Our focus is on substance misuse prevention and enhancing the continuum of care for substance misuse. Our improvement plan includes goals to reduce binge drinking, marijuana use in youth, non-medical use of pain relievers, drug-related overdose deaths, vaping and tobacco use, and smoking during pregnancy.
The Substance Misuse Continuum of Care refers to the different stages of intervention and care for substance use disorder. These stages include prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
The best thing to do to help people with Substance Use Disorders is to help them before they start. Our team focuses on providing evidence-based education, support, curriculum, and resources throughout the community, with a special focus on the youth population. By doing this, we have the ability to share the potential dangers or side effects that can occur from misusing substances, teach youth ways to say no to peer pressure, help parents, guardians, or other adults start conversations with youth around using drugs and alcohol, provide information for quit support, and more.
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. Harm reduction is also an important prevention tool for keeping people healthy and alive.
Treatment for substance use disorders is designed to help people stop alcohol or drug use and remain abstinent and drug free. Treatment for SUD can involve any combination of detoxification, inpatient or outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs, group or individual counseling/therapy, and medications (MAT).
Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is a lifelong process and everyone’s path looks a little different. There are many different kinds of recovery support for people with SUD including sober living/recovery housing, and peer support groups like AA/NA.
Hover over or click each box for a list of our accomplishments in each category in 2023-24.
The Young Adult Strategies (YAS) initiative is a statewide program of the Strafford County Public Health Network, supported by a leadership team comprised of the Upper Valley, North Country, Greater Sullivan County, and Greater Manchester public health networks, and funded with a grant from the NH DHHS/Bureau for Drug and Alcohol Services.
The program aims to target transitional-aged youth and young adults age 16 and older at risk of or currently experiencing substance misuse or mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. Through trainings, workgroups, and evidence-based programs, including the Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST), we aim to promote positive mental health and personal development and help participants achieve competency in the skills found to reduce and prevent substance misuse, and address suicidality.
These efforts are peer led by a statewide Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC). YAAC members help coordinate all aspects of programs, from executing the outreach plan, tracking contacts, developing digital and print resources, training workplaces and partners, participating in cultivation events, etc.
For more information about the YAS initiative or to join the YAAC email Barry Sandberg (bsandberg@goodwinCH.org).
The Greater Sullivan County Advisory Group (GSC Advisory Group) is the substance misuse work group of the Public Health Advisory Council. It is a group of community members and professionals working together to reduce harms from alcohol and other drugs through education, policies, practices and programs related to prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery.
This group meets as needed, and provides feedback on RPHN work plan goals and initiatives, brainstorms solutions to support the substance misuse challenges within the region, and collaborates on substance misuse related campaigns.
Interested in joining? Reach out to Deryn at Deryn.P.Smith@hitchcock.org.
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