Spring 2014 UPDATE HEROIN ADDICTION: FINDING A DIFFICULT PATH TO RECOVERY Also inside... NAMI Westchester Ribbon Campaign Port Chester Addiction Treatment The many recent tragic Some people can restrict their drug abuse Program stories of young adults’ to nights and weekends, while seeming to deaths from heroin function relatively normally in other parts of Area High School Students Honored for Volunteer Service overdoses in communities life. Others progress quickly from abuse to in Westchester are a dependence, constantly seeking more of New Staff at The Maxwell Institute painful illustration of the the drug in order to get the same effect and New Primary Care Clinic complexity of treating soon finding their lives spiraling out of control. addiction. Richard Donn, M.D. Continued inside... Thank You to our Donors! a mental health crisis. health mental a Serving individuals and families experiencing experiencing families and individuals Serving Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 6 – a.m. 9 Monday-Friday Response Mobile Telephone Coverage Telephone 24/7 914-925-5959 Serving Westchester County Westchester Serving Team Response and Prevention Crisis St. Vincent’s Westchester Vincent’s St. RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN Harrison, New York 10528 York New Harrison, 275 North Street North 275 St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester THE MARIE & GEORGE DOTY MEMORIAL SPRING 5K run/walk Spring Sprint 2014! Clouds and fog gave way to sunny skies for more than 500 walkers and runners at the 2014 Marie and George Doty Memorial 5k Spring Sprint on May 10. The event raised more than $45,000 for St. Vincent’s programs. Pictured are the “Runcovery” Team, which included more than 100 staff, clients, friends and family from the St. Vincent’s Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services (PROS) program. And pictured at top are (left to right): Spring Sprint co- chairs Katie Pagnani and Rose O’Sullivan, Auxilian Jana Doty, Advisory Board member Bill Doty and Barbara Doty. St. Vincent’s Westchester Update www.stvincentswestchester.org Spring 2014 Continued from outside... RESOURCES Regardless of whether the problem is abuse NAMI WESTCHESTER RIBBON or dependence, however, the process of National Institute on Drug Abuse overcoming addiction is long and difficult. www.drugabuse.gov CAMPAIGN FIGHTS STIGMA “Treating addiction is not a ‘one size fits all’ The site offers extensive information about process,” says Richard Donn, M.D., clinical all aspects of drug abuse and treatment. OF MENTAL ILLNESS chief of St. Vincent’s Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service. Drug Crisis in Our Backyard www.drugcrisisinourbackyard.com “A person’s support system, family history of addiction, and overall mental health are all A support group formed by two families who factors in designing treatment,” Dr. Donn lost children to drug overdoses, their site offers information and resources for families. said. “You weigh these factors, start with the least intensive approach you can and work St. Vincent’s Evaluation and your way up, depending on the person’s Referral Service response to treatment.” 914-925-5320 A comprehensive evaluation is an important Pictured (left to right): Dr. Stephen Ferrando from New Offers 24/7 mental health and addiction York Presbyterian Hospital; Assemblywoman Judy Mayer, first step in addiction treatment so that these evaluation and referral services. Bernadette Kingham-Bez, Mimi Clarke Corcoran of factors, as well as the need for medically- ANDRUS, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, NAMI Westchester Crisis Prevention and Response Team President Stamatia Pappas, Yonkers Councilman Michael supervised detoxification, can be assessed Sabatino, and NAMI Westchester board member Sheryl before a personalized treatment plan is 914-925-5959 Brauman. developed. Serves Westchester County with mobile St. Vincent’s executive director Bernadette Because heroin addiction is a chronic disease crisis intervention, assessment, supportive counseling and linkages to community Kingham-Bez was among the speakers at a like diabetes or asthma, people cannot simply services for individuals and families special flag raising at Yonkers City Hall to kick stop using the drug for a few days or weeks experiencing mental health issues. off an anti-stigma mental health awareness and be cured. People can relapse and return month campaign in May sponsored by the Addiction Education and Prevention to drug abuse, sometimes several times. Westchester chapter of the National Alliance [email protected] Those who have relapsed can be at high risk of on Mental Illness. The campaign encourages overdose because their bodies cannot tolerate St. Vincent’s outreach coordinator Lillian towns, providers and other organizations to the same level of drug as before. Neuman, CASAC offers