TAKE FIVE!

October 05, 2021

Amanda Langseder:
Hi, I’m Amanda Langseder and welcome to “Sullivan 180 Presents…. Take 5!” Our guests today are Karen Holden and Janna Walter from Sullivan County Public Health Services. Welcome Janna and Karen, and thank you so much for being here!

Karen Holden:
Hi, good morning, Amanda. Thank you for having us. My name is Karen Holden. I am fortunate to work here at Public Health, overseeing our Home Health Agency, Epidemiology and I work with Janna and the Drug Task Force, and our newly formed pillar, which we call CARES, which is all about focusing on moms.

Janna Walter:
And I am Janna Walter. I am Maternal Child Health and CPS Public Health Nurse. I work directly with families in our community to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. I also work directly with the Drug Task Force CARES pillar.

Amanda Langseder:
Wonderful. Thank you again for being here. And would you mind explaining a little bit about “medication assisted treatment”? What exactly is MAT?

Karen Holden:
Sure. We’re going to talk about a few acronyms. So according to the ‘Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’, (SAMHSA), “medication assisted treatment”, which is called “MAT” is a combination of the use of medications, along with counseling and behavioral therapies. We provide a ‘whole approach’ to the treatment of substance use disorders. The medications used in this treatment are always approved by the the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) and MAT Programs are clinically driven and tailored specifically to meet each patient’s individual needs. Research shows us that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat substance use disorders. For people that are struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain the recovery and can also be used to prevent opioid overdose. It is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids, such as heroin, and the prescription pain relievers that contain opiates. It is a prescribed medication that operates to normalize the brain chemistry and it blocks the euphoric effect of alcohol and opioids. It helps to relieve psychological cravings, it normalizes body function, and… you don’t have that negative effect of the euphoric feeling of other substances.

Amanda Langseder:
That’s great. I’m so glad that we’re talking about this: taking down the stigma and just talking openly about the benefits of MAT. What was the need for this very specific list of MAT providers that treat pregnant women, women of childbearing age and why was this list created? How how is that going help us?

Janna Walter:
As many people are aware, Sullivan County is very challenged with an increased number of drug overdoses, very sadly. It is the objective of the Sullivan County Taskforce to obviously save lives, and just decrease the number of deaths associated with drug use. So the best way to do that is exactly what you just said: break down that stigma that is associated with drug use, and then also to provide services to those who are trying to seek help. So, that being said, when we were trying to make a referral for a MAT treatment, our staff had difficulty trying to locate facilities and providers within the surrounding areas. We realized ‘if it’s so difficult for us, who are NOT in crisis….how difficult must it be for someone who IS in crisis?’ For someone who really wants that help, but is also battling that craving at that moment. And add the frustration of digging through the internet for information! It was terribly frustrating for me, and I wasn’t ‘in crisis’. I can’t imagine what it’s like for our friends and families out there that are struggling with substance use disorder.

Karen Holden:
The concept Janna mentioned is to make this comprehensive list very easy and very accessible for everyone who needs it. We all know that ‘crises’ don’t generally happen Monday through Friday, from 9 to 5. And so this is going to be posted throughout county websites, and will be easily accessible and at people’s fingertips. When they need our help, we are easily reachable!

Amanda Langseder:
That’s great. What can community members do to help with this issue? How can we continue breaking down the stigma around substance use disorder? What would be your ‘Call to Action’ for the community to help right now?

Janna Walter:
I would venture to say that ‘I think every family has been affected by addiction in some way’. So nothing is solved by pointing fingers: not an illness, not mental health disorders and nothing is solved by calling names, by being judgemental, by shaming. So my advice is to research: become educated with evidence-based practices, and ask questions! We at Public Health are here to answer questions all the time. So if you are someone, or you know of someone who is struggling with substance use and you need advice, you can call us directly at Public Health. You can call our HOPE line. That’s an information and referral line. And that number is 1-866-832-5575. We are here to help!

Karen Holden:
Right! We need everyone to remember that ‘no one is alone’, and that everyone has been affected, and we can get through this together.

Amanda Langseder:
Absolutely. You know, on International Overdose Awareness Day, I think we saw a lot of the families being able to finally come into an open space, and share that they were struggling with the loss of a family member, or have a family member who is battling addiction. So truly, it’s just so important that we talk about this. We need to continue to break down the stigma and encourage our community members to help everyone do that as well.

Amanda Langseder:
Is there anything else that you want to add?

Janna Walter:
Speaking again of “community members”: if you are watching this and you’re a partner, you’re a friend, you’re just someone who’s going through something or have a family member, please share all this information. Share it on your social media, share it with your friends, share the information on “how to reach out”. We are doing our best to get information out there, but word of mouth is hugely important. That’s just my own personal plug for the program that I specifically work with and for, and I’m so passionate about it! If you are someone who is using drugs and you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant and you need help, please call us! Call that HOPE line! I’ll mention the number again, +1 866-832-5575. Call us at Public Health. Go on the Sullivan County website, all the phone numbers are there. I don’t want to throw all these numbers at you. We have this Home Visiting Nurse Program, through Maternal Child Health and it’s a nonjudgmental program. I’m here to provide support and to provide referrals. And I keep saying this over and over again. I just want to wrap my arms around everybody and give them the support and love that they need to be successful!

Amanda Langseder:
Absolutely. You said it earlier, Janna. There’s no shame. There is no shame when somebody comes to you. And I know that! I’ve seen the work of your program and how it interacts with members of the community that are just struggling, and just need help where they’re at, and you’re there! And we’re so grateful that all of Public Health has been there for our community, nonstop. And of course, certainly during this last year and a half. So thank you for joining us today, Janna and Karen: your work in our county is so very valued and so needed. I thank you both for working to make Sullivan County a healthier place, one degree at a time.

Karen Holden:
Thank you so much. It’s our pleasure. Thanks for having us!