Minutes- June 2016

I.  WELCOME – DA 
  •  Plymouth Chamber of Commerce forum on the legalization of Marijuana
    • Series of debates
    • Legalization group, Senator deMacedo, DA, local Plymouth Taskforce were all present
      • It’s good to have opposing side at these debates
  • Hostile experience
  • Senator presented on his experience in Colorado
  • Felt that they scored some points, but it was a small audience
  • Topics that were discussed throughout the debate included:
    • Edibles – rise in ER visits
    • If you can’t quantify what’s in a person’s system if driving under the influence of marijuana, we’re going to lose many OUIs – huge issue
    • Worcester death was mentioned – driver on medicinal marijuana
  • This taskforce is very important in getting in front of these groups who are for legalizing marijuana
  • Sheriff was not able to attend, but he heard feedback that many people were questioning what their position was after this debate
  • Mary – How are we using our youth statistics to make our argument against marijuana?
  • The Drug Free Communities survey was conducted and data showed that tobacco had the highest perception of harm whereas marijuana was the lowest concern for harm
  • We need to get in front of this before it is legalized – gather our #’s to present to community
  • Mary – How do we make it a forefront issue in our community? It is quiet in Brockton
  • Maybe this group can say that we are against legalization of marijuana? Put out a public statement?
    • We could utilize MA Prevention Alliance’s tools so that we are not recreating the wheel – they could potentially come to our next meeting
    • We could get in touch with cable access within our towns, PSAs over radio stations
  • Bring debates to our community – Quincy College would be willing to host one
  • Has there been an increase in violence related to marijuana use?
    • DA – yes, Denver DA had 16 fatal armed invasions in the beginning stages of legalization – all cash business; can grow in their homes; opens up doors for all of these horrific events
  • There is a dichotomy out there about alcohol and marijuana and we haven’t done anything about it yet
  • In the past 2-3 years there has been an increase in hash oil and butane explosions here and it’s not even legal yet
  • It is important to look at both sides to defend ourselves
II.  Sheriff McDonald
  •  Vivatrol
    • Beginning in Barnstable
    • Partial antagonizer, not reversal
  • Reduces opioid cravings
  • Getting a lot of attention on it
  • They have to be clean and sober
  • Receive shot after they’ve left and have entered the community – hoping for a best practice
  • They’ve been doing it for 30 days so far
  • 12 have showed up, 5 have followed up so they are beginning to compile the data – after the 3rd injection many are dropping out of program
  • Peer counseling seems to increase success with Vivatrol
  • Push for Saboxone – biggest drug getting smuggled into prisons
  • Hillary recommended trying for earlier authorization of Vivatrol – 24 or 28 days is more beneficial than 30 days
  • Section 35 expansion
    • Signed MOU with Dept. of Corrections to do a second section
    • 50 → 90
  • MASAC overflow, anyone in Commonwealth
  • Med Return Boxes
    • BSU, Massasoit, Stonehill, Brockton PD and mobile
III.  Legislative Updates 
  •  Narcan Use
    • Bill – allow for person who is administering narcan to be able to restrain
    • Held harmless to lawsuits, etc.
  • Committee put it off until June 30th – we don’t know where this is going to go
  • Required transport fell out of committee
  • March 10th Bill
    • Medical students, providers getting more education
    • Prevention – SBIRT
  • Parent could opt them out, but student stays in program if nothing is said
  • Section 35 has had some negative responses
    • Worked with Judge in Barnstable Drug Court to create cheat sheet to education and have people be more prepared before going to the court
    • Database available online of available beds for section 35s – reporting at least once a day
  • Senators Update
    • 5,000 medical prescribers, doctors signed up and completed opioid training

IV.  Subcommittee Reports

A.  Public Safety Subcommittee

  •  Outreach program – full 6 months of statistics + Carver and Middleboro, adding Middleboro as of July 1st
    • Follow up visit of overdose, no turn away, will always listen if you bring resources to them
  • 11 deaths, 125 overdoses – higher from last year
  • Looking to add Hanson and Hanover – don’t want to recreate it in each town
  • When expanding, we need to bring new stakeholders to the table
  • Hopefully getting this into the budget after seeing the success of the program
  • Goal: real time data – read statistics from any database
  • Make decisions for best-practices down the road
  • New initiative: Chief Scott Allen, EB Outreach Drop In Center
    • Create in Plymouth on off weeks of EB starting July 1

