CAASA to Hold 6th Community Forum. National Night Out Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse Straight Talk. Board of Directors:

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1 Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse Straight Talk S U M M E R CAASA, Inc. P.O. Box 2104 Prince Frederick, MD Phone: FREE h p:// CAASA Staff: Candice M. D Agos no CAASA Coordinator Kathleen Wrublewski CAASA Office Assistant Board of Directors: Janet Bateman, President Vacant, Vice President JoAnn Faber-Slifer, Treasurer Barbara Brown, Secretary Lt. Sean Morris, MSP, Barrack U Julie Boutaugh Sheriff Mike Evans Molly Gearhart, CCPS Courtney Hamm Corrin Howe Reverend Todd Marple Debbie Mister Leslie Florestano Peek Kathleen Porecki Ginger Rosela Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt R. Calvert Steuart Lynn Taylor Britni Gardner CHS, Student Rep. CAASA to Hold 6th Community Forum CAASA, in partnership, with the Prescription Drug Abuse Abatement Council will hold its 6th Community Forum to help raise awareness about opioid drug abuse and provide resource information for those seeking support and treatment. The event will feature a guest speaker and a panel discussion. Local resource providers will be available to share their expertise and information. Join us and be part of the discussion about opioid drug abuse in Calvert County. Get the facts, find out what you can do, and learn what local and state agencies are doing. Be part of the solution help continue the positive progress. The event will take place in November so stayed tuned for more information. On August 5th Calvert County will participate in National Night Out (NNO), an annual event sponsored locally by CAASA and nationally by the National Association of Town Watch. NNO, is a community-building activity designed to: increase knowledge of crime prevention strategies, generate support for local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Communities celebrate NNO with a variety of activities such as block parties, cookouts, visits from local officials and law enforcement, safety fairs, games, and youth events. National Night Out 2014 Participating local communities include: Breezy Point Carroll Western Church Chesapeake Ranch Estates Dares Beach Kenwood Beach Long Beach & Calvert Beach Patuxent Palisades & Shores of Calvert Prince Frederick Village Apts., Senior Apts., & Calvertowne Symphony Woods Town of North Beach Victoria Estates Yardley Hills Come out and enjoy a night of fun, food and games. It s a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors, talk one-on-one with law enforcement, and learn about services available from local agencies and organizations. More details about each event can be found on our website at

2 PAGE 2 ADAA Launches Awareness Campaign Did you know? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day in the United States 105 people die as a result of drug overdose. Another 6,748 are treated in emergency departments for the misuse or abuse of drugs. The Maryland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration (ADAA) launched the Be a Hero - Save a Life Campaign aimed at educating citizens on the issue of opioid overdose. As part of the campaign, ADAA provides brochures and pocket cards detailing the signs of an opioid overdose and the steps to take to save someone s life. To print the brochures and pocket cards, visit the ADAA website at Each day in the US, 46 people die from an overdose of prescription painkillers. Health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for painkillers in 2012, enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills. Opioid Painkiller Prescribing Where You Live Makes A Difference A recent article from the Center for Disease Control (CDS) shows that where you live makes a difference in the amount of opioid pain medication you are prescribed. Ten of the highest prescribing states for painkillers are in the South. More can be done at every level to prevent overprescribing while ensuring patients' access to safe, effective pain treatment. State initiatives are making a difference. In 2012 New York began requiring prescribers to check the state s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) before prescribing painkillers. This action resulted in a 75% reduction in patients who were seeing multiple prescribers to obtain the same drug. In July 2013, Maryland began implementation of its own PDMP which is now up and running. To read the entire article visit

3 PAGE 3 E-Cigarettes: Not a Safe Alternative Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are becoming very popular as a replacement for traditional tobacco products. But with the increase in use there has been an increase in poisonings. According to the CDC, calls to poison centers involving children and adults increased from 1 a month in September 2010 to 215 per month in February If you or someone you know chooses to use e-cigarettes, remember to keep them out of reach of young children. A child who ingests any amount of e- liquid nicotine should be evaluated in an emergency department. Remember, e-cigarettes have not been fully studied, so consumers currently don t know: the potential risks of e-cigarettes when used as intended, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or whether there are any benefits associated with using these products. Although some e- cigarettes have been marketed as smoking cessation aids, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that e- cigarettes promote successful long-term quitting. Additionally, it is not known whether e- cigarettes may lead young people to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death. If you or someone you know would like to quit smoking or using other tobacco products, contact the Patrick O Malley, Smoking Cessation Coordinator, Calvert County Health Department, at , ext. 359.