presentations tie ribbons around trees, poles, etc., with Research shows that the most effective about addiction for schools and community the message, “Find Help, Find Hope.” The organization. For information, contact her treatment for addiction often combines flag raising was hosted by Yonkers Mayor at [email protected]. individual and group counseling with Mike Spano and included remarks by Yonkers medications such as methadone and City Council president Liam McLoughlin and suboxone, which can reduce craving and representatives from NAMI Westchester and withdrawal symptoms. other mental health providers. The road can be long with many detours, but with personalized treatment and support, people can and do recover from addiction. St. Vincent’s Westchester offers inpatient rehabilitation and extensive outpatient addiction treatment services at its Harrison campus and at The Maxwell Institute in Tuckahoe and the Port Chester Recovery Center. Call (914) 925- 5320 for more information. ST. VINCENT’S NOW OPERATES PORT CHESTER ADDICTION BECOME A VOLUNTEER! TREATMENT PROGRAM St. Vincent’s Hospital has been granted a need. We appreciate St. Vincent’s willingness St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester license to operate the former Renaissance to move quickly so that there was no gap for Project outpatient addiction program at 132 the clients or the employees.” Bernadette has volunteer opportunities available Pearl Street in Port Chester. The program is Kingham-Bez, Executive Director of St. in both patient and non-patient- now known as the Port Chester Recovery Vincent’s Hospital Westchester added, “We Center, and continues to provide outpatient are very pleased that all of the current staff will related areas for those who wish addiction treatment services to adults and be retained and that St. Vincent’s can continue to donate their time. We are happy adolescents at its current location. The Port to serve the center’s clients.” Chester Recovery Center can be reached by to work with students who need calling (914) 939-2700. Mike Seminara, CASAC, the center’s director, said, “We are very happy that our clients are volunteer hours for school. Training The Westchester County Department receiving the services they need without and orientation are provided for of Community Mental Health (DCMH) interruption.” coordinated the transition. DCMH Director of all volunteer positions. For more Drug and Alcohol Services Dahlia Austin said, information, please call the volunteer “We are pleased that we were able to work out the transfer to ensure that the clinic’s services office at (914) 925-5331. clients continue to receive the services they AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NEW DIRECTOR, ADOLESCENT HONORED FOR VOLUNTEER ADDICTION PROGRAM SERVICE AT THE MAXWELL INSTITUTE The St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary honored 17 area high Russell Francome, LMSW, is the new school students for their exceptional volunteer service director of The Maxwell Institute addiction at a ceremony at the hospital. Guest speaker Al Barber, recovery program at 92 Yonkers Avenue President and Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities in Tuckahoe. Prior to his appointment, in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, congratulated Francome served as coordinator of the honorees and encouraged them to continue their St. Vincent’s Excel addiction recovery volunteerism as adults. program for adolescents. Russell Francome In addition, Roseanne Martinez, LMSW, has been named a senior alcoholism counselor at Maxwell. In her previous position, Martinez was prevention counselor at the Pelham Guidance Council. As part of her role at Maxwell, Martinez oversees a new outpatient Roseanne Martinez treatment program for adolescents. The program, for adolescents age 13 to 17 who are struggling with substance abuse, offers group therapy on topics such Pictured (left to right): Al Barber; Ryan Baker, Harrison as developing positive coping skills, social issues and High School; Armand Zappa, Fordham Preparatory High peer pressure, building self-esteem, family concerns, and School; Zack Shandell, Scarsdale High School; Abraham boundary issues, as well as providing education about the Punnoose, Archbishop Stepinac High School; Harris Baker, disease of addiction. Harrison High School; Michael Pizzutello, Harrison High School; Daniel Keller, Rye High School; Anthony Baker, The Maxwell Institute offers intensive and clinic-level Iona Preparatory School; and Bernadette Kingham-Bez, St. outpatient chemical dependency treatment and education Vincent’s Executive Director. Seated (left to right): Rachel services for adults, adolescents, and their families. For Cohen, Rye Neck High School; Sarah Mathison, The Ursuline more information, please call The Maxwell Institute at School; Emily Gorin, Rye Country Day