BCCS Celebrates Recovery Month!

Recovery Month is held in September every year to promote the importance of prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental and substance use disorders. 

Recovery month is an opportunity for us to celebrate all of our clients and their efforts to make positive changes in their lives – and to show our support for all people in recovery.  One of the most important messages of Recovery Month is that recovery in all its forms is possible.

Additionally, Recovery Month offers hope to those affected by substance abuse and spreads the positive message that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, that treatment is effective, and that people can and do recover.

There are numerous events being held in Delaware in honor of Recovery Month, including our Client BBQ on September 17^th and the Lighthouse’s Softball Tournament for staff, clients, residents and friends, held on 9/27 from 10-4 PM at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown.  Click here for BBQ information and here for more details about the softball game.

For more information on local events, visit www.recoverymonth.gov and click on Community Events.  

USA Today's Article "OxyContin: A Gateway to Heroin for Upper-Income Addicts"

Heroin seizures by authorities throughout the Northeast have been running at nearly twice the U.S. average for the past five years and it is projected to spike sharply, according to data collected by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

According to USA Today’s article, “OxyContin: A Gateway to Heroin for Upper-Income Addicts,” part of the reasoning sited for the increasing heroin usage is the fact that powerful prescription painkillers have become pricier and harder to use. So addicts across the USA are turning to this more volatile drug. The new twist: heroin is no longer just an inner-city plague.

America arrived at this moment after a decades-long increase in the number of people using, and abusing, powerful pain pills. The narcotics had become easier to obtain — some pain clinics issued prescriptions by the thousands — and many found a quick path to the black market.

To stem the abuses, authorities over the past decade began cracking down on clinics, and drug companies began creating pill formulations that made them harder to crush and snort for a quick high. Thus, opiate addicts have found it more difficult, and expensive, to get their fix.

Additionally, the price is much higher for OxyContin. An 80 mg OxyContin can cost $60 to $100 a pill. In contrast, heroin costs about $45 to $60 for a multiple-dose supply.

In Delaware, heroin investigations have soared over the past two years, says Sgt. Paul Shavack. In 2011, Delaware State Police conducted 578 heroin investigations, which more than doubled in 2012 to 1,163. In 2013, heroin continues to be the top street drug, due to its inexpensive cost and easy availability.

To read the USA Today article and watch the video, click here.

Protect Yourself During this Bug Season

August is slated as the worst month for bug season this year. Not only are insects annoying, they can carry diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.  A report released last month by the Environmental Working Group, finds that no one bug repellent works against every insect, but your best bets are those products made with active ingredients registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus and DEET.

Despite DEET's reputation as a harmful substance, the EWG researchers found it to be one of the most effective chemicals against the risks of West Nile virus and Lyme disease.  The West Nile virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, infected more than 5,600 Americans last year, and 286 people died from the virus, according to the CDC, showing the importance of protecting yourself and staying safe.

In addition to applying insect repellent, other tips to stay safe this month include:

• Avoid outdoor activities around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors.
• Keep tight-fitting screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out.
• Eliminate all sources of standing water around their homes and properly maintain ornamental ponds, pools and spas.

Warning: Fentanyl Laced Heroin

In July, SAMHSA released an urgent warning for Physicians and Treatment Providers to be aware of the new risk of illicit fentanyl-laced heroin and cocaine on the drug market.

Recently, small clusters of overdoses and overdose fatalities in a variety of communities, mostly in the eastern United States have raised alarms.  

Some of the dangers of Fentanyl are:

·         Fentanyl amplifies the potency of heroin and cocaine, and even a small amount can result in overdose or death.

·         The appearance of fentanyl analogues occurs against the backdrop of increasing overdose fatalities due to high rates of opioid prescribing and misuse, as well as individuals transitioning to heroin as prescription-pharmaceuticals becomes more restricted. Whether the fentanyl analogues persist and spread or not, the situation with regard to opioid overdose and fatalities is desperate.  

·         The CDC Vital Signs released a July 2013 report that noted that although more men die from prescription painkiller overdoses nationally, the gap between men and women is closing. The number of prescription painkiller overdose deaths increased fivefold among women between 1999 and 2010.

Cory Monteith Dies of Heroin Overdose

 It’s always sad to see someone lose their life too soon – especially when it is due to drug and alcohol abuse and could have been prevented.  This week, it was reported that Glee television star, Cory Monteith, died at the age of 31 due to an overdose of heroin and alcohol.  He was found dead at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver on Saturday after checking in there on July 6. 

These types of losses have widespread effects for family and friends.  They also serve as a reminder to those who have already lost someone close to them due to substance use. 

Fatal drug overdoses are a serious concern facing our country.  Recent data shows that they have increased for the 11th consecutive year in the United States.  According to a research letter published from the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 38,000 people die of drug overdoses in the United States each year, with an uptick from previous years due to the deadly trend of increasing prescription painkiller abuse.

Such tragedies need to encourage us to dedicate ourselves to helping prevent such losses in the future.  It shows the importance and value of increasing awareness, prevention, and treatment - and how crucial they are to helping stop the rise in overdoses.  It’s important to remember that treatment is effective and that the road to recovery, although long and bumpy, is one that can be taken to achieve success.

Join a Double Trouble in Recovery Group Today!

BCCS offers Double Trouble in Recovery 12 Step Support Group Tuesdays and Fridays at 6 PM at RISE, Wilmington.  Double Trouble in Recovery gives people an opportunity to get together and support one another in recovery. 

Additionally, the A.C.E. Center in Seaford, DE has a Double Trouble Group, which is held every Wednesday at 11am.  For group information, e-mail Gaime Prado at gprado@brandywinecounseling.org. 

Membership is open to anyone who is currently experiencing or has formerly experienced problems with mental health, alcohol or substance abuse.

Summer Safety Tips

As we welcome summer and the weather warms up, people head outdoors to enjoy the sun and relax.  To help foster a culture of safety for BCCS clients, employees and their families, below are some safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics about bug and sun safety for kids.

Bug Safety

• Don’t use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
• Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, around uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
• Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.

Sun Safety

• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 AM and 4 PM.
•  On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with a SPF 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
• Be sure to apply enough sunscreen -- about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. 

 For more safety tips, click here.

BCCS Client Advisory Council Meeting, 6/11/13

BCCS is holding a Client Advisory Council (CAC) meeting in the Drop in Center (in the lower level of the 2713 Lancaster Avenue location in Wilmington) on Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00 AM. The CAC meeting is where clients can gather to add input to BCCS programs and services. All BCCS clients are welcome to attend. 

Several successful CAC meetings have recently been held at BCCS.  Goals for the meetings include discussing way for clients to be pro-active in problem-solving issues, talking about ways to implement positive and sober social activities and community involvement, and coming up with long and short term goals to improve barriers and access to succesful treatment.