Around Town

Find Out About Local Services for Alcohol & Drug Use Prevention, Treatment & Recovery

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or drug use, please come to a special evening of talks from people in the recovery community and experts on substance use disorders. The event, Watertown: A Community of Caring, will be held on Thursday evening, Sept 22, 2022 at the Watertown Library starting at 6 p.m. It will also be available via a zoom link. The program will highlight local services available for prevention, treatment and recovery for substance use disorders (SUD). The free, in-person event will kick off with a light supper, followed by a performance by Second Act, an improv group, whose members are in recovery. A panel of speakers will address local services available to people with SUD and their families.

Around Town

Erase the Stigma Online Event to Discuss Substance Use Recovery During Pandemic

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The Watertown Youth Coalition and W.A.T.E.R.town (Watertown Access to Treatment, Education, and Resources) will host a virtual event about erasing the stigma of substance use discovery and recovery. The event, called “Erase the Stigma, Recovery is Possible” will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic will be one of the topics of the discussion. Local medical experts and community members will share stories of hope and recovery. The discussion will be lead by Dr. Laura Kehoe, a Watertown resident and director of the MGH Substance Use Disorder Bridge Center.

Addiction

Movie, Discussion of Addiction at Free Event at Mosesian Center for the Arts

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The following information was provided by the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network:

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi-Service Center and PBS’ science series, NOVA, are holding a screening of the documentary, Addiction. The screening is free and open to the public. The film, produced by NOVA, a program of WGBH Boston, takes a hard look at the science of addiction. Addiction features firsthand accounts from individuals and families struggling with opioid addiction. While addiction has long been viewed as a moral failing, leading scientists will help viewers understand why addiction is a disorder that occurs as a result of drugs profoundly altering the brain. Addictionexplores how we might best address our drug problem, from advances in neuroscience, the development of evidence-based treatments to the rethinking of laws and public policies. A panel of local experts will be on hand to answer audience questions following the film including:

Dr. Laura Kehoe, medical director, MGH Substance Use Disorder Bridge Clinic, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, also featured in the filmDr. Dara Arons, family physician, Charles River Community HealthDr. Damian Archer, chief medical officer, North Shore Community Health CenterPeter Airasian, co-founder, Watertown Overcoming Addiction

When: Tues., March 5, 2019, 6–8:30 p.m.

Where: Mosesian Center, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA

Eventbrite RSVP: https://bit.ly/2UTpujx or contact Stephanie_Sunderland@waysideyouth.org

A Narcan training will be provided by the Watertown Fire Department.

Around Town

Free Screening of Addiction Documentary to be Followed by Discussion by Experts

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Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi-Service Center and PBS’ science series, NOVA, are holding a screening of the documentary, Addiction. The screening is free and open to the public. The film, produced by NOVA, a program of WGBH Boston, takes a hard look at the science of addiction. Addiction features firsthand accounts from individuals and families struggling with opioid addiction. While addiction has long been viewed as a moral failing, leading scientists will help viewers understand why addiction is a disorder that occurs as a result of drugs profoundly altering the brain.

Around Town

Support Group in Watertown for Family & Friends of People Misusing Drugs & Alcohol

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The following information was provided by the local organizers of SMART Recovery:

When a person uses drugs or alcohol to excess, the entire family is affected. Concern, anxiety, worry, and depression are just a few of the emotions that family and loved ones experience. For decades people turned to Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous and its family-focused support group Al-Anon. But AA isn’t for everyone. SMART Recovery (Self-Management Addiction Recovery Training) started more than 30 years ago.

Charity

Watertown Middle School Students Collect Items for People Battling Opioid Addiction

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Eighth graders at Watertown Middle School collected cold weather items for people overcoming addiction at a program at Mass. General Hospital. This was the first activity for the group working to help those trying to overcome addiction. In their first effort to help patients trying to overcome addiction, a group of Watertown Middle School students collected clothes and other items to help homeless people in need. Before winter break, a group fo WMS students held an ugly sweater party, to which they were asked to bring a new, cold weather item for a homeless adult in need, such as backpack, new socks, mittens, knit hat, or scarves, according to Watertown School Committee member Amy Donohue.

Around Town

Candlelight Vigil Planned to Remember Those Lost to Drug Overdoses

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The following information was provided by Watertown Overcoming Addiction:

Watertown Overcoming Addictions’ 4th annual Candlelight Vigil will take place Nov. 7, 2018 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 212 Main St., Watertown, in the Lower Hall. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States
More than 72,000 Americans died from accidental overdose in 2017
More teens die from prescription drugs than heroin and cocaine combined
Join us as we remember those who we have lost to the disease of substance use disorder. If you would like your loved one included please send their picture, name, birthdate and passing date to watertownvigil@gmail.com

Narcan will be available.