February 2004
Get a Positive Addiction: Speak Up for Recovery - You Can Do MOAR!
Support Recovery - Learn about Peer Education Addiction Recovery Services
MOAR Disturbing Facts about Cuts to Substance Abuse Services
Alert!!!! Substance Abuse Services funding reductions through DPH, Department of Public Health, could result in
a matching loss of funding cuts in the Federal Block Grant dollars, since a state maintenance of effort is
required to receive these federal funds.
Since July of 2003, six public detoxification centers, Quincy, SMOC, CASPAR, Beacon, Boston and Spectrum Leominster, have closed. There were 997 detox "beds' and now there are 420. That is over 60% gone. The result is people in withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs turn to more expensive services such as emergency rooms and acute medical services driving up costs to other parts of the health care system. This effects over 15,000 needy people. People can die and are dying from drug withdrawal and overdoses, "waiting" for
treatment "slots" to open.
Since November of 2001, over $16 million has been cut from the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, which has meant more waiting lists for people, who, need structured treatment since November of 2001.
At The February 2nd Boston, MA Black Alcoholism and Addiction Council President, Brother Robert Kinney, facilitated a "Take The Pledge To Support Addiction Recovery Resources in Massachusetts Campaign." It is a way to develop a momentum to build a list of advocates, who really want to support resources for addiction recovery. Janice Messier is cochair of the Take The Pledge Committee, and wants to know how we can simplify the process to build our campaign. Please sign and return to letter head address: your name will be put on the pledge list to educate the public about the value of supporting resources for recovery
MOAR, The Boston Public Health Commission, and People to People are cosponsoring
Recovery Leadership Education Curriculum Sessions
Please Sign Up for The Curriculum, The Foley Building, 1st floor , 249 River St., Mattapan
A Three Part Series, March 2, 9, 16 - 5 PM to 9PM
facilitated by LaVerne Saunders, Judah Abdul Dorrington, Maryanne Frangules
Food and Beverages Provided
To Sign Up: Call Maryanne Frangules, 617-298-1262
All MOAR meetings have been focusing on resources for recovery forum planning, membership driven recovery education.
Please know that MOAR offers "How to do a Parent Support Group" and "Peer Education Addiction Recovery Services."
Mindy Domb, SPHERE, facilitated a "HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C - Help and Hope for People in The Addiction Recovery
Process" at our Worcester February 10th meeting. People walked away with information to help themselves, friends,
and families. We can set up a recovery education series or presentation in your area. Call- 617-423-6627
WANT TO DO A MOAR RESOURCES FOR RECOVERY FORUM IN YOUR REGION
Remember April is Alcohol Awareness Month!
New Bedford, March 9th , 11 AM, Reflections, 497 Belleville Ave
East Boston, March 17th, 3 PM, North Suffolk Mental Health Assoc., 14 Porter St
Springfield, February 26th, 5:30 PM, Phoenix House, 5 Madison Ave
Hyannis, March 3rd, 5:30 PM, Gosnold, 1185 Falmouth Rd
Boston, March 1, 6:30 PM, Huevos Auditorium, The Faulkner Hospital
Alan M Wartenberg, MD, Faulkner Addiction Recovery Program,
"The Medical Profession and Rights to Recovery"
Worcester - "Coping with a CORI, Getting Help" -, Franciscka Fajana, JD, MA Law Reform Institute.
March 9th, 6:15 to 8:00 PM, Community Healthlink, 72 Jacques Avenue,
Worcester meets weekly Tuesdays, 4 PM, The PIP Shelter. Dana Moulton facilitates.
Announcement - South Boston Addiction Recovery Forum sponsored by The South Boston Community Health Center,
The Neighborhood House, South Boston Family Resource Center, MOAR, and other groups - February 25th
Tynan School ~ "Hope and Recovery - Let's Talk!"…..6:30 to 8:30 PM.
Next issue: The Central MA Substance Abuse Coalition, Boston Consortium of Families in Recovery Events in Review
and Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force Plans!
Modern Assistance Program Education Series is Coming This March!
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January 2004
MOAR, MAADAC, and Friends held a "Revenues for Addiction Recovery Resources Forum", Monday, January 5th, at the Faulkner Hospital. Get a Positive Addiction: Speak Up for Recovery was the outcry, and we won't let it stop. With Major Cuts to public funded substance abuse services since 2001, diminishing insurance coverage, heroin use doubling, and youth drug overdoses becoming an everyday tragedy ...
who can find serenity in silence?????? Yes, MOAR is doing Peer Education Addiction Recovery Services to help people get needed assistance .....and we assist in the need to speak up for recovery!
