Wilmington Substance Abuse Coalition

Mission Statement

The mission of the Wilmington Substance Abuse Coalition is to address the rising problem of substance abuse in our community by providing prevention, education, and support, as an effort to promote healthy and responsible behavior and provide skills for better decision making as it relates to substance use. The focus of the WSAC is to work with the community and other partners to deliver strategies and activities related to use.


WSAC to Join: Massachusetts Opioid Screening and Awareness Day Event - September 22, 2020

Press Release


COVID-19 Week8 Newsletter

Be sure to check New & Announcements and click "Coronavirus Newsletters" (located in the right side column) for past and present COVID-19 based Substance Use and Mental Health based resources and links! 

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30pm Room B204


Raising Awareness

1978/6
Have you seen these numbers around town at all? Have you seen them on yard signs or on social media? The idea behind them is exactly designed to make you ask that question.

These signs are intended to help make you and others aware of the scope of the drug and alcohol problem we are currently facing. In 2017, in the United States, more than 72,000 deaths resulted from fatal drug overdoses and related deaths.  This number shows a more than 7% increase from 2016 and unfortunately the numbers are continuing to increase in 2018.  Today, fatal drug overdoses represent a higher number of deaths than that reported for Breast Cancer; furthermore, the toll for drug related deaths is also higher than the casualties of military personnel during the 12 years of the Vietnam War (~58,000).

The number, 1978, is the number of fatal overdoses recorded in Massachusetts from the year 2017 and the number 6 represents the number of fatal drug overdoses which First Responders attended to in Wilmington in 2017. Sadly, the number (6) may actually be higher if a Wilmington resident overdosed out of town.  

These signs will hopefully make us all aware of the scope of this problem for citizens who have lost their battle with addiction and provide a number as to the families who have lost loved ones

Should you wish to display one of these #1978/6 yard signs to bring a subtle but poignant awareness to this crisis contact Samantha Reif at 978-694-2064 or Michael Burns at 508-574-7897. We are requesting a $10.00 donation.                          


Reading List for addiction and mental health
 

Book List

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, by Gabor Mate, M.D.: Dr. Mate writes off of his experiences from working in Vancover's skid row and doctoral background. He clearly presents real stories along with a sociological perspectives and advocates for the complexities and interwoven dynamics of addiction for an individual and group. Buy here

You and Your Anxious Child, by Anne Marie Albano, PhD.: Dr. Albano illustrates therapies and practicies to help parents manage and teach their children whom are impacted by anxiety. Approximately 25% of youth experiance anxiety, and Dr. Albano shares straties and case studies to help parents better understand their child's anxiety and how to help work with them. Buy here

Clean, by David Sheff; Sheff writes again about drug addiction and it's relationship to the brain function. He provides a guide of sorts to addiction and how it can be related t behavioral decisions. Buy here

Beautiful Boy, by David Sheff; Sheff shares his personal and raw stories of having a son addicted to methamphetamine. By describing his lived pains and challenges, Sheff writes in an empathetic and real light, which any parent or loved on of someone tied in addiction could relate to. Buy here

Chasing the Scream, by Johann Hari; Hari, a presenter of a TED talk in relationship to his book, speaks and writes about his personal journey of uncovering addictions history, seeking out answers to his confusion of what causes addiction and what solves it, and how different countries use prevention and respond to wars of drugs and addiction. Buy here

Dream Land, by Sam Quinones; Quinones has been awarded multiple accolades, awards, and notifications for his book Dream Land, which tells the devastating story of Portsmouth, Ohio's encounters with the prescription medication influx in the 1990s. Buy here

Growing Up Brave, by Donna B. Pincus, PhD.; Dr. Pincus provides straties to help children conquer fear, stress, and anxiety by educating parents on what is going on for their child and how to help them build long-term solutions to their anxieties. Buy here

The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.; Van Kolk, M.D. describes trauma in a real, authentic, and understandable fashion which allows the reader to connect and learn about how trauma has and/or could affect them, and what to do after experiencing a trauma. Dr. Van Kolk is one of the foremost experts in trauma. Buy here


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