ESSUP updates
Greetings Eastern Sierra Substance Use Project members,
Last week we had a great turn out and a great conversation discussing alcohol interventions with Dr. Caryn Slack and Robin Roberts. Thank you to all that were able to join and have these challenging conversations. See the recording here or on our website .
Themes of our discussion:
Compassion is key. Understanding how challenging it is for people to make changes and especially when their brain is telling them they need it to survive.
People need our support, to know that we care and that we are here. A simple text saying “I am here”, “I am thinking of you”, or “you are loved”. They do NOT need us to ask how much they are drinking but instead how their day was, what shows they are watching on Netflix, and did they do Wordle today. Remember People First, not the substance.
As friends, family members, or partners of someone that has an alcohol use disorder, it can be very draining, make us feel at loss for how to intervene, or traumatizing. But as the support person in their lives, if that is the role we want to have, we need to be strong. We can’t be strong if we are drained, hurt, and not taking care of ourselves. We discussed reaching out to support services such as Al-anon, self-care practices, boundaries, mental health services.
Narcan distribution updates:
Shout out to Behavioral Health for organizing another great event, Overdose Awareness Event on August 31st. Behavioral Health distributed 74 Narcan harm reduction kits! We also had individuals from Wild Iris, Public Health, Mammoth Mountain, and of course Latin Market to feed us. Appreciate all that came to support the event. Something that we would like to incorporate for next year is having space to remember those we have lost since it was Overdose Awareness Day. Such as a walk or wall to share pictures and memories.
If you would like to have the space to remember those we have lost to overdoses. There will be a national virtual event tomorrow September 14th from 3-6pm (for the public and providers). Register here. It will be a three-hour event to remember people who have died of an overdose and honoring of those who have survived. There will be welcoming remarks, remembrance photo slide show, conversations with people with lived experience about their personal experiences with overdose, drug use, and space for you to share your reflections with our community. There will also be a virtual safe space for anyone needing support.
Lastly,
I wanted to share some additional information on some resources and upcoming trainings from other agencies…..
- Three-part webinar series about the Fundamentals of Perinatal Harm Reduction beginning September 22 at 6 PM EST. You can register for the webinar series here.
- Save the date: December 6-7, 2022, National Overdose Prevention Leadership Summit. This year’s virtual event features keynote speaker Sam Quinones—a journalist and author known for chronicling the opioid crisis in America through his books Dreamland and The Least of Us—in addition to more than 45 speakers from across the country who are saving lives by changing systems, hearts, and minds.
- Watch the episode from drugfree.org, “Families are the solution, not the problem” in series called Talk about It. The host GloZell chats with experts and advocates with lived experience about how families can be empowered and supported as they strive to help their children and loved ones overcome substance use disorder and addiction. For more information on the family's role in recovery visit Partnership to End Addiction website for more resources.
Have a great week everyone, take care of yourself
Jacinda Croissant PHN, BSN, RN
Pronouns:She/Her
Mono County Health Department
Program Manager: MCAH, SIDS, PSC, CD, ESSUP
phone: 760-924-1842
fax: 760-924-1831
PO Box 3329, 1290 Tavern Rd. Suit 246
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
