{"id":15942,"date":"2022-07-19T18:00:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T22:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/weeklyrounds\/?p=15942"},"modified":"2022-07-19T18:00:41","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T22:00:41","slug":"cooper-center-for-healing-and-addiction-medicine-fellowship-team-members-participate-in-salem-county-opioid-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/weeklyrounds\/2022\/07\/cooper-center-for-healing-and-addiction-medicine-fellowship-team-members-participate-in-salem-county-opioid-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooper Center for Healing and Addiction Medicine Fellowship Team Members Participate in Salem County Opioid Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cooper Center for Healing and Addiction Medicine Fellowship team members participate in Salem County Opioid Summit 2022 in Carneys Point, New Jersey. Pictured are Kaitlan Baston, MD, DFASAM, Division Head of Addiction Medicine and Medical Director of Government Relations at Cooper; Rachel Haroz, MD, FAACT, Division Head of Toxicology and Addiction Medicine at Cooper; Patricia Fortunato, Content Manager, Division of Addiction Medicine; and Larrisha Love\u2013Jones, MD, Cooper Addiction Medicine Fellow, Class of 2021\u20132022.<\/p><\/div>\n

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On June 16, 2022, Cooper Center for Healing<\/a> and Addiction Medicine Fellowship<\/a> 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)<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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)<\/a>; 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.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0experiencing undocumentation.<\/p>\n

The center is recognized by the State of New Jersey as a MAT Center of Excellence (COE)<\/a>. 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Information About Substance Dependence\u00a0and Substance Use Disorder<\/strong><\/p>\n

SUD (substance use disorder):<\/strong>\u00a0People 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).<\/p>\n

IDU (injection drug use):<\/strong>\u00a0The overdose crisis\u2014both on a statewide and national level\u2014has 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.<\/p>\n

MAT (medication for addiction treatment):<\/strong>\u00a0FDA-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.<\/p>\n

Harm Reduction:<\/strong>\u00a0For 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.<\/p>\n

Sterile Needle and Syringe Access:<\/strong>\u00a0Sharing 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.<\/p>\n

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)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Naloxone and Overdose Prevention:<\/strong>\u00a0All 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\u00ae 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:\u00a0nextdistro.org\/newjersey<\/a><\/p>\n

Support Is Available Through Cooper:<\/strong><\/p>\n

HIV Testing and Treatment, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Location<\/strong><\/p>\n

cooperhealth.org\/services\/early-intervention-program<\/a><\/p>\n