There were 35 attendees at the May OAT Monthly Meeting.

 

Deborah Walker, a Recovery Workplace Coordinator from Supporting and Engaging Resource for Action + Change (SERAC), gave us an overview of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative that they are offering and assisting with through the SERAC office. An employer can become a Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace and receive technical assistance as well as training for their Human Resources department and staff. The training includes a review of current policies to determine what the employer may want to change to create a recovery-friendly workplace. For more information on this, please contact SERAC at (860) 848-2800 and ask for Deborah Walker.

 

Ashley Coughlin, Addiction Psychiatrist Director of Intensive Outpatient Services at L&M, and Meg Gushurst, Supervisor IOP at L&M, introduced the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program and the services being offered through this program including an Intensive Outpatient Program and a Dual Diagnosis IOP. Referrals are accepted from psychiatrists, therapists, primary care providers, and inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. Call (860) 444-5141 to make a referral.

 

Jen Muggeo went over the overdose data from ODMAPS for the month of May as well as the months prior dating back to January. There were spikes throughout the New London and Norwich areas since the beginning of March. These spikes continued into April. Naloxone has been distributed throughout these communities to help and assist all community members whether they be people living with opioid use disorder, people who may just use occasionally, or people who may use recreationally. Fentanyl test strips have also been distributed to the community as any substance at this time may contain fentanyl without individuals being aware of its contents. 

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Donnie Rose, Peers Navigator for NLC CARES in way of Alliance for Living (AFL), gave an update on the expansion of outreach mobile unit from AFL. They are currently going to Groton and are located at the Groton Human Services building on Wednesday from 11:00 am – 2:00pm. You may also see them in driving in New London. Please don’t hesitate to wave them down if needed.

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Kerri Bilda from UCFS let us know that they have started Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT)/ Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) at all 5 of the UCFS offices.

 

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