FACES AND VOICES OF THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY - SUE, DANA, ERICKA, MAUREEN OPENED THE MEETING..
LATINO, CAUCASIAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN.... PEOPLE WHO GOT TREATMENT - FAMILY MEMBERS -
AND ARE ABLE TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A FOUNDATION BECAUSE IT WAS AVAILED.
YET ONE WOMAN KNOWS THAT THE DETOX THAT HELPED HER ...IS GONE! IN FACT SIX DETOX SERVICE CENTERS ARE GONE. WHEN A PERSON NEEDS DETOX - IT IS BECAUSE WITHDRAWAL IS LIFE THREATENING. ANOTHER SAID "THANK GOD FOR METHADONE, WHICH WAS ALMOST CUT LAST YEAR, AND COULD BE IN 2005.". THEIR LIVES, YOUR LIFE, FRIEND'S LIFE, MY LIFE, IN RECOVERY WERE GIVEN A FOUNDATION BECAUSE OF SERVICES WHICH WERE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC, AVAILED PARENTING SKILLS, TRAUMA INFORMED, DRUG COURT MANDATED, FAMILY AND ADOLESCENT.
A CONCERNED MOTHER SPOKE UP BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT TREATMENT NEEDS TO BE THERE
WHEN HER SON MOVES FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM.
SHE KNOWS, ALL OUR SPEAKERS KNOW
TREATMENT IS AN INVESTMENT...AND THE WORD HAS TO SPREAD.
Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Director Michael Botticelli spoke up for recovery, as a person in recovery. "Ultimately, I believe that is one person sharing their story of recovery to another person that makes it undeniable that recovery is a reality."
Boston Police Narcotics Unit Lieutenant Frank Armstrong: "Most of our officers are not far a field from where you folks are here tonight. We average 3400 arrests a year for drug distribution and trafficking. I support treatment We can't do our job without the social services, said "I think that putting
people in jail for minor drug offenses is a waste of time and money," he said, to an outbreak of applause. "One of my pet peeves is minimum mandatory sentences. It is kids who get jammed up. Judges should have the leeway to make a determination. We need social structures to support us or we are just going to continue to lock up more and more people. Former Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey changed the nomenclature from drug war to drug cancer. We don't fight medical problems with soldiers. I don't know what all the answers are, but I know that this cancer has effected many of our family members as well!"
The Honorable Robert Ziemian, Presiding Justice of the South Boston Court:
"I recently attended the New England Governor's Conference in which the epidemic of heroin was spoken about," said "It is an epidemic that effecting every part of our city and is a very difficult thing to deal with, and the crime that comes with it. "We in the drug courts are looking forward to a conference this summer, and I would like to invite you all to come, as we want the criminal justice system to learn from the stories of recovery."
John Auerbach, Boston Public Health Commission:. "We continue to gather data that indicates the health impact of substance abuse on the public health, such as HIV, Hep C and domestic violence. The impact of the budget cuts has been tremendous on public health. We have lost detox beds, which are down to 40% of the capacity we had just a year ago, as just one example. The number of people turned away in April was 30, which has grown to 725 people turned away in October. We want to help, but there are just no beds. I think those numbers will continue to rise. One other indication of the impact of the cuts is that we saw a 56% increase in the number of people who were coming to our needle exchange programs, mostly due to people losing MassHealth that provided methadone treatment and returned to using heroin. (Supporters - Note: H.3329, HIV Prevention Act=decriminalization of syringe sales and possession, Sponsor: Rep. Martin Walsh and Mayor Thomas Menino) We encourage everyone to support revenue initiatives for recovery."
Senator Marian Walsh: "Drug addiction and lack of treatment is a budget buster. DSS, DYS, Medicaid, the Court System are all impacted by addiction. We spend 500 million dollars on our court system and 88% of the cases, either civil or criminal, involve an addiction problem. It is amazing. Special education, our hospitals, mental and physical health, all service people whose problem rose from addiction. Studies demonstrate we spent $3.7 Billion from not treating people. Let's support revenues for treatment."