4 PAGE 4 September is National Recovery Month In an attempt to reduce stigma and encourage people to openly discuss mental and substance use disorders along with the challenges of personal, family and community recovery, this year s National Recovery Month theme is Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out. The theme aims to foster public understanding and acceptance of behavioral health conditions, including ways to help young people in need of prevention, treatment and recovery support services (SAMHSA, Recovery Month Outreach Guide). Similarly, with the merger of substance abuse and mental health services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is promoting September as National Wellness Week 2014: The Eight Dimensions of Wellness. The goal for this year's wellness week is to promote acceptance with education. "Wellness means overall well-being. It incorporates the mental, social, emotional, physical, occupational, financial, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of a person's life." For "people with mental health and substance use conditions, wellness is not the absence of disease, illness or stress, but the presence of purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment, and happiness" (SAMSHA.gov). Join Calvert Substance Abuse Services (CSAS) and CAASA for Calvert County s Journey to Wellness and Recovery on Saturday, September 13th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Calvert High School. Help celebrate recovery while being introduced to a holistic guide to whole-person wellness. Local agencies and businesses will be on hand to share resource information or provide guidance for those in recovery or working toward recovery. For more information about the event, contact P. Lynn Taylor at Patricia.Taylor@mayland.gov. Take the Pledge for Wellness to Learn More! Stay informed about the Eight Dimensions of Wellness by signing the Pledge for Wellness and receiving regular electronic updates. If you are interested in taking the pledge for wellness, go to and search on wellness week. Calvert County Neighborhood Watch Meetings are held the second Monday of every month (except August and December) from 6:30-8pm at the Holiday Inn Express, Prince Frederick. Please attend if you are interested in sharing information with other communities and law enforcement personnel; seeking guidance on how to handle specific problems and situations within your community; and staying apprised of recent crime trends. Remaining 2014 meeting dates are: September 8, October 13 and November 10.

5 Prescription Drug Monitoring Program - Up and Running Upcoming Events: July 18th - Designated Driver table - 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. - Calvert Marine Museum Concert July 27th - Designated Driver table 3:00 to 8 p.m. - Calvert Marine Museum Concert August 1st - North Beach Farmers Market - 6 to 9 p.m. - North Beach Boardwalk PAGE 5 The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been established by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration (ADAA) to support healthcare providers and their patients in the safe and effective use of prescription drugs. The PDMP collects and securely stores information on drugs that contain controlled substances and are dispensed to patients in Maryland. Drug dispensers, including pharmacies and healthcare practitioners, electronically report the information that is stored in the PDMP database. Access to prescription data is made available at no-cost to physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and others that provide pharmaceutical care to their patients. By law, healthcare providers may only access information on patients under their care. Use of prescription information improves providers ability to manage the benefits and risks of controlled substance medications and identify potentially harmful drug interactions. The PDMP also assists agencies responsible for ensuring public health and safety through the investigation of illegal or inappropriate prescribing, dispensing or use of prescription drugs. Investigators must register with the PDMP and may only request data to support an existing investigation, typically supported by a subpoena for the information. Lastly, the PDMP supports research and educational initiatives designed to broaden public understanding of prescription drug abuse and develop more effective approaches to addressing this serious personal and public health challenge. The PDMP is a core component of Maryland s comprehensive strategy for reducing prescription drug abuse and drug-related overdoses throughout the state. More information regarding Maryland s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program can be found on their website at August 5th - National Night Out Times vary by Community. See complete list at CAASA/events. August 27 - Prevention/treatment resource table - Northern High School Open House - 6 p.m. August 28 - Prevention/treatment resource table - Calvert, Huntingtown and Patuxent High Schools Open House Events - time varies by school September 5th - North Beach Farmer s Market - 6 to 9 p.m. - North Beach Boardwalk September 13th - Journey to Wellness and Recovery - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Calvert High School Track September 13th - Calvert County Sheriff s Office Open House - 10 a.m. 2 p.m. - Sheriff s Office November - 6th Community Forum - Date to be announced.

6 Become a CAASA Member! Help support local prevention programs and activities. Annual Membership Fees Business $100 Non-Profit $50 Family $25 Individual Adult $15 Student $5 Membership forms are available at: Calvert-Alliance-Against-Substance- Abuse-2/Become-a-Member-35 The Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Inc. (CAASA), is a grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to fighting alcohol and other drug abuse in Calvert County. In addition, CAASA is a non-profit corporation that raises funds to support this vital effort. Mission Statement: CAASA will involve the entire community to promote a healthy environment free of alcohol and other drug abuse.