Continuing the successful state and community efforts to address the growing problem of prescription drug addiction and overdose, Orman Hall, Director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS), announced the launch of a new campaign called, Don’t Get Me Started, a statewide public service campaign that speaks to young adults and their friends and family.  The new initiative is a partnership between ODADAS and the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA).

 The campaign is designed to educate young adults 18-29 about prescription opiate abuse and addiction, reaching out with a message that motivates viewers to steer clear of prescription drug misuse and abuse, while providing information on addiction treatment resources for themselves or a loved one. The campaign includes the following:

• A branded website at www.dontgetmestartedohio.org.
• Eight (8) outdoor billboards in highly-affected counties
• Online banner ads on music, social media and gaming sites popular with young adults
• Convenience store posters at 400 locations across the state
• Posters displayed at locations throughout the state, in partnership with local opiate task forces
• Dedicated Facebook page where Ohio residents can share their own stories

To hear the stories of real people impacted by the prescription painkiller epidemic, and to get information about the campaign, visit www.dontgetmestartedohio.org. To join in the conversation online, visit www.facebook.com/DontGetMeStartedOhio

Ohio’s 2012 Opiate Summit: Miles Traveled – Miles Ahead will be held in Columbus, OH on May 7^th and 8^th.  OACBHA’s third annual Opiate Conference will continue to build on the cross-system work that is being done in Ohio to address the opiate epidemic. This conference will provide attendees with information related to medication-assisted treatment practices, promising prevention practices, community awareness and engagement, vocational rehabilitation and employment as a part of recovery, appropriate prescribing practices, law enforcement challenges and opportunities, and updates on ongoing state and local efforts targeting opiate addictions. OACBHA intends to again offer continuing education credits at low cost for social workers, chemical dependency counselors, psychologists, nurses, other medical professionals, and attorneys.

Registration information and additional conference details will be available at www.oacbha.org by the first week of February.

Have a great week!

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

The New Year is a time when we think about fresh starts and new beginnings.  With this theme in mind, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is asking for our help to increase awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) during the month of January so that more children start of life healthy and able to reach their full potential.  FASD is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. Each year in the U.S., as many as 40,000 babies are born with an FASD. The cost to the nation is about $6 billion a year.  How can you help? SAMHSA has fact sheets and brochures available for you to use to help get the word out about the risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, along with strategies to support individuals with FASD and information for families and professionals.

To learn more, visit http://www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/grabGo/grabGo.cfm.

Have  a great week!

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

As 2011 comes to a close, OACBHA would like to thank all of you who have joined us in our commitment to assuring the residents of every Ohio community live healthier lives through access to quality mental health, alcohol and other drug prevention, treatment and support services. We look forward to working with you again in 2012 as we advocate for public policies and initiative that support Ohioans in need of behavioral health care.

Happy Holidays from the staff at the
Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities!

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

The Recovery 2 Work program provides an exciting opportunity to integrate addiction and mental health treatment and vocational rehabilitation. A new website has recently been launched so that people can learn about and stay current on exciting new developments in this program.  This website is a valuable tool for individuals wanting to learn more about the Recovery 2 Work project. The website includes resources for contract staff providing the services, for consumers looking to access services through this program, as well as contact information for the public. To learn more, check out the website at www.recovery2work.org.

Have a great week!

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

December 1 is World AIDS Day and the theme this year is Leading with Science, Uniting for Action.  In the U.S., nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV and one in five of those (20 percent) are unaware of their infections. Despite increases in the total number of people living with HIV in the U.S. in recent years, the annual number of new infections has remained relatively stable overall. However, HIV infections continue at far too high a level, with approximately 50,000 Americans becoming newly infected with HIV each year. In this country, more than 16,000 people with AIDS still die each year.  Injection drug users represent 9 percent of annual new HIV infections and 17 percent of those living with HIV.  To learn how you can help, click here.

Have a great week!

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity for our Association to express appreciation to each and every one of you for all you do to support those with mental illness and substance abuse.  Moreover, thank you to those in recovery who teach us so much about courage and resiliency.  Working with this community of individuals is a great way to reaffirm that at our core, we are a nation that is filled with citizens who care what happens to others.  On behalf of our members and staff, we say thank you and wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer