The Veterans Voice
Episodes
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
In the third and final installment in this series, Community Health Partnership's, PJ Higgins, discusses the help and resources available for those struggling with substance use disorder.
"The biggest and most complex problems we face are possible to solve!"- P.J. Higgins, 2023
ABOUT PJ HIGGINS
PJ oversees the Coalition for Prevention, Addiction Education, and Recovery (CPAR), a collective impact organization dedicated to improving access to behavioral health treatment. He is currently leading local efforts to organize around opioid settlement funding.
- Some content excerpted and adapted from online resources.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
With Thanks to PJ HigginsCHP Opioid Prevention Project Manager
Harm Reduction Centers
Colorado Health Network
https://coloradohealthnetwork.org/prevention-health-education/access-point/
Love Alive
https://www.lovealivecos.org/
Recovery Community Organizations
Serenity Recovery Connection
https://srchope.org/
Embark
https://www.embarkpca.net/
Phoenix Multisport
https://thephoenix.org/
Treatment types and locators
American Society for Addiction Medicine
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64088/
https://findtreatment.gov/
OWNPATH
https://ownpath.co/
Aunt Bertha
https://www.findhelp.org/
Treatment Payment Assistance
Raymond Roundtree Jr. Foundation
https://sosrrjrfoundation.org/
Colorado Medicaid
https://hcpf.colorado.gov/how-to-apply
Next Chapter
https://nextchapterco.org/
Veteran Specific Resources
Next Chapter
https://nextchapterco.org/
SAFE Project
https://www.safeproject.us/veterans/
Vet Centers
https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?STATE=CO&v=1
Family Support Organizations
CRAFT Colorado
https://bha.colorado.gov/behavioral-health/CRAFT
Medication Assisted Treatment
Colorado Treatment Locator
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1naco-pLi0honGtdSd62m3XuQuGkdwKDF/view
Sober Living
Hazelbrook
https://hazelbrooksoberliving.com/
Embark
https://www.embarkpca.net/
Homeward Pikes Peak
https://homewardpp.org/
Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Resources
Main website: https://corxconsortium.org
Affected Families and Friends: https://corxconsortium.org/work-groups/affected-families-friends/
Affected Families and Friends Resource List: https://corxconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/Affected-Families-and-Friends-Resource-Guide.pdf (will ask you to open a document. Click “ok.”)
Affected Families and Friends “Beyond the Numbers” videos: https://corxconsortium.org/projects/beyond-the-numbers-echoes-of-the-opioid-epidemic/
Additional Resources
National Institute of health
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone
Shatterproof:
https://www.shatterproof.org
Mayo Clinic
https://mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112
Veteran’s Administration:
https://mentalhealth.va.gov/substance-use/index.asp
Colorado Crisis Services
https://coloradocrisisservices.org
Colorado’s Good Samaritan Law
“The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider. This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.”
DOWNLOAD THE FULL AFFWG RESOURCE GUIDE
ABOUT THE AFFECTED FAMILIES AND FRIENDS PODCAST SERIES
The Affected Families and Friends Podcast is a three-part series on substance use disorder presented by the University of Colorado’s Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group and produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
MEET CO-PRESENTERS SARAH WERNER AND TRACEY RITTER
Meet your moderators for this series, Sarah Werner (L), and Tracey Ritter (R). They are the co-chairs for the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s work group called, “Affected Families and Friends.”
The work group provides opportunities for friends and family to share hope, raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder. Both have lost loved ones to substance use. For Tracey, her son Evan. For Sarah, her nephew Jonathan.
Both have chosen to turn their pain into purpose. Sarah is on the board of the SAFE Project, which is an organization that aims to support action that will prevent fatal drug overdoses. Tracey is a Family Support Specialist with Advocates for Recovery, and has even lobbied with our Attorney General’s office for change in our state.
The Affected Families and Friends podcast series was produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, CO, in cooperation with the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group, and the the team of Ms. Sarah Werner, Ms. Tracey Ritter and Ms. Hilary Bryant.
Friday Jun 02, 2023
Friday Jun 02, 2023
At the time of this production, Michael was a Senior Master Sargent in the US Air Force on active duty and preparing for retirement after a 21 year career. In this episode, he shares his journey through substance use disorder and offers insight in to how his family was affected.
Residing in northern Colorado, he is writing and recording music, and performing with his band, Vegas Valley Drive. His music is a healing, creative outlet for him. The song Brake Park Reverse, linked below, is very much influenced by the trials of his substance use.
