Griffin Health, Agency on Aging to inform seniors about opioid overdose

Griffin Health and the Agency on Aging of South-Central Connecticut are hosting a series of talks to inform seniors about know what can do in the event of an opioid overdose this October.

Naugatuck Valley Health District Overdose Prevention Navigator Austin Telford, MPH, CCHW, will present “Narcan and You: Empowering Seniors to Respond to an Opioid Overdose,” which provides essential information on recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer Narcan (naloxone), a safe and effective nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose. 

The discussion will cover how to obtain Narcan, what to do in an emergency, and the importance of this life-saving tool in protecting friends, family, and community members. 

Griffin Health caregivers will also be offering free blood pressure screenings and consultations at the events.

The presentations are scheduled for Oct. 2 from 2-3 p.m. at the Ansonia Senior Center, Oct. 6 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Seymour Senior Center, Oct. 22 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Shelton Senior Center, and Oct. 23 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Derby Neck Library.

These offerings are part of the AgeWell program, which is co-sponsored by Griffin Health and the Agency on Aging of South-Central Connecticut to increase access to care and prevent disease in the Valley senior community through a series of health screenings and healthy living education sessions each month. Periodically, this program provides nutritiously balanced and delicious foods for attendees.

Registration is required to attend the AgeWell events. 

To sign up, contact the location (Ansonia Senior Center: 203-736-5933; Seymour Senior Center: 203- 888-0406 ext. 1; Shelton Senior Center: 203-924-9324; and Derby Neck Library: 203-734-1492).

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Echo Hose in Shelton to hold free Narcan training

 

Derby Neck Library to offer free, in-person Narcan training

DERBY - In partnership with the Alliance for Prevention and Wellness of BHcare, Derby Neck Library is proud to offer free, in-person Narcan training for members of the community ages high school and up. 

The training will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 11. The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.

Register below:

https://derbynecklibrary.org/.../free-community-narcan.../

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Narcan training slated at Echo Hose Training Center in Shelton

 

This is shared from the Shelton Youth Bureau Facebook page.

Alliance for Prevention & Wellness to hold Narcan training via Zoom

 

This is shared from the Seymour Ambulance Association Facebook page.

Klarides-Ditria: Overdose Awareness Day is a day to remember lives lost

Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember those we lost to this awful disease, and to acknowledge the grief of the loved ones left behind. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that about 93,000 people died from an overdose in 2020, a nearly 30% increase in deaths compared to 2019. This issue affects everyone of us, our friends and certainly our communities.  In an effort to combat this epidemic, the legislature passed HB 5597, a bill I co-sponsored, to establish a pilot program to expand a peer navigator program - similar to the successful New London Cares project - that requires participating municipalities to send peer navigators out to address the health care and social needs of people with opioid use disorder.  Peer navigators also receive updated training on non-coercive and non-stigmatizing methods for engaging people with the disorder. I also supported HB 6588 to prohibit health care providers from being required to prescribe more than the physician-recommended dose of prescription drugs if deemed clinically inappropriate, reducing the potential for substance misuse or abuse. For more information on Opioids, Overdose Prevention, and Naloxone/Narcan, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Health-Education-Management--Surveillance/The-Office-of-Injury-Prevention/Opioids-and-Prescription-Drug-Overdose-Prevention-Program Please join me on Aug. 31 in support of the men and women bravely fighting this disease, and to recognize all those we lost.  Sincerely,

Derby Public Schools to host overdose prevention workshop for parents

BHCare and the Derby Youth Service Bureau are hosting a series of workshops for parents. 

Next week is a Family Support Workshop focused on opioid overdose prevention with Narcan.
It is common during times of great uncertainty such as we are going through now that can cause periods of high anxiety. It is during these times that self-care and mental health awareness is so important. 

Please join us for this self-help workshop, one of a series that will be offered FREE to parents and families.

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZEqcOygqT0iHtVY6Ap3eqx8qHqHa...

BHcare Facebook LIVE event to focus on addiction treatment

National Recovery Month is observed every September to educate Americans on substance use treatment and mental health services and how they can enable those with mental and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can and do recover.  If you're ready to walk away from addiction and reclaim your life, BHcare is here to help. Our Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications along with comprehensive counseling and behavioral therapies to help provide a "whole-person" approach to address issues related to opioid dependence, including withdrawal, cravings and relapse prevention. Join us at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 on APW's Facebook page to learn more about our MAT program. Join us for our first Facebook LIVE event: MAT 101 with David Borzellino, LMFT, ADCC MAT Program Director at BHcare will share Information on MAT services and treatment during COVID-19. This is shared from a Facebook event page.

Narcan event slated at Cornell Scott Hill Health Center in Ansonia

Echo Hose Ambulance to offer free Narcan training in Shelton

Ansonia Library to host training on use of Narcan

Derby Youth Service Bureau to sponsor Narcan Training at AHS

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Oxford to host Narcan training Tuesday

Churches to hold Service of Remembrance Tuesday in Shelton

SHELTON - Valley Episcopal Churches will hold a non-denominational Service of Remembrance at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 182 Coram Ave.

“We would like to welcome all members of the community, families who have a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder and families who have lost a loved one to a substance use disorder,” said Rev. Deacon Thomas Mariconda.  
“It is important for us to acknowledge and support families to help reduce the stigma and shame associated with substance use disorders and overdose deaths. Last year 1,036 people died in Connecticut from an accidental drug overdose.”

An important part of the Service of Remembrance will be offering up the first names of those who continue their work of recovery, the first names of family members who are affected by addiction, and the first names of those who have died from addiction. Anyone can submit a person’s name by mail to Church of the Good Shepherd, in care of Service of Remembrance, 182 Coram Ave.

After the service an educational presentation led by representatives from BHcare’s Alliance for Prevention & Wellness will be in the church hall to answer questions, provide Narcan training, and encourage parents to walk through experience a “hands on” search for clues of high-risk behaviors in a typical home environment known as “Hidden In Plain Sight.”

After exploring the exhibit, adults can engage in a dialogue to understand the hidden clues, risky behaviors, and how to have tough conversations with youth.

The mission and purpose of the Episcopal Churches in the Naugatuck Valley, the South Central Region, and throughout the state of Connecticut is to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, to teach, baptize and nurture new believers, to respond to all human need by loving service, to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind, and to pursue peace and reconciliation, and strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.


This is a press release from BHcare.

BHcare program at Shelton church to remember those lost to addiction

Naugatuck Valley Health District in Seymour to hold Narcan training

Free Narcan training slated at Derby High School

Health District to host Narcan training at Griffin Hospital in Derby

DERBY - The Naugatuck Valley Overdose Prevention & Education (N.O.P.E.) Campaign will hosting a Narcan & Opioids Community Training Session from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Griffin Hospital Meditation Learning Center.
This training is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Training topics include:

- Overdose Prevention Strategies

- Signs and Symptoms of Overdose

- How to administer Naloxone

- Good Samaritan Law

- Support Information and Resources

Individuals with insurance should bring their insurance (or prescription) card for the mobile pharmacist. Free Narcan kits are available to those who are uninsured.

For information contact Jessica Stelmaszek, 203-881-3255 or at jstelmaszek@nvhd.org.

The hospital is at 130 Division St.