Dangerous Drug Potentially in Our Area

It has come to our attention that there is a new designer drug potentially circulating in our area known as Crocodile (also known as Krokodil, Krokodile, Walking Dead, Krok, Zombie Drug.)  This is an incredibly dangerous drug with severe side effects, including soft tissue damage caused around the injection site and erosion of the flesh. 

Often gangrene and other intense infections are seen in users. Limb amputation is common. Other infections, such as Hepatitis and HIV, are also common in users. Crocodile can also cause brain, kidney, and liver damage. There are reports that the life expectancy of chronic users of this substance is as low as 2-3 years due to the physical health complications that accompany use. It is called Crocodile due to the greenish, scale-like appearance of the skin of its users, due to gangrene.

Due to its short lasting effects, some users report multiple injections a day. It is also reported that the onset of withdrawal is almost immediate after the initial effects wear off.   Also, withdrawal from Crocodile can last up to 1 month, whereas heroin detox typically lasts a week to 10 days.

BCCS Hosted Event for National Prevention Week

SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week is held May 12-18, 2013, and was created to increase public awareness of substance abuse and mental health issues. This week is a great chance for organizations to reach out to their communities and promote prevention efforts and educate others about behavioral health issues.

SAMHSA’s 2013 Prevention Week theme is "Your voice. Your choice. Make a difference," which emphasizes our ability to make positive changes, raise awareness for behavioral health issues – and ultimately to help create healthier and safer communities. Last year, community organizations across the country hosted health fairs, block parties, educational assemblies, and more to get their communities involved and to increase awareness about the importance of substance abuse prevention and the promotion of mental health.

This year, BCCS participated in the National Prevention Week celebration and hosted the Spring Jam for Prevention Health Fair.  The event, held Monday, May 13, 2013 from 3:00pm -7:00pm in Wilmington, DE, was sponsored by BCCS, U.S. Senator Chris Coons, You--Front and Center Program at BCCS, and the Delaware Prevention Coalition.  It was free, open to the public and had a great turnout!

The event allowed BCCS to distribute community prevention information and to discuss our services with community members.  In addition to being a prevention event, Spring Jam was packed with family fun, including a moon bounce, basketball, face painting, a balloon artist, and cotton candy and popcorn.

Wilmington Annual Senior Health and Fitness Day

The City of Wilmington is hosting its annual Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 29^th.  The City of Wilmington will join DE organizations to commemorate the national day of celebration, which is the country’s largest event for older adults. 

The Department of Parks and Recreation and organizations serving seniors in DE are planning a citywide celebration for seniors at Christina Park, at 4^th and Church Streets in Wilmington from 10 AM -2 PM.  If it rains, the event will be held inside at the William Hicks Anderson Community Center at 501 North Madison St. 

Camden, N.J., Police Investigating Contaminated Batch of Heroin

CAMDEN, N.J. — Authorities are investigating an adulterated batch of heroin they believe is being sold in Camden.

The drug sent three individuals to Cooper University Hospital Friday night for treatment of heroin overdoses. Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson warned these overdoses may have been caused by a batch of heroin that included toxic elements that could prove fatal without medical attention.

Law enforcement is not publicizing where these individuals purchased heroin but will be testing the drugs to determine the composition. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: delawareonline.com

National Nursing Week

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually during May and ends on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.  Nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers.   

At BCCS, our nurses work with our clients to ensure that their medical needs are met and that they provide excellent quality of care for individuals with co-occurring disorders and those in crisis.  BCCS’s nurses are trained in addictions with a focus on treating the entire person using a holistic method of care.  We salute our nursing staff during this time and recognize them for all of their hard work and dedication to BCCS clients. 

BCCS Spring Jam

Come out and join BCCS on May 13th for our Spring Jam for Prevention Health Fair!

BCCS Is Smoke Free!

As you are well aware by now, Brandywine Counseling & Community Services became a smoke free campus on April 1, 2013. This is a big initiative for BCCS that may be difficult for some people to adjust to, but we believe that it will ultimately lead us to becoming a healthier organization.

Quitting smoking in theory seems like an easy decision. Making a choice to increase your health, lifespan, and finances seems like an obvious choice, but breaking a nicotine addiction is a very difficult task.  Know that it is possible, but may not be easy.

To help make quitting a little easier, the state of Delaware has a “Quitline” to help adults in the state who want to quit smoking. DE Residents age 18 and older can call toll-free 1-866-409-1858 to take advantage of this powerful tool that provides assistance and support for smokers who are ready to kick the habit.  Trained tobacco specialists staffing the Quitline will assess your needs and explore your best options.

Services include:

• Motivational support by phone from a Quitline specialist; or face-to-face counseling by a 
• trained local counselor.
• Follow-up support.
• Quit-smoking guidebook, “You Can Quit Smoking. We’ll Teach You How.”
• Information about quitting, even if you’re not yet ready to try.
• For eligible low-income callers, vouchers to purchase stop-smoking aids such as nicotine patches or gum.

This is a great resource for BCCS staff and clients to start a healthier new life, free from dependence on tobacco! I hope that you reach out and take advantage of this valuable service to kick-start becoming a healthier you.