HEALing Communities Study Launches Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Education Campaign in Chautauqua County

MAYVILLE, N.Y.:-- Data released by the New York State Department of Health reveals that the deadly impact of opioid addiction continues to claim hundreds of lives annually in the state. Preliminary data indicates that over 1,100 individuals died of a drug overdose in New York State (outside of New York City) in the first six months of 2022.

Photo Submitted

Holy Trinity Church Presents Stations of the Cross

Friday, March 31st 7pm, Holy Trinity Church will present its Stations of the Cross with live music and reflection from a modern perspective inside the candlelit church. This inspiring event combines the traditional stations with contemporary songs and a short reflection connecting Christ’s final journey to the Cross with the challenges we face each day in our world. Sixteen contemporary songs by artists such as Billy Joel, Bryan Adams, Josh Groban, Eric Clapton, Our Lady Peace and others follow each station and reflection. The songs are performed live by Holy Trinity’s own talented musicians and vocalists. The music brings out the human emotion of each station in Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. This is the nineteenth year of the presentation. Each year, reflections are updated to bring a fresh perspective to the event. Five musicians and vocalists make the music come alive. The group consists of Christina Donovan, flute, bass guitar, cello, violin and vocals; Tom Donovan, lead vocals; Evonne Hennebery, keyboard; Marie Sedota, guitar, violin, and vocals; and Nick Siracuse, drums. Past attendees have called this event “…beautiful! Amazing singers and musicians, and so reverent.” Others have reported that “…I’ve gone every year for the last several, and wouldn’t miss it for anything. It sends shivers down my spine. A moving and prayerful experience. I would urge everyone not to miss this!” Still others said “…when I attended last year, a few months after losing my husband, I was deeply moved and my tears freely flowed in the darkened church. I attended again this year and was equally touched and inspired. Thank you for a program that bridges denominations and speaks to the heart.” Come and experience Stations of the Cross as you have never experienced it before. This event is free and open to everyone of all ages and faiths. Holy Trinity is located 1032 Central Avenue in Dunkirk. For more info call the Holy Trinity parish office at 716-366-2306, visit the website at holytrinitydunkirk. com, or email allarewelcome@ holytrinitydunkirk.com

Around Town

Dunkirk Soccer Teams to Hold Fundraiser Dinner

The Dunkirk High School Boys and Girls Soccer Teams will be holding a Spanish dinner fundraiser on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, from 3:30-6pm at the High School. Tickets are available pre-sale only for $12 and include Spanish rice with pigeon peas, pork, macaroni salad and a soda. To purchase tickets, contact Coach Meadows at zmeadows@g.dunkirkcsd. org or any soccer player.

BMA Parish to Hold Stations for the Cross for Youth

Blessed Mary Angela Parish will be holding their annual Stations of the Cross geared towards youth from kindergarten to high school on Friday, March 31, 2023, at 7pm at the church of St. Hyacinth on Lakeshore Drive East in Dunkirk. This annual tradition focuses on teaching the stations in a format that young people can understand and participate in. All are welcome to attend. For more information, call or text Lori Felt at (716)785-8831.

Did you know?

Anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road is considered a distraction. That includes adjusting the radio station, looking ahead at the route on a navigation system, reaching into the fast-food bag for a French fry, and answering a phone or responding to a text. Distractions can be visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), and cognitive (taking your mind off driving).

Whether it is good for people or not, multitasking is now commonplace. That means individuals are juggling two or more different tasks at one time, even while driving. This propensity to try to fit more into a day may seem like it is improving efficiency, but certain studies show that multitasking often means the focus and attention to detail supplied to tasks isn’t as great when doing two things at once as opposed to focusing on one task at a time. In terms of driving while distracted by something else, the consequences can be great.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says about 3,000 Americans die in crashes involving a distracted driver every year. Younger drivers, or those between the ages of 15 and 20, are more likely to become distracted drivers than other age groups.

The Canadian Automobile Association says drivers who drive distracted are eight times more likely to be in a crash or near-crash event compared with non-distracted drivers.

Transport Canada’s National Collision Database indicates distracted driving contributes to an estimated 21 percent of fatal collisions each year and around 27 percent of serious injury collisions. There is still work to be done to encourage drivers to be more attentive behind the wheel.

County officials are responding with an educational campaign aimed at providing hope for those with an addiction. Like many other chronic conditions, opioid use disorder can be effectively managed. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings and decrease the risk for relapse and overdose death. Officials want to address the fear of judgment or discrimination that may keep some people with opioid use disorder from seeking the medication they need to support their recovery.

The second of three communications campaigns will be implemented by the county government from March 6 - May 5, 2023 to help: increase understanding of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and reduce stigma that impacts people with the disease from seeking medical care.

“We are excited to participate in the next campaign of this critical study,” said HEALing Communities Study Communications Champion Deb Maggio. “Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a disease, and we hope to make further efforts to reduce the stigma of using medications to treat that disease. This campaign offers education for all community members, from those experiencing OUD to the medical and behavioral health professionals treating them.”

Steve Kilburn, project director of the HEALing Communities Study in Chautauqua County, said, “County residents in need of treatment need to be aware of the many resources available in our county and to know that treatment works. There is hope for those who reach out for help.”

About the HEALing Communities Study

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that 2.1 million Americans have opioid use disorder, yet fewer than 20% of those receive specialty care in a given year. A menu of evidence-based practices (EBPs) exists, including opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs, prescription opioid safety, FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, behavioral therapies, and recovery support services. Unfortunately, these EBPs have largely failed to penetrate community settings.

As a result, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) to identify the EBPs that are most effective at the local level in preventing and treating OUD. The goal of the study is to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by 40 percent. The first phase of the study, which ended June 30, occurred in Cayuga, Columbia, Greene, Erie, Lewis, Putnam, Suffolk and Ulster Counties. The second phase of the study will now run through December 2023 in Broome, Chautauqua, Cortland, Genesee, Monroe, Orange, Sullivan and Yates Counties. In support of this work, Chautauqua County is collaborating with local partners on a newly formed coalition to launch three communications campaigns:

1. Naloxone-Fentanyl

Education,

2. Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Anti-Stigma & Awareness, and

3. MOUD Treatment Retention.

To learn more about the HEALing Communities Study and to help end overdoses in Chautauqua County visit:

• Website: HEALTogetherNY. org/Chautauqua

• Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ CombatAddictionCHQ

• HEAL Communications

Champion: Deb Maggio, maggiod@chqgov.com