SUMMARY REPORT. About Our Event Activity

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Lilian Palmer
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SUMMARY REPORT EVENT: Recovery Talks: Community Listening Forum DATE: 12.6.16 LOCATION: M.

Vincent Kelder About Our Event Activity Executive Summary Friends of Recovery Ulster, R.Y.A.N.s. Run, and Ulster Prevention Council co-sponsored the FOR- NY Recovery Talks Community Listening Forum in Lake Katrine, NY.

1 SUMMARY REPORT EVENT: Recovery Talks: Community Listening Forum DATE: LOCATION: M. Clifford Middle School Lake Katrine, NY ACTIVITY: Forum for individuals and family members on alcoholism/drug addiction COORDINATOR: Stephanie Campbell CONTACT: x16 LOCAL CONTACT: Vincent Kelder About Our Event Activity Executive Summary Friends of Recovery Ulster, R.Y.A.N.s. Run, and Ulster Prevention Council co-sponsored the FOR- NY Recovery Talks Community Listening Forum in Lake Katrine, NY. It was the 14th in a series of local forums begin held across New York State to provide community members the opportunity to share their personal experiences with legislators, law enforcement and other leaders in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction, the loss of a family member or friend, as well as recovery from addiction, with 45 people in attendance. Category Public Policy Number of participants 45 Purpose Provide a safe space for individuals and families in recovery to voice their experiences around addiction, loss and recovery Help individuals and families overcome the stigma that prevents many people from seeking help Engage the community in a productive discussion with local leaders that allows for more effective policies on addiction/recovery Satisfaction Summary (Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent ) Overall ease of event: 5 Overall satisfaction with outcome: 4 Value to Recovery Community: 5 Recommend Repeat of Event (Y/N): Y

2 Highlights Comments, Problems Encountered, Opportunities Identified We need assessments to begin at Department of Social Services and have peers imbedded into the system who know what addiction is and how to link people to recovery There is a significant lack of services in Ulster County, with only one detox in the county and 12 rehab beds There is only one half-way house in Ulster County in part because of NIMBY and the stigma attached to addiction. Stigma kept me using for years I was afraid to come out. In the end it was either die or stop using. We need to offer addicts treatment for the spiritual aspect of the illness so that they learn how to fill the internal hole with something healthy. I lost my brother to alcoholism after he was required to be sober 30 days before he went to Able House, and then was thrown out because of some minimal infraction. I was 23 years old when I got sober and at one year, adopted my little brother because my parents were still addicted. I was told by my brother s probation officer that I was being too dramatic about my brother s use of pot and he died four months later form mixing pills. We need to mandate people into treatment when they are unable to stop using. There was a window of opportunity for my son when he wanted help, but I was fighting with insurance companies and we couldn t get him a bed on time. He wanted to get sober and was hopeful when he came out of treatment but he was assigned to an apartment by himself in a drug-infested neighbourhood and didn t stand a chance. The overprescribing of drugs was partially responsible for my brother s death they were writing him scripts and not even checking in with him or assessing him. Kids are overdosing everyday we need to increase Narcan and mandate people into treatment who have overdosed a certain number of times and who can t stop. wasn t a junkie he was a good kid. We need prevention in schools telling kids not to use doesn t work we need to start talking about drugs early in schools. There is a lack of knowledge about addiction we need to advertise more public service announcements and get the information out about addiction and recovery into schools and the community. Stigma is killing my generation my brother Kids are overdosing everyday we need to increase Narcan and mandate people into treatment who have overdosed a certain number of times and who can t stop. We need to educate our kids and provide places where they can be anonymous and feel safe There are no referrals in schools- we have to be able to do something before kids get trapped in addiction

3 What We Discovered Findings/Recommendations Recovery is a multipronged approach that includes enforcement Addiction assessment must begin at DSS and include peers Treatment on Demand must be made available to anyone looking for help Stigma and discrimination need to be addressed consistently and continually The Veterans Administration needs education and training on addiction Mental health issues need to be addressed concurrently with addiction Additional funding is necessary to build and sustain recovery support services in the community Prevention in schools must begin in elementary school Recovery housing certification needed Parity enforcement is needed Stigma and discrimination need to be addressed consistently and continually Public Service Announcements are critically important to educating the public Prevention in schools must begin in elementary school Prescriber education and enforcement is necessary Treatment providers must be held more accountable for measurable outcomes Treatment providers must be held more accountable for measurable outcomes Narcan training and accessibility are needed

- Jillian Nadiak, Community Liaison Johnathan Heppner, Ulster County Legislator Mary Wawro, Ulster County Legislator Judge Lawrence E.

4 Agenda and Participants 6:00 pm Welcome: Vincent Kelder, FOR-Ulster Lead Robert J. Lindsey, FOR-NY, CEO 6:10 pm Moderator: Stephanie M. Campbell, FOR-NY Director of Policy Panelists: Senator George Amedore 46th Dist. Assemblymember Kevin Cahill 103rd Dist. - Jillian Nadiak, Community Liaison Johnathan Heppner, Ulster County Legislator Mary Wawro, Ulster County Legislator Judge Lawrence E. Ball, Ulster County Drug Court Michael Kavanagh, Chief Assistant District Attorney, Ulster County Lt. Dirk Budd, U.R.G.E.N.T. Task Force 6:20 pm Lead Speaker: Mike Enoch, Person in Long-Term Recovery 6:25 pm Open Mic: 9 Speakers, plus audience participation during Q&A 7:20 pm Comments: Listening Panel Members 7:50 pm Wrap-Up: Robert J. Lindsey, FOR-NY, CEO Co-Sponsors

Event Flyer SPONSORED BY: RECOVERY TALKS: Community Listening Forum on Addiction and Recovery This is a series of

experiences in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction, loss of a family member or friend, as well as recovery from

The Listening Forums will engage the community in discussion with local leaders and result in a report titled, The

CO-SPONSORED BY: Friends of Recovery Ulster, R.Y.A.N.s. Run, and Ulster Prevention Council Tuesday, Dec.

5 Event Flyer SPONSORED BY: RECOVERY TALKS: Community Listening Forum on Addiction and Recovery This is a series of local forums being held across New York State to provide community members the opportunity to share personal experiences in dealing with alcohol and drug addiction, loss of a family member or friend, as well as recovery from addiction. The Listening Forums will engage the community in discussion with local leaders and result in a report titled, The State of Addiction Recovery in New York to better inform the public and policy makers. CO-SPONSORED BY: Friends of Recovery Ulster, R.Y.A.N.s. Run, and Ulster Prevention Council Tuesday, Dec. 6, :00 pm 8:00 pm M. Clifford Miller Middle School 65 Fording Place Road Lake Katrine, NY To Register: For more information contact: Stephanie Campbell- Director of Policy FOR-NY scampbell@for-ny.org

SUMMARY REPORT. About Our Event Activity

SUMMARY REPORT. About Our Event Activity SUMMARY REPORT EVENT: Recovery Talks: Community Listening Forum DATE: 9.29.16 LOCATION: North Central Church 7463 Buckley Road, N. Syracuse, NY ACTIVITY: Forum for individuals and family members on alcoholism/drug