Senator Walsh said "We need to create a Substance Abuse Health Protection Fund that would provide financial support for alcohol and substance abuse treatment, education and prevention. The fund would be financially supported by money generated through an increase in the excise tax on alcohol beverages. As a result of this bill, this increase, the Commonwealth would expect to realize between about $100 million and $133 million in tax revenues. We have not touched the excise tax on alcohol since 1979. If we were to raise it just with the rate of inflation, we would raise $130 million dollars. We want to take 20% the first year, 30% the second, and over a five year period direct ultimately to the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services for treatment programs and prevention."
Senator Diane Wilkerson: "I would like to thank those of you all for standing up and sharing your very
personal stories of recovery. That's what courage is about. I have seen the changes in my colleagues' attitude towards substance abuse and addiction and I think that is due in to the growing voice of the recovery community. No one can tell that story the way you can tell that story."
Kattie Portis, Boston Mayor Tom Menino's Substance Abuse Advisor: "Children are dying because of the scarcity of prevention and treatment. Every one of us in this room needs to call to ten people, and spread the word: Prevention and Treatment are investments to our communities."
David Matteodo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, spoke of the impact budget cuts had on the Emergency Room Services. As representative of 41 hospitals across the state, he noted loss of detox beds across the state has overwhelmed emergency rooms, at a much increased cost to the system.
He added: "For those with private insurance, the insurance companies have become the biggest obstacle to people receiving treatment. They do not want to pay for treatment", said Mr. Matteodo. "We have to get substance abuse parity as we have for mental health."
What MOAR was Noted!
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors should be recognized by insurance companies. Individuals and their families who suffer from, or are affected by alcohol and other drug abuse or addiction, should be able to have their insurance recognize the human service professionals most appropriate to help them. Right now insurance companies recognize other licensed professionals, who may not have addiction expertise.
The meeting closed with comments and a determination by a group of inspired people committed to going out to carry the message of recovery and the importance of treatment within our communities. February 2nd is the next MOAR Boston Meeting with MA Black Addiction Council's Robert Kinney taking the lead on The Right to Petition for Recovery! Please come!
Speaking of a healthy movement, The New England Alliance for Addiction Recovery held a conference that addressed advocacy, ethics, peer services, in building a Faces and Voices of Recovery Campaign November 17th and 18th. Over 100 participants heard our own BSAS Director Michael Botticelli, Keynote, speak up for recovery.
Your Voice is Wanted! ......You can get addicted to spreading the recovery message, too!
MOAR is Stepping Up its Public Awareness Campaign _ and We Need You!
Happy New Year 2004!
- What MOAR? MOAR Boston Invites Your Voice to a Resources for Recovery Forum - January 5,
Faulkner Hospital Auditorium, Monday, 6:00- 6:30PM Refreshments and Registration,
6:30- 8:30 PM- Discussion with Direction
Heroin use has doubled in the last 10 years, detox services were cut by 50 %, Methadone services
fight for survival, and other core services have been honed to bare bone structure. About $16 million slashed from core substance abuse services since 2001. The community has been hurt, and how do we heal. How can legislators help? How can we all help? Let's work together.
Join Representative Martin J. Walsh, Elizabeth Malia, and Senator Diane Wilkerson
MA DPH, Assistant Commissioner of Substance Abuse Services, Michael Botticelli
City of Boston, Mayor's Substance Abuse Policy Advisor, Kattie Portis
Boston Public Health Commission Director, John Auerbach
South Boston District Court Presiding Justice, The Honorable Robert P. Ziemian
South Boston Public Health Center, Michael Conroy
District 13 (Jamaica Plain), Boston Police Sergeant Michael Fish
Faulkner Hospital Addiction Recovery Program Medical Director, Alan Wartenberg, MD
David Matteodo, Executive Director, Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems
Massachusetts Black Alcoholism and Addiction Council, South Boston Family Resource Center ,,,,,
Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force, other associations, neighborhood groups, providers, people in recovery, families, friends _YOU!
