Catch up with ODP's November's Newsletter!

ODP UPDATES

Dick Eardley Senior Center’s Health and Wellness Fair

On October 11, the ODP staff participated in the Dick Eardley Senior Center’s Health and Wellness Fair. Staff members shared information about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events happening across the Treasure Valley, and they demonstrated how to properly dispose of expired or unneeded medications using the Deterra Drug Activation System. It was great to be engaged in the community again, and we look forward to participating again next year.

For more information about the Dick Eardley Senior Center, click here.

Welcome to the TEAM, Rachel Oliver!

I am very excited to be joining the Idaho Office of Drug Policy as a Policy and Research Analyst. I recently relocated to the Boise area with my partner Chase and our dog Jelly Rue. We are eager to discover all of the parks, coffee shops, and hole-in-the-wall treasures of the City of Trees.

I have worked in the Prevention field since 2017 and have always felt passionate about the relationship between mental health and substance use. Previously, I worked for the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, where I participated in the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Fellowship Program and apprenticed as a Prevention System Manager. Before working for the State of Washington, I taught substance use and suicide prevention programs at my alma mater, Washington State University.

I grew up living between Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington, so the opportunity to serve the individuals and families of each state is significant. I value the experiences I've had for teaching me the importance of community, equity, and partnership in creating effective prevention strategies. I look forward to the adventures and growth this next chapter may bring.

10 Habits to Help Your Child Study

It has been a tough year and a half. That is why it is essential to think about things that help us when we face challenges. If you can help your child with life skills, you have given them something that will serve them every day of their life—what a gift.

Researchers say that when children are not progressing in school, they are more vulnerable to misusing drugs and alcohol. This blog post is about a few simple tips to help them study better.

Read more here.

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT

SALMON SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION

SSAPCO places youth at the forefront of planning and implementing prevention and alternative activities which reach their peers. Its dynamic youth coalition, Salmon Drug Free Youth, plans prevention activities and fun activities which are free to all area teens. They have hosted Bowling night, Tie-dye and movie event, the Amazing Challenge, the SHS Film Festival, outdoor movie, and 4th of July parade, dance, and movie.

This summer the DFY leaders learned the skills of strategic planning, where they identified local problems and came up with strategies to address them. They learned team-building skills as they build cardboard boats for boat racing at Williams Lake which involved a lot of soaked youth.

Contact Information:

Sharon Infanger , Director (208) 940-0119 email: sharoninfanger@gmail.com

Salmon Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition - Salmon, Idaho

PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM

On August 3 & 4^th at the Clearwater River Casino Event Center, the Students for Success Program held an event called “Gathering of Native Americans” or GONA for short, the first-ever held on the Nez Perce reservation. A GONA is a culture-based planning process where community members gather to address community-identified issues. Read more here.

Contact Information:

Abraham F. Broncheau, Nez Perce Tribe Students for Success Director,

abeb@nezperce.org; (208) 621-4613; Lapwai, Idaho

DRUGFREE IDAHO

In October, DrugFree Idaho (DFI) and Sources of Strength Lowell Scott (SOSLS) unveiled their newest project at Lowell Scott Middle School to a group of West Ada School District employees, DFI Coalition members, and students. This project, which has been named the ‘Prevention Hotspot,’ is a large lightbox framed with vinyl side pieces. The installation also includes a television screen with rotating content focused on substance abuse trivia and facts, positive messaging, and jokes for students to learn from and enjoy. This prevention hotspot is not the only work DFI and SOSLS have completed at Lowell Scott. Vinyl wraps on stairs, windows, and bathroom doors can be found around the school all of these projects contribute to a common goal to provide students with a positive and encouraging learning environment.

Contact Information:

Rob Stevenson, Director; rstevenson@drugfreeidaho.org; (208) 543-7575 ext 80

DrugFree Idaho - Boise, Idaho

LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and brings awareness to the ways we can all strive to improve our lung health. According to the Lung Cancer Awareness Month Coalition:

· Over 2.2 million people worldwide will get lung cancer annually

· Lung cancer kills more people each year than any other cancer

· Lung cancer screening saves lives

· More research = more treatments = better outcomes

Visit Project Filter and CDC for more information and resources.

PARTNER RESOURCES

ECHO Idaho: Learn, Share, Engage, Connect

Think of ECHO Idaho as a curb-side chat for healthcare teams. Every week we offer multiple drop-in sessions over your lunch hour to connect virtually with providers, specialists, and colleagues. Earn free CME/CE at these series: Opioids, Pain and Substance Use Disorders or Counseling Techniques for Substance Use D isorders, and Viral Hepatitis and Liver Care.

ECHO Idaho’s ‘Hepatitis C’ Series Expands to Include Viral Hepatitis and Liver Care Focus:

Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis were the ninth leading cause of death in Idaho in 2019, according to the CDC. Primary Care providers and clinicians treating patients with viral hepatitis and other liver disorders like cirrhosis, fatty liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma are invited to register for ECHO Idaho’s Viral Hepatitis and Liver Care series to learn best practices for treating and diagnosing hepatitis A, B, and C as well as other common liver disorders. Series re-starts Monday, January 10, 2022, and meets second and fourth Mondays of every month, 11 a.m. to noon Pacific time, Noon to 1 p.m. Mountain time. Continuing education credit is available for participants and attendees.

Earn your X-Waiver with ECHO Idaho: ECHO Idaho, in conjunction with Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS), is hosting a free X-Waiver training on Monday, February 7, 2022, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time, 12:30-5 p.m. Mountain time. Physicians, PAs, APRNs, NPs, and med students who want to get their x-waiver to prescribe buprenorphine are encouraged to RSVP for this special event.

Something for the Pain Podcast: Now you can earn CE/CME on-the-go with ECHO’s new podcast. Something for the Pain brings you the latest trends and best practices in opioid and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery in Idaho. Available wherever you get your podcasts and on the web: www.uidaho.edu/echo-podcast