Following are our most recent Facebook posts. Please go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/james.place.inc) to read additional posts.
Now we wait to see if Christie's commission recommendations for prevention, education and continuum of care (detox, treatment, recovery support, etc.) are heard loudest vs. law enforcement....
www.yahoo.com/news/trump-declares-opioid-crisis-national-emergency-191349066--politics.html
Trump to declare opioid crisis a 'national emergency'
yahoo.com
BEDMINSTER, New Jersey (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will officially declare the opioid crisis a "national emergency" and pledged to ramp up government efforts to combat the epidemic.
Impact of opioid crisis on employers:
Not surprising that employers are struggling in their own right to deal with this crisis. This article provides various windows into the complexities facing small and large employers.
The cost of this disease is huge to those who suffer and those who love them. But our economy is suffering in far reaching ways, too.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/opioid-crisis-creating-fresh-hell-americas-employers-chip-cutter?trk=eml-e...
The opioid crisis is creating a fresh hell for America’s employers
linkedin.com
Subscribe to the Work in Progress podcast on iTunes or Google Play. Clyde McClellan used to require a drug test before people could work at his Ohio
Recently the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis submitted its report to President Trump.
As we all know it is beyond time to talk; it is time to act. Consider looking this over to read the report form the Commission - education is critical for progress. Then consider signing the petition!
www.facingaddiction.org/a-national-emergency-declaration
Sign Letter Asking For A National Emergency Declaration - Facing Addiction
facingaddiction.org
Please scroll down or click here to sign our letter requesting the President to declare a national emergency surrounding the ongoing opioid crisis. Dear Mr. President & Members of the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, I am writing as an American deeply concerned by th...
We've been looking for ways to engage the Rotary Clubs in making a difference with substance use disorders. Now it's real!
Greg Wims, new District Governor, has chosen the opioid epidemic as his focus for this coming year. Tom is now heading up this effort across DC and Central Maryland. The first kick off event was August 3rd in Frederick; next event September 14th in College Park.
Great to partner with this outstanding civic organization. For those not familiar, Rotary International took on the polio epidemic decades ago. Awesome to have this great group of men and women joining forces to make a difference and save lifes!
www.thesentinel.com/mont/news/local/item/5602-local-rotary-clubs-begin-programs-to-battle-drug-ad...
Local Rotary clubs begin programs to battle drug addiction - Montgomery County Sentinel
thesentinel.com
The Rotary Clubs in Central Maryland and Washington, D.C., last week kicked off an educational program designed to help prevent future drug overdoses...
A friend asked for information that might help a young man whose father recently passed. The father abandoned the family many years ago due to his substance use disorder. Now the son is struggling in new ways.
As usual I provided recommended resources of various kinds but then I remembered this book I read a few years ago. Written by the adult son whose father preferred the "adventure" of running drugs to parenthood, its a story with an inside look of how one son came to learn the depth and breadth of his father's involvement with drugs. It also tells of finding his father, finding more of himself and letting go towards a better life for his family.
Bittersweet and informing.
www.amazon.com/Last-Pirate-Father-Golden-Marijuana/dp/B00JECXVU6
The Last Pirate: A Father, His Son, and the Golden Age of Marijuana
amazon.com
In the tradition of Blow and Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, The Last Pirate is a vivid, haunting, and often hilarious memoir recounting the life of Big Tony, a family man who joined the biggest pot ring of the Reagan era and exploded his life in the process. Three decades later, his son cam...
Many paths to recovery!
Here's a blog from Don Flattery that is worth taking a few minutes to read. Proud to call him friend in advocacy and sad to say fellow journeyer in bereavement. Medication Assisted Treatment is a viable option for hope and healing.
One of our basic tenets is simple:
The road to hope for substance use disorders is hard enough dealing with the stigma of those who don't get it. The last thing we need to do is fight within the ranks of those working to save lives.
www.facingaddiction.org/news/2017/08/02/chance-son-didnt-get
facingaddiction.org
On Labor Day weekend in 2014, my wife and I lost our only son Kevin to an opioid drug overdose. He was 26. Kevin enjoyed the blessings of a typical suburban upbringing. He attended private schools and participated in youth sports and varsity high school ice hockey. He was a good student and was a gr...
