Cooper Center for Healing and Addiction Medicine Fellowship Team Members Participate in Salem County Opioid Summit

 

On June 16, 2022, Cooper Center for Healing and Addiction Medicine Fellowship team members participated in the Salem County Opioid Summit at Salem Community College in Carneys Point, New Jersey. Hosted by the county’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), the event brought together the county’s Overdose Fatality Review Team (OFRT) and affiliated agencies, and providers, peers, and advocates throughout the state. Event discussions surrounded trends, innovation, and strategies to address stigma and prevent overdose. The county’s Mental Health Administrator, Shannon Reese, presented on stigma associated with mental health and substance use, and a county resident shared a story of recovery and resilience.

The Center for Healing is grateful for the county’s work to prepare and facilitate the important event, with special thanks to Shannon Reese; June Sieber, Director of the Salem County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Victoria Maurizio, Director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services; Jenna Hogate, County Coordinator of the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse; and Rebecca Gower Ferguson, Coordinator of the OFRT.

The Center for Healing is an integrated center that provides innovative, compassionate care for patients with substance use disorder (SUD), pain, trauma, and psychiatric disorders, at clinical practice locations in Camden and Blackwood, and at Cooper Primary Care at Pennsville. Clinical services offered include medication for addiction treatment (MAT), Empowering Mothers to Parent and Overcome with Resilience (EMPOWR) for pregnant and parenting women struggling with substance use or SUD, and full coverage services for SUD and mental health for uninsured people including those experiencing undocumentation.

The center is recognized by the State of New Jersey as a MAT Center of Excellence (COE). Through its COE, the center hosts the Salem County Addiction Breakfast Club, consortia open to all MAT providers and providers interested in practice implementation of MAT, in addition to all community stakeholders supportive of MAT and harm reduction strategies. Through its recurring meetings, the group facilitates peer collaboration and patient referrals, and strategizes ways to improve integrated care. To join the county’s Addiction Breakfast Club, in addition to those that are hosted in other Southern New Jersey regions including Camden County, please email Patricia Fortunato at fortunato-patricia@cooperhealth.edu.

Information About Substance Dependence and Substance Use Disorder

SUD (substance use disorder): People can be diagnosed with a specific type of SUD based on the primary substance that they are experiencing issues with, such as OUD (opioid use disorder) or stimulant use disorder. Many patients with SUD experience issues with multiple substances (polysubstance use disorder).

IDU (injection drug use): The overdose crisis—both on a statewide and national level—has also brought to light an increased and ongoing incidence of bloodborne infections, from HIV to viral hepatitis to bacterial infections. These infections are primarily borne from contaminated drug injection equipment and low vaccination rates among at-risk populations.

MAT (medication for addiction treatment): FDA-approved medications can be used to safely and effectively treat OUD and AUD (alcohol use disorder). MAT is clinically effective to help manage cravings and withdrawal, leading to long-term recovery.

Harm Reduction: For people who stop their treatment plan at any time, or who are not ready to stop using drugs, there are harm reduction strategies and resources to help keep them safe until they are ready to continue their treatment plan or begin a plan.

Sterile Needle and Syringe Access: Sharing needles and using used needles increases risk of diseases like HIV and hepatitis. It is very important for people who inject drugs to always use a new, sterile needle and syringe if they are going to inject drugs. Even reusing personal needles can cause damage to skin tissue and veins.

In New Jersey, pharmacies can sell up to two hypodermic needles and syringes, without a prescription, to customers 18 years or older who provide valid photo identification. (P.L.2011, c.183)

Individuals can exchange used supplies and obtain sterile supplies at local syringe services programs. The Camden AHEC (Camden Area Health Education Center) provides a mobile van at 2600 Mount Ephraim Avenue where individuals can obtain condoms, sterile needles, syringes, FTS (fentanyl test strips), and other lifesaving equipment and resources. Hours of operation are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Naloxone and Overdose Prevention: All people who use drugs, patients who are prescribed opioids, and their loved ones should keep naloxone on them in case someone overdoses. The most common form is NARCAN® nasal spray. Naloxone is available with a prescription from providers and over the counter in pharmacies in New Jersey. The New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition will mail intramuscular naloxone to those who cannot otherwise access it: nextdistro.org/newjersey

Support Is Available Through Cooper:

HIV Testing and Treatment, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Location

cooperhealth.org/services/early-intervention-program

• Infectious Disease and Early Intervention Program

3 Cooper Plaza, Suite 513
Camden, NJ 08103
Scheduled Appointment Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Addiction Medicine Consult Hours: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HIV Testing Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
856.963.3715

Substance Dependence and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Treatment Locations

cooperhealth.org/recovery

• Camden Walk-In Clinic

3 Cooper Plaza, Suite 220
Camden, NJ 08103
Walk-In Hours: Monday to Friday, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Walk-in patients are seen in order of arrival.

• Bridgeview Building

800 Cooper Street, 4th Floor
Camden, NJ 08102
Scheduled Appointment Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
856.342.3040

• Cooper Primary and Specialty Care at Camden County College

200 College Drive, Polk Hall
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Scheduled Appointment Hours: Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
856.536.1630

• Cooper Pennsville Primary Care

390 North Broadway, Suite 100
Pennsville, NJ 08070
Scheduled Appointment Hours: Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
856.678.6411

Clinical Services Offered at Camden, Blackwood, and Pennsville Locations

• MAT: Medication for Addiction Treatment
• EMPOWR: Empowering Mothers to Parent and Overcome with Resilience for pregnant and parenting women
• MAT FOR ALL: Full coverage services for substance use disorder and mental health for uninsured people, including people experiencing undocumentation

Substance Dependence and Substance Use Disorder Inpatient Treatment Location

cooperhealth.org/services/recovery-village-cherry-hill-cooper

• Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper

761 Cuthbert Boulevard
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
856.890.9449

Clinical Services Offered at Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper

• Full Continuum of Addiction Care

The Center for Healing, in partnership with Cooper Population Health, is offering substance use disorder patients access to COVID-19 vaccinations and free transportation to and from scheduled vaccine appointments at the Camden County Health Hub, Cooper University Hospital Vaccination Center in Camden, and Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. For more information about vaccines for COVID-19 or to make yourself or a loved one an appointment to get vaccinated, please visit bit.ly/VAX4ALL or call 1.800.8.COOPER (1.800.826.6737). When making an appointment, please ask about the free transportation option.