Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP

Healing Heart Collaborative and Lansing Community Library has joined forces in removing barriers for rural communities to have easier access to Naloxone (Narcan) you will find a mailbox at the bottom of the library entrance with free Naloxone and instruction. We thank Susie for being the great person she is and caring about her community!

Have you seen the Cortland Standard article??.. They nailed it!!
Just say no’ has failed us before
Posted Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:00 am
We were surprised by Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms’ decision to step away from a partnership with the Rural Health Institute of New York, formerly Cortland Area Communities That Care. The biggest casualty seems to be the community’s semiannual Drug Take Back Day drive-through events, which have collected for disposal more than 30,000 pounds of medication from 6,846 vehicles since 2010. The event scheduled for this past Saturday was canceled as a result.

While we appreciate Helms’ experience and knowledge when it comes to matters of law enforcement, his decision about this public health issue shackles Cortland County to a “gut feeling” that has proven to be outdated and ineffective. If we are honestly concerned about tackling addiction problems in this community, the Rural Health Institute of New York promotes approaches that have been shown to reduce substance abuse when implemented elsewhere.

Helms particularly disagrees with the institute’s stance on safe use, which recommends using drugs — if you feel you must use drugs — with a friend or family member present. This messaging, part of an approach often characterized as “harm reduction,” is intended to save lives by reducing the incidence of unattended overdose deaths. Alongside the increased availability of naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses, this gives people who are addicted to drugs the chance to live to complete rehabilitative therapy. People who die of an overdose will never turn their lives around. They’re just dead.

Helms said he still appreciates the work of harm-reduction advocates, but he can no longer support their methods. Instead, he believes in a message of abstinence. He said he worries about young people taking safe-use messaging as encouraging, not discouraging, drug use.

That flies in the face of the work that the former Cortland Area Communities That Care coalition has done over the past two decades. Instead of the “Just say no” message of the 1980s-90s, local schools have shifted toward a curriculum that relies on facts and information, rather than propaganda and scare tactics, to educate kids about the effects and dangers of substance abuse. The result has been a shocking decline in the number of high school seniors who say they have done drugs before graduation. Previously, we watched as the war on drugs did little to actually decrease drug use, even as incarceration rates sky-rocketed. After all, the opioid epidemic grew on the heels of abstinence-based anti-drug messaging. It didn’t work then — why would we fool ourselves into thinking it would work now?

Additionally, the average opioid addict isn’t a young person — it’s someone who’s a little older. In fact, national data show that the treatment of opioid use disorder for adolescents has declined 63% since 2013, and that’s been accomplished using evidence-based anti-drug curricula. Pushing the abstinence-only narrative frames people who are addicted as lacking sufficient willpower or moral fiber, rather than acknowledging the varied and complicated factors that lead someone down that path. That’s not “coddling” or “enabling,” but rather seeking understanding. It’s difficult to solve any problem if you aren’t interested in the cause.

Whatever the sheriff’s opinion may be, the facts say he is wrong. The evidence, and our consciences, tell us that if someone is already drowning, don’t tell them to stay out of the water. Throw them a life preserver.

Well said!!! And is a County Health a department getting the message out... Cortland county Sheriff has a different Opinion.. not facts based an opinion...

🤔 Did you know Narcan is the only medicine that can stop an opioid overdose?

Just like AEDs, fire extinguishers, and other prevention tools, Narcan can be used to save lives. And while we hope to never have to use any of these tools, it's better to have these items on hand to reduce harm and death.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗻. 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. Get Narcan, free of charge, at Winnebago County Public Health (112 Otter Ave, Oshkosh), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30pm.

Learn more by visiting wchd.pub/narcan.

In response to the Cortland County Sheriff's statements:

“Plenty of kids growing up heard ‘Don’t do drugs,’” Helms said. “It’s not a failed message. It took some serious thought, I’m just not ready to say drugs are OK and just hand out Narcan. It doesn’t mean Narcan is a bad thing, I’m just not ready to walk away from trying to tell people not to do drugs. A lot of groups have gotten away from that.”

Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP is built around making Narcan more accessible to the public! This does not say we are condoning the use of drugs. We recognize that the "War on Some Drugs" and the "Just Say No campaign" have not stopped the loss of family members, community members, neighbors, doctors, nurses, Prosecutors and so many others, the list can go on. The Disease of Addiction reaches all types of people. We recognize that Narcan is the first line of defense in saving lives. Since 1984, at the peak of the AIDS epidemic, Harm Reduction has proven to do exactly that REDUCE HARM. Narcan is a major pillar in Harm Reduction. Saving Lives and Reducing the Heartache of Families. To say "drugs are OK and just hand out Narcan" literally disregards the importance and the value of Human Life. NARCAN SAVES LIVES and everyone should carry it, it should be in every first aid kit, and our Law Enforcement Agencies (Public Services) should be participating in every way available to help save lives!!

See the attachment for examples of other counties and how they are, taking positive action!

This link here will show you where Narcan / Naloxone is easily available to anyone who thinks they may need to save a life! (HHC locations)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=11zW5PEuf_JXrx4ARuXMIX8TRIAu2ZBw&usp=sharing

An example from Oneida County of the work they are doing to save lives:
https://ocgov.net/departments/health/programs-and-services/overdose-prevention-and-substance-use-program/projects-overview/

Huge Shout out to Groton Public Library For reaching out and entering a partnership with Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP. Groton, New York now has a N-POD (Narcan Point Of Distribution)

New booth for Trainings!
Keep an eye out , be sure to be trained

Thank you Central Region Addiction Resource Center for your assistance in getting this made..