B. Medical Subcommittee

  •  Dr. Muse is working with the committee to create a presentation for September for the taskforce
    • Evolution of U.S. medical community
    • Philosophy of addiction, how it works
    • Prescribing practices, recommendations
    • South Coast – pregnant newborns, drug endangered children
    • Facility access
    • Emergency dept. outreach
    • Public awareness
C.  Community Coalitions
  •  Nearly 4,000 surveys – 8, 9, 11, 12th graders
    • Currently working with each school superintendent
      • How can we release this to the community
    • Nothing too socking
    • Low # of regular use for prescription meds compared to 60% of peers perceiving regular use
    • Planning will take place over the summer
    • Outreach with pediatric associations
      • Newborns, parents, grandparents, 15 yr. olds using heroin
      • Pediatricians feeling unprepared
      • 3rd large scale training in addition to Scope of Pain
  • Champion Plan
    • 100 participants have been through the program as of June 23rd
  • How to Help a Friend Resource
    • 20,000 flyers/posters
    • Youth can hide use for up to 2 years – friends can typically see this first though
  • Bridgewater – grant for clinician, waiting to hear back on that
  • Vigils will be taking place around international overdose awareness day
    • Rockland – Sept. 1st
    • Brockton – Aug 25
    • Plymouth – Aug 31st
    • EB – end of Sept.
  • Press Release for PSA’s just went out
    • Brockton won with Rockland in second
    • PSA’s will show 52 times/day for a year at the Bridgewater movie theater
  • 8 photo voice projects have been completed
    • A documentary is being created
    • The project effected them very deeply and they learned a great deal of information as a result of it
    • Photo voice has been used for billboards to provide a youth based perspective

D.  Faith-based Coalitions

  •  Trying to build awareness for those who regularly attend church, have a moral basis
    • 5 churches hosted a meeting in May
  • Creating 1 page info sheet for pastors so that they are prepared for mobilization for ballot – using faith based solutions
  • Teen Challenge – Good Decisions program
    • Brought into Academy for a pilot

E.  Education

 BSU hosting a meeting with public colleges – Fred to talk to presidents to see what they’re doing

  • Aug – R.A.s are receiving narcan training
  • May 17th event stirred a lot at the college
  • High Point/DA had a conversation with the Dean at BSU
    • Training for her faculty at beginning of the college year
  • Social work class – Open Eyes Save Lives
    • Trained over 140 people
    • Going to continue to do that – student led initiatives have been impactful
  • Goal: set meeting with colleges and universities this summer
  • Presence at homecoming
  • Stall street news
  • Using unconventional ways
  • Currently setting up trainings at BSU as a result of May 17th event
  • BSU discussing housing on campus – dedication to specific population of students
  • Brockton Rox Whiffle Ball Tournament – dedication to opioid effected families
    • July 23rd
  • Dedication Friday July 22nd

F.  Data Collection & Grants Report

  •  May 17th feedback
    • Handle with care was a great takeaway to begin implementing within the schools
      • DA’s office created a training on this years ago for DV and just needs to be updated for drug endangered children
    • Hazelden training was offered in May as well at Stonehill
  • There will be upcoming workshops hosted at BSU
  • Heroin ed funding from the state – updating curriculum and sending it out to the communities
  • DA’s Office has a part time data analyst
    • Currently have Signature data – hoping to get the other hospitals
    • Access to PMP
    • Overdose stats – limited, but beginning to look at it
    • 2015 – majority of fatal overdoses 30-39 yrs old; majority of overdoses 20-29 yrs old
      • *post-high school
    • Julie Ferringer, FBI Analyst- can provide a report including information on pills testing positive for fentynal
      • Sellers aren’t making users aware of this
      • Can email her for the report
      • There is a list of gaps included in the back of the report – please share any information regarding this if possible
V.  Adjournment