- LISTEN -
VEGAS VALLEY DRIVE - BRAKE PARK REVERSE
MORE FROM VEGAS VALLEY DRIVE
SOME RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Safe Medication Use, Storage and Disposal ▪ TakeMedsSeriously • https://takemedsseriously.org/
Family Support ▪ CRAFT Colorado • https://bha.colorado.gov/behavioral-health/CRAFT ▪ Serenity Recovery Connection • https://srchope.org/ ▪ Al-Anon and Nar-Anon • https://al-anon-co.org/ • https://www.nar-anon.org/find-a-meeting ▪ Forward Together Colorado • https://parents.forwardtogetherco.com/
Overdose Prevention ▪ Bring Naloxone Home • https://bringnaloxonehome.org/ ▪ Never Use Alone Hotline • https://neverusealone.com/ • 1-800-484-3731 ▪ Canary—Prevent Overdose app • https://apps.apple.com/us/app/canary-prevent-overdose/id1396426874 Colorado’s Good Samaritan Law
“The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider. This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.”
DOWNLOAD THE FULL AFFWG RESOURCE GUIDE
ABOUT THE AFFECTED FAMILIES AND FRIENDS PODCAST SERIES
The Affected Families and Friends Podcast is a three-part series on substance use disorder presented by the University of Colorado’s Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group and produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
MEET SARAH WERNER AND TRACEY RITTER
Meet your moderators for this series, Sarah Werner (L), and Tracey Ritter (R). They are the co-chairs for the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s work group called, “Affected Families and Friends.”
The work group provides opportunities for friends and family to share hope, raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder. Both have lost loved ones to substance use. For Tracey, her son Evan. For Sarah, her nephew Jonathan.
Both have chosen to turn their pain into purpose. Sarah is on the board of the SAFE Project, which is an organization that aims to support action that will prevent fatal drug overdoses. Tracey is a Family Support Specialist with Advocates for Recovery, and has even lobbied with our Attorney General’s office for change in our state.
The Affected Families and Friends podcast series was produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, CO, in cooperation with the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group, and the the team of Ms. Sarah Werner, Ms. Tracey Ritter and Ms. Hilary Bryant.
Thursday May 25, 2023
Thursday May 25, 2023
In this episode, affected family member and Army veteran, "Elizabeth", tells her story, and that of her daughter's, followed by asking moderators, Sarah Werner (L) and Tracey Ritter (R), a series of questions about how she can support her daughter who is in an active substance use situation.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Safe Medication Use, Storage and Disposal ▪ TakeMedsSeriously • https://takemedsseriously.org/
Family Support ▪ CRAFT Colorado • https://bha.colorado.gov/behavioral-health/CRAFT ▪ Serenity Recovery Connection • https://srchope.org/ ▪ Al-Anon and Nar-Anon • https://al-anon-co.org/ • https://www.nar-anon.org/find-a-meeting ▪ Forward Together Colorado • https://parents.forwardtogetherco.com/
Overdose Prevention ▪ Bring Naloxone Home • https://bringnaloxonehome.org/ ▪ Never Use Alone Hotline • https://neverusealone.com/ • 1-800-484-3731 ▪ Canary—Prevent Overdose app • https://apps.apple.com/us/app/canary-prevent-overdose/id1396426874 Colorado’s Good Samaritan Law
“The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider. This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.”
DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE 1 RESOURCE GUIDE
ABOUT THE AFFECTED FAMILIES AND FRIENDS PODCAST SERIES
The Affected Families and Friends Podcast is a three-part series on substance use disorder presented by the University of Colorado’s Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group and produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL AFFWG RESOURCE GUIDE
MEET SARAH WERNER AND TRACEY RITTER
Meet your moderators for this series, Sarah Werner (L), and Tracey Ritter (R). They are the co-chairs for the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention’s work group called, “Affected Families and Friends.”
The work group provides opportunities for friends and family to share hope, raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder. Both have lost loved ones to substance use. For Tracey, her son Evan. For Sarah, her nephew Jonathan.
Both have chosen to turn their pain into purpose. Sarah is on the board of the SAFE Project, which is an organization that aims to support action that will prevent fatal drug overdoses. Tracey is a Family Support Specialist with Advocates for Recovery, and has even lobbied with our Attorney General’s office for change in our state.
The Affected Families and Friends podcast series was produced in the Veterans Voice studio located on the campus of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, CO, in cooperation with the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Affected Families and Friends Work Group, and the the team of Ms. Sarah Werner, Ms. Tracey Ritter and Ms. Hilary Bryant.