Around Town

Experts on Opioid Use to Provide Information, Hope During Watertown Event

By |

The WATERtown Task Force on Substance Use Disorder will present noted speakers on the science of opioid use as a disease, providing hope and resources for recovery, providing support to families, and an update on what is available in Watertown to help combat this epidemic. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 from 7-9 p.m. at Taxiarchae Greek Orthodox Church, 25 Bigelow Ave. Watertown. Speakers Include:

Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, MD, PhD, Professor of Integrative Physiology & Pathobiology, MS, MPhil, Immunology, Yale University, PhD, Pharmacology, Yale University MD, Yale University. Appointed member to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Opioid Drug Formulary Commission.

Police/Fire

Waltham Woman Busted for Allegedly Dealing Opiates in Watertown

By |

A 45-year-old Waltham woman who had been under investigation for drug dealing was arrested for allegedly dealing drugs in Watertown. 

The Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force had been surveilling a known heroin dealer in Waltham and followed a woman driving a vehicle into Watertown.  She was later identified as Elizabeth M. Caliri of Waltham. “They observed her vehicle pull onto Olcott Street and made a hand-t0-hand transaction,” said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “The pulled away and they followed her to Belmont Street where they watched her enter a residence and return to the vehicle a few minutes later.” The woman returned to Olcott Street, pulled over in the same area of the street.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark Holding Forum on Impact of Opioids on Families

By |

Congresswoman Katherine Clark will hold a forum about the impact of opioids on families. 

The event, called The Traumatic Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Families, will be held on Tuesday, April 11 from 6-8 p.m. at McLean Hospital’s Piece Hall, 115 Mill St. in Belmont. Members of the community, including those who have been affected by the opioid epidemic, care advocates, and care providers, are invited to share concerns, stories, and ideas about the epidemic’s impact on our communities. Expert panelists include: Aimee Manzoni-D’Arpino, Co-chair, Addiction Policy Forum Family Committee, Hilary Smith Connery, MD, PhD, Clinical Director, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, McLean Hospital and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, and Matthew A. Robinson, Ph.D., staff psychologist within the Law Enforcement, Active Duty, Emergency Responder (LEADER) Depression, Anxiety, & Stress Outpatient Program at McLean Hospital and instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. To RSVP for the free event, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-forum-the-traumatic-impact-of-the-opioid-epidemic-on-families-tickets-32735655226

Drug Bust

Drug Busts in Watertown, Boston Leads to Arrest of 2 Linked to Overdoses

By |

Three search warrants executed simultaneously in Watertown, Dorchester and Brighton netted large amounts of narcotics and money, and led to the arrest of two men connected to overdoses in the Boston Metro area. The Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force – which includes a Watertown Police detective – and the Boston Police Drug Control Unit made the raids on Thursday in which tens of thousands of dollars were confiscated along with an amount of fentanyl – a synthetic opioid – with the street value of about $10,000. “(Fentanyl) is very dangerous. We see that involved in a lot of overdoses,” said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “A lot of times it is cut with other agents, but the stuff we got was pure fentanyl.”

Around Town

Forum This Week on the Opiates Epidemic in Watertown Features Katherine Clark

By |

The W.A.T.E.R.town (Watertown Access to Treatment, Educations and Resources) Task Force on Substance Use Disorder announced a November educational and informational forum entitled “Together We Can…Erase the Stigma.”

The Task Force released the following announcement:

This forum features U.S. Representative Katherine Clark as the keynote speaker and sponsor of two bills aimed at reducing the amount of unused and unwanted pain medications fueling the opioid epidemic and ensuring safe care plans for families with infants suffering from opioid exposure, which were passed unanimously by the House. Joining Congresswoman Clark will be noted experts on opioid use, the effects of prescription and other opioids on the brain, and the effects that addiction, treatment and recovery have on family and friends. Attendees will learn about the local and national response to this public health epidemic, what can be done to prevent substance use disorder, and the resources that are available in Watertown. We are pleased to also feature Dr. Laura Kehoe from Massachusetts General Hospital with her very informative presentation of how opioids affect the brain, Rhonda Lotti, a dedicated and loving parent who has experienced substance use disorder in her family, and Jeff Hatch, a former NFL player who has also experienced substance use disorder and has dedicated his life to helping others fight this disease. The Watertown Middle School located at 68 Waverley Avenue offers ample space for this forum and we hope to attract parents of all age groups, as well as all other members of the community.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark Highlights Event Raising Awareness of Heroin Crisis in Watertown

By |

The second annual Erase the Stigma event will be held in November, and the featured speaker will be Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Last year, W.A.T.E.R.town Task Force for Substance Use Disorder presented the first Erase the Stigma event to raise awareness about the crisis of heroin and opioids impacting Watertown. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave. in Watertown.

Addiction

People Share Their Stories of Addiction, Including 1 of Watertown’s Most Famous Residents

By |

Addiction’s grip can seem overwhelming, and sadly some lose the battle and their lives to the disease. Wednesday night three Watertown residents – including Eliza Dushku – shared their experiences with substance use to try to eliminate the stigma around addiction during the second annual Watertown Overcoming Addiction Candlelight Memorial Vigil. 

Hundreds gathered at St. Patrick’s Church Wednesday night to remember loved ones lost to addiction and substance use, and to give hope to those trying to get sober or remain drug and alcohol free. Dushku shared her struggles with alcohol and drugs, and said her sobriety has allowed her to come back to her hometown to pursue one her life goals of getting a college degree. Growing up, Dushku said she enjoyed going to parties, and would head to “keggers” at Oakley Country Club or Gore Place. “I always wanted to do more drugs, drink more, go harder.

Around Town

Candlelight Vigil for Those Lost to Addiction on Wednesday

By |

Watertown Overcoming Addiction will hold its second annual Candlelight Vigil to remember those lost to drug use and addiction. Last year, hundreds of friends and families of those who lost their battle with substance use, and many others filled St. Patrick’s Church’s Lower Hall. This year’s vigil will be held on Sept. 21, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lower Hall at St.