Creativity is so important for finding solutions to a complex reality!
dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/07/12/community-of-tiny-homes-would-offer-big-recovery-for-addicts/
Community Of Tiny Homes Would Offer Big Recovery For Addicts
dfw.cbslocal.com
For now, the 23-acre tract of land near Anna in Collin County is covered in wildflowers and prairie grass. But, Shannon White has another crop in mind -- hope.
Mark your calendars for this year's International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), Always August 31st of every year, we again meet up at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City.
This event is about learning through resource tables and demonstrations of life saving medication of naloxone (NARCAN). Join with celebrating so many in recovery while honoring those who have lost their lives to this disease.
Join in the candle light vigil in remembrance and to shed light of hope.
Need volunteers...can you invest a few hours that day? Contact Barbara&jamesplaceinc.org
Sponsored by the Howard County Health Department and James' Place Inc.
Celebrate recovery and honor those gone to any substance related cause with a candle light vigil. Learn at our resource tables and demonstrations of administering the life saving naloxone (AKA NARCAN). Meet the many others coming together to make change and save lives.
International Overdose Awareness Day 2017
August 31, 2017, 5:30pm - August 31, 2017, 8:00pm
Celebrate recovery and honor those gone to any substance related cause with a candle light vigil. Learn at our resource tables and demonstrations of administering the life saving naloxone (AKA NARCAN). Meet the many others coming together to make change and save lives.
Happy 4th of July!
Independence has many meanings. As we celebrate this birthday of our county, may we equally celebrate recovery from the disease of addiction. May we honor the right of all captured by this disease to hope, dignity and a productive life!
Enjoy the day and mark your calendars for August 31st. Second annual Howard County International Overdose Awareness Day - A day of celebrating those in recovery while remembering those now gone to substance use disorder.
We have this day of celebration because the cause of liberty was and remains worthy. So is the value of all life in hope through recovery.
Yesterday we helped two young men move into recovery houses. Both are 21...young. "George" was couch surfing after completing a treatment program. "Joe" was sleeping at a meeting location during the day when not looking for a job. He recently completed detox but as someone who grew up in foster care, he has no family. So from midnight to 6 am he sought shelter in public places.
Last night each had a safe place to sleep; a place among others also on the recovery train. Two young men who have established relationships with sponsors, have daily meeting locations and a plan in play...this makes the world a better place.
Together we can make a difference!
Everywhere you look, people AND organizations are beginning to pay attention!
at this time each year Rotary clubs around the world change leadership. This includes District Governors. This year the District Governor for Central Maryland and Washington, D.C. (Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's, Frederick, Montgomery, Howard, Carroll, Harford, Baltimore Counties and Baltimore City) has chosen the opioid epidemic for his focus.
Greg Wims announced his key project at his installation dinner this past Saturday evening. He introduced our own Tom Allen as one of many working together with the 61 Rotary clubs in this district.
This is huge. Education is so key to shattering the stigma and making critical inroads to saving lives. To have these business leaders collaborating with officials to make a difference takes hope into every community in these areas.
The doors to conversation and change have now been set wide open in a different way....
BTW for those not aware, Rotary International took on the challenge to eradicate polio from the globe many years ago. Today only 5 known cases worldwide show what dedicated people can do when setting their minds to a goal.
www.rotary.org/en
rotary.org
Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change.
New law regarding improved access to naloxone aka NARCAN.
Friends, here's the final information on how to get naloxone without a prescription. This life saving medication should be kept available for those with loved ones at risk, for anyone working or supporting those at risk....
The goal of access is to save lives. During my son's years of struggle my motto was simple: Where there is life there is hope.
Check it out and then take action if you even suspect it could save someone in need.
Much work has gone in to getting education into Maryland schools. Some areas have been more successful than others. Now we have the new StartTalking law...elementary through higher ed...about time!
www-baltimoresun-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-heroin-school-trainin...
In heroin fight, focus turns to educating young people
baltimoresun.com
Maryland's public schools are tweaking their drug-education lessons and colleges are preparing sessions for incoming students to comply with the Start Talking Maryland Act, which requires students to be taught about the dangers of heroin.
Friends, here is a much needed job position to support the work needed to be done with the opioid crisis. The successful candidate will be working in the Howard County Health Department.
Please share across your domains - closing date July 5th.
Your helping sharing the opportunity is greatly appreciated!
Opioid Project Administrator, Contingent II Grant-Funded
Center for Drug Policy and Enforcement
www.ubalt.edu/about-ub/offices-and-services/human-resources/jobs-at-ub.cfm?type=staff&posting=1245