**ATTENTION**ATTENTION**
***UPDATED MCGRAW N-POD***
seems the box placed in McGraw required a slight adjustment it has been moved off the pole that was already in place. It now has its own post about 2 foot over. Let us know if you drive by and how Visible it is..

Do you or someone you know, need to know how to access Naloxone fast, easy and stigma free?? Click this link:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=11zW5PEuf_JXrx4ARuXMIX8TRIAu2ZBw&usp=sharing
If you want to host a N-POD reach out and we can discuss it.

So grateful to community members and Businesses that understand how important easy access to Naloxone is. Shout out to The Hathaway House for hosting a N-POD. And a huge Thank you to Leah Andre for being the one to keeping it stocked such Amazing Humans caring for and valuing other's Lives!!!!

Getting more N-PODs ready!! Going up soon. Watch for where!!

Thank you to the wonderful folks in McGraw who understand the importance of Narcan and how it helps to save Lives.. Communities are loosing to many members. The N-POD (Narcan Point of Distribution)From Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP with Healing Cortland and the wonderful Baptist and Methodist Churches in McGraw. Not to mention the Volunteers to keep it stocked.. See photos for locations.
Or click the link
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2cJ1MnNa4WCoMKZS9

Tompkins County taking charge.. look at their Health Department!!!

Kruppa emphasized the critical need for community action saying, "We implore everyone in our community to pick up a Narcan kit and become trained in its use. Having a Narcan kit and being prepared to use it may save someone’s life."

https://www.ithaca.com/news/ithaca/tompkins-county-reports-increase-of-tainted-street-drugs/article_ac952d9a-e151-11ee-98f2-3b6f93adc2a8.html

Have you seen a Sharp on the Ground.. There are safe ways you can help your community? Do you have Medical Sharps you need to dispose of?? did you know you have many options?

Community Syringe Disposal in NYS This video discusses Safer Syringe Disposal in NYS and ESAP (Expanded Syringe Access Program). For more info on ESAP and NYS disposal programs follow this li...

Overdose Lifeline has made a practice to release virtual balloons each year on and we encourage everyone to do the same. If you wish to participate and share your loved one’s name and/or story this year on March 6, simply follow the steps outlined below.

1-Save the Virtual Balloon template below,
Share your loved one’s name and/or story or a message of hope and support for others

2-Release the Virtual Balloon on Social Media on March 6 with the hashtag and tag so we can share your stories.

You can also Submit a Remembrance on

https://www.overdoselifeline.org/remembrances/

Do you know the History of Naloxone in Cortland County?

History of Cortland County Naloxone Distribution

Another great partner

Another N-POD placed!! Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP and Healing Cortland has Partnered with Phillips Free Library to give the Homer Community easy, Quick and Free access to Naloxone (Narcan)

Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP is Happy to Announce Harford Fire Department NY- Has Partnered with us and Healing Cortland!!!!

There is a Harford Naloxone Box available for the Community.

A huge Thank You to the Men and Women of Harford fire department -NY

2018 ... 5 years ago... yet there are rural communities loosing family.. Does your local community take advantage of every life saving opportunities??? Also No Cost to the communities!!!!

Fire Commissioner Nigro Announces Fire Commissioner Nigro announces the launch of the “Leave Behind” Naloxone Program

If you go and hang an Angel on the 2023 Memorial Tree, in Honor of your Loved one.. feel free to send us, Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP a message share the First name of whom your Honoring and ringing the bell for. We would love to share and Honor them too

It's that time of year again!!! Prevention Network CNY Cortland Free Library and Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP are joining together to bring you.... The Memorial Tree 2023. THIS YEAR WE WANT YOU TO COME HANG AN ANGEL on the Tree in honor of a loved one! ONCE YOU DO, GET A BELL TO RING (as you know every time a bell rings an Angel gets its wings) AND TO TAKE HOME AND HANG ON YOUR TREE!

Virgil Residents? Now have quicker easier access to Naloxone!!! The four corners of 215 and 392 has a N-POD installed!! Healing Cortland and Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP partnered with Gordon's Appliance Repair! Allowing another of Cortland County Rural Communities to have the life saving tool access even easier

Healing Hearts Collaborative OOPP sending a huge Thank You to the Men and Women of Preble Fire Department.
Tomorrow there will be a N-POD
(Narcan Point Of Distribution)
out side the Fire Department. This will make Narcan easily accessible for their community members. rural communities are effected by this crisis and disease, yet they can't easily access Narcan as quickly as larger communities.. Preble Fire Department has partnered with Healing Hearts Collaborative and Healing Cortland to break that barrier!!!

Just one more great initiative by the state and some great partners!!!

www.health.ny.gov ALBANY, N.Y. (October 23, 2023) - The New York State Department of Health's Office of Drug User Health (NYSDOH-ODUH) has implemented four drug checking programs operated by state funded Drug User Health Hubs (DUHH). Drug checking is used as a consumer safety tool—either before or after consumption...

Have you Heard?? Exciting News!! CACTC has made a huge Change!!!! watch the video below to hear whats NEW!!!

CACTC Public Health Institute Announcement October 2nd, 2023 Over the last two decades, CACTC has grown beyond simply being a youth substance use prevention coalition to being a more community-driven public health agen...