3/19/2015 HUMAN SERVICES Minutes

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Counsel Patrick Costello regarding the need for a confidentiality agreement for any assistants/volunteers working for the Human Services Department. NEW BUSINESS • Discussion/Analysis of Substance Abuse on Cape Cod. A Re art to the Community from Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council. Gail Wilson talked about a report put out by the Barnstable County Regional Substance Abuse Council, of which there are 35 members from all over the Cape, Ms. Wilson included. A study was conducted by Vaira Harik, employed by the Barnstable County Human Services as the Senior Project Manager, resulting in a 92 -page report which breaks down the cost of substance abuse into four categories: harms reduction, prevention, law enforcement and treatment recovery. The study reflects that spending is heavily skewed toward law enforcement, treatment and recovery. Vaira Harik stated in her report that there is an extreme underinvestment in harms reduction and prevention. The study shows that 15% of all Cape Cod residents are dependent on substances in some form. Alcohol abuse was identified as the substance impacting the greatest number of people at 7.9% of the Cape population followed by heroin and opiods at 3.1 % and marijuana at 1.3%. Another 3.1% of Cape residents were found to be dependent on cocaine, sedatives, anti- depressants and other unknown substances. Alcohol addiction is endemic and outnumbers all other substances. Many of these statistics are underestimated because all addiction problems are not reported. This report will continue to be updated as statistics come in. From this baseline assessment, several smaller working focus groups will be formed. Results from the focus groups will help shape a regional pian toward tackling the county's substance abuse problem, a draft of which will be ready by the end of June. Gail Wilson stated that next steps include the following; increased awareness that addiction is a chronic medical condition; education of consumers on the appropriate use and disposal of prescription drugs; engagement of health care professionals to reduce the negative effects of prescription drug abuse; education of the public and policy makers of the importance of harm reduction practices; prevention efforts must include alcohol use, nonmedical use of prescription drugs and illicit drugs; identification of prevention intervention efforts for Barnstable County; and evaluation of current intervention efforts and establishment of a unified substance abuse prevention effort. • Sub -Committee Reports Grants Sub -Committee, Ruth Elias reported that she and Janice Walford plan to pursue the possibility of applying for a grant. Marketing Sub -Committee. Veronica Warden reported that the printer has quoted a price of $116 for 1000 rack cards, with either glossy or matte finish. The committee agreed to go with the glossy finish and approved of the price of $116 for 1000. Discussion followed as to where to display the brochures. The marketing committee will come up with a list of recommended places to display the rack card. It was suggested that placement in public restrooms would be advisable, thus ensuring privacy to those who avail themselves of the brochure. Gail Wilson stated that she did not want to have her name displayed in public restrooms, and asked for a motion not to display the brochure in public restrooms but limit distribution of the brochure to where other brochures are displayed. John Cahalane made a motion that distribution of the Human Services brochure be limited only to rack card displays where other brochures are included, excluding public restrooms. Lynne Waterman seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Cahalane, yes; Waterman, yes; Mohler-Faria, yes; Elias, yes; Scanlan, yes; Glener, no; Warden, abstained. The motion was approved by a vote of (5-1-1). 0)