Substance Free Coalition is proud to start a ‘Resource Bag’ program in our town. The lightweight backpack will include one dose of Narcan, toiletries, socks, and information on how to get local assistance. This program aims to distribute these bags in conjunction with a HEALing Communities Study-funded mobile van staffed with addiction recovery coaches and also to patients leaving our four local hospitals after an overdose.  

Bourne Substance Free Coalition Resource Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bourne Substance Free Coalition understands that substance use is an addiction and needs lifelong support to maintain. Please consider being part of the community that cares for our residents who struggle with substance use. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Elizabeth Griffin, Chair, at 508 274-6738 or email at egriffin170@comcast.net.

For more information, please visit their website: www.bournesubstancefree.org and Facebook: Bourne Substance Free Coalition - Home | Facebook

AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod

AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod saves lives through prevention, education and life-sustaining services that address public health crises to build healthy communities across the Cape and Islands. asgcc.org

ASGCC offers an array of services through their Mobile Outreach Van. For clients in Falmouth and other locations in the Upper Cape, the van provides local access to syringe services, as well as STI/HIV/HCV screenings, safer sex supplies, comprehensive risk assessments, and harm reduction services (including overdose prevention), as well as referrals to medical, mental health, and recovery supports. Please call the Falmouth office (774-763-6656) to learn the van’s current schedule and locations.

ASGCC's Post Overdose Support Team (POST) provides free, voluntary services to individuals who have recently survived an overdose, as well as their friends, families, and communities. Working actively in the period after an overdose, the POST team helps identify goals and service needs for the individuals who experienced the overdose and for those around them. They provide life-saving interventions like Narcan and training to prevent future overdoses. Responding to each individual's distinct needs, the POST team can offer referrals to treatment, family support referrals, or a variety of other services. You can contact ASGCC's POST team at 774-487-4121 or at post@asgcc.org. All services are free and confidential. 

Alcoholics Anonymous

Find AA meetings in Bourne to help you on your road to recovery. This comprehensive directory of AA meetings in Massachusetts includes open, closed, speaker, and other specialized meetings, all of which are designed to help you get sober and remain sober.  AA Meetings Near You | AlcoholicsAnonymous.com

Bourne Fire Leave Behind Program

As part of the HEALing Communities Study, the Bourne Fire Department has started a Narcan Leave Behind Program. All ambulances are stocked with special kits of Narcan, each box containing 2 doses. EMTs can leave a kit behind if responding to an overdose, whether or not the patient goes to the hospital. This program helps reach the HEALing Communities Study goal of achieving a 40% reduction in opioid overdose deaths over the course of three years.

HEALing Communities Study

The Town of Bourne, along with neighboring Town of Sandwich, has been selected to participate in the NIH-funded HEALing Communities Study, a 4-year, multi-site implementation research study that will test the impact of an integrated set of evidence-based practices across health care, behavioral health, justice, and other community-based settings. Massachusetts is ranked among the top 10 states with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths. Bourne and Sandwich, along with 15 other rural and urban communities across Massachusetts, have been chosen due to being highly affected by the opioid crisis. For more information, please visit Home | HEALing Communities Study

As a part of the NIH HEAL Initiative, Cape Cod Healthcare is now supplying Narcan at their pharmacies in Hyannis and Falmouth. For more information call (508) 862-5900 (Hyannis) or (508) 495-7520 (Falmouth).

Cape Cod Pharmacy Narcan Flyer

For copies of this flyer in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, please email kshea@townofbourne.com.

Barnstable County 

For more Substance Use Resources and Information in our county, please visit the Barnstable County Website: Barnstable County, Mass., Massachusetts

Cape Cod Children's Place 

FIRST Steps Together: Families In Recovery Support is a peer coaching and parenting support program for parents working towards recovery from substance dependence. Please visit the Cape Cod Children's Place or the State of MA's websites for more information: Mass.gov or Cape Cod Children's Place