Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid/Marijuana Use Presentation Available Online

from ARHS PGO:

Last month, Dr Ruth Potee, Chair of the Healthcare Solutions Committee of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Opioid Task Force, spoke to the ARHS Community about Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid / Marijuana Use.  The powerful presentation sparked ARHS Community dialogue about how we as a school and broader community think about teenage use and abuse of marijuana, pain pills and other drugs.  The event was jointly sponsored by the ARHS PGO, SPIFFY[The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth] and the Town of Amherst.

To view the presentation, click here.

Dr Potee Substance Abuse Presentation

To discuss the implications of Dr. Potee’s presentation for ARHS and its students, a second meeting was held on Thursday, October 20. A group of ARHS parents and guardians brainstormed a range of possible initiatives aimed at keeping our students safe. We will keep the ARHS community informed about the direction of this work. If you are interested in becoming more involved, please email Mark Jackson[jacksonmk@arps.org] Thank you.

Dr. Ruth Potee to present at ARHS on Addiction, Risk Taking and the Adolescent Brain 9/22 at 7PM

Learn more about what parents and the community can do to keep our children safer, healthier and substance-free through the middle and high school years.

Thursday, September 22 7:00 PM in the ARHS Library This event is free and open to the public.

Childcare and light refreshments will be provided.  For more information or to sign up for childcare, please contact the ARHS Office at 362-1700.

Dr. Potee is an expert in the area of adolescent brain development and its impact on teenage risk taking, including alcohol and substance abuse. She blends scientific research with hands-on understanding of the challenges of raising healthy teens.   Board certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, Dr. Potee practices in Greenfield, MA and is the Chair of the Healthcare Solutions Committee of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County.  She has addressed professional and community audiences throughout Massachusetts.

This event is sponsored by the ARHS PGO in collaboration with ARHS, the Town of Amherst Health and Community Service Department, the SPIFFY Coalition.

Click to print flyer for distribution: ruth-potee-arhs-flyer 

Opioid Awareness and Treatment Resources

On Wednesday, May 25, the ARHS PGO and Principal Jackson hosted Robbin Suprenant, the head nurse for Amherst public schools, and Julie Federman, the Health and Community Services Director for the Amherst Health Department to discuss Adolescents and Substance Abuse including school, town and state initiatives to raise awareness and discuss resources available. Heather Warner, Coordinator of the SPIFFY Coalition (Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth) provided information about alcohol, marijuana and other use rates at ARHS from a survey conducted in 2015.

This fall, ARHS and the Amherst Health Department and the SPIFFY Coalition will outline a series of initiatives to address youth substance use including alcohol, marijuana and opioid use and misuse locally. Speaker Dr. Ruth Potee is scheduled to present to parents on September 22, 2016. To view one of her presentations on Addiction, please click here.

Additionally, handouts from Hampshire Hope were presented. Hampshire Hope is a collaboration of individuals, health care organizations, community groups, social service agencies, government agencies, local health departments, Office of Northwestern District Attorney, law enforcement agencies, first responders and others who have joined together in a comprehensive effort to reduce and prevent opiod use and abuse in our region. Their website (www.hampshirehope.org) offers facts to build awareness and information to prevent Opioid use and misuse, signs for recognizing abuse as well as treatment resources.

More information about The SPIFFY Coalition can be found at: sspiffycoalition.org. SPIFFY is a coalition of over 80 community partners working together to improve outcomes for youth in Hampshire County. Together we promote strong families and create a local culture where youth are supported to make healthy choices.