- MOAR on The Harbor meets again Wednesday, January 14th , North Suffolk Mental Health Association,
14 Porter St, East Boston to make plans about coordinating a similar strategic activity.
- What MOAR? Western Massachusetts spirited a positive movement towards keeping the only area adolescent recovery home, Phoenix Academy, alive. Phoenix Academy let it be known, that the house, as many treatment centers are, is facing a fiscal crisis. Honor House, the last area adolescent closed down for the same reasons. Not wanting to see the same scenario, The Western Massachusetts Parent Support Group led the way towards spiriting advocacy on this issue. At the October 30th MOAR meeting, the community came out with legislators such as Representative Mary Rogeness, Tom Petrolati, and Senator Linda Melconian, The Honorable Justice Swordz, DYS spokesperson Richard Rombeletti, Probation Officer Karen Sullivan, educators, and providers shared support for continuance. The voices of the current residents and those of the adult program would have won any election to keep services going. Strategies are in process to help keep residential services alive for youth in Western Massachusetts.
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MA DPH Assistant Commissioner of Substance Abuse Services, Michael Botticelli, outreached to
the Western MA Parent Support Group. He wanted to hear their concerns. The family members let him know that they are learning to navigate the system. Some learn from MOAR and other groups...and by experience.
People move from not knowing that you need help, denying it - to landing in hospital emergency
rooms because they do not know where to go for help. In the emergency room, they wait ..
and are often denied treatment because of "lack "of medical necessity, insurance coverage,
and are assessed by someone who does not know addiction. If admitted, the length of treatment is
too short, and wait lists to move from one part of the continuum to the other is not conducive to
supporting recovery. The ethics of needing care but being discharged - because your insurance won't cover
was another problem. The issue of misdiagnosis - by doctors, therapists, and other professions because of
orientation was ruled problematic. Thus, the discussion turned to working with insurance companies or
policymakers to change policies and educating caregivers about addiction.
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MOAR supports The W MA Parent Support Group concerns and collaborates with - W MA School Substance Abuse Counselors Association. CARE - Coalition for Adolescent and Recovery Education and The W MA Provider Association. The next CARE meeting is January 26, 11:00 AM, 10 Main St, Northampton with MOAR. At the January 29th MOAR meeting, 5:30 PM, Phoenix House, 5 Madison Ave, we will focus on action planning.
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Speaking of adolescents, MOAR participates in CMASAC, Central Massachusetts Adolescent Substance Abuse Coalition, which completed a youth needs assessment. A February community forum will be scheduled to release its findings and mobilize direction. Anne Toomey Doane, YOU Inc, has been the focal person
in this movement. Worcester MOAR members have expressed interest in mentoring youth.
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Worcester MOAR members will meet Tuesday, January 13th, 6:15, Thayer Auditorium, Community Healthlink, to focus on "Navigating The System". Note the aforementioned issues...they are discussed and navigated in Worcester, too. What do you say, Who do you speak to, and Where do you go for Mass Health, healthcare, insurance, detox,... you name it. It is in Worcester that we have piloted a "Peer to Peer Services" Project as part of the NEAAR, New England Alliance for Addiction Recovery" Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Grant. Dana Moulton, MOAR Project Assistant, facilitates the Worcester weekly groups. It is in the power of the discussions, where questions about needs empower the routes to possibilities. We just may replicate the project at Tewksbury Public Health Campus. The goal is to move into peer services leadership.
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New Bedford MOAR members focused on the power of "Telling Your Personal Story of Recovery"
in Sixty Seconds MOAR or Less. We addressed the three specific tips: 1) Say when the alcohol and/or other drug use began. 2)Say when we knew we needed help, "what was the turning point", 3) Say "what helped" and
"what makes us grateful" for recovery. The purpose is to get to the point for a purpose with passion- to educate
policymakers and the public about the addiction recovery process. It is to provide hope for individuals and families who need help. The members, also, expressed feeling strengthened by having an open discussion about
telling our story by reviewing the risks, and sharing hope. New Bedford meets again, January 13th ,
11:00 AM, Reflections, 497 Belleville Ave to discuss Voter Registration Strategies.
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Cape Cod MOAR reviewed the regional needs from the impact of lost detox services, minimal service transportation for the elderly, recovery center shortage, and lagging public awareness. One member
is trying to build the momentum for doing a play about recovery, which could build public awareness momentum. The next meeting is February 4th, 5:30 PM, Gosnold Hyannis, 1185 Falmouth Road.
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So it is all about having your voice heard and honoring the choir of voices- so that the value of
addiction recovery and the resources for recovery are honored as valuable. Recovery is Valuable!
Thank You for doing MOAR ... Maryanne Fangules...MOAR Coordinator - 617-423-6627
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