TRANSITIONS’ MEDICAL DIRECTOR HEADS PHYSICIAN … · the U.S. Hazelden, the nation’s largest...
Transcript of TRANSITIONS’ MEDICAL DIRECTOR HEADS PHYSICIAN … · the U.S. Hazelden, the nation’s largest...
Dr. Todd Carran has been the Medical Director at Transitions since
August 18, 2010. During his four years with the agency, he has been
an invaluable asset and professional resource. Transitions was very
fortunate to have as our Medical Director, a doctor certified by the
American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Board
of Addiction Medicine as well as a person who has a passion for
treating addiction. Dr. Carran is an accomplished individual who
possesses the admirable attributes of strong integrity, high standards,
warm personality and a down to earth demeanor, a perfect combination
for a doctor and a healer.
September 2014 www.transitionsnky.org
Dr. Carran’s time has in part been devoted to monitoring medication
for physical and psychological issues for our residents. He has been
tremendously valuable in assessing acute conditions that demanded
the immediate expertise of a medical professional. He has shared
a wealth of knowledge in the development of curriculums that will
continue to be useful in our programs as staff training. In addition,
he created other valuable curriculums and videos that will continue
to be useful. When Transitions saw the need to develop a medication-
assisted program to address the increased heroin addicted population,
Dr. Carran was there to induct, treat and monitor those patients.
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TRANSITIONS’ MEDICAL DIRECTOR HEADS PHYSICIAN PROGRAM AT HAZELDEN BETTY FORD
Local Churches Pay it Forward For a week in April, thousands of church
families ate less to give more ... Page 2
Casey’s Bus Finds New PurposeCasey Wethington purchased a VW bus
with money he received in 1997...
Page 4
Northern KY Hates Heroin... Making a Difference In one year’s time, the impact that N KY
Hates Heroin has made ... Page 3
Ink'
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Thanks to all who participated in our first Bleed for a Cause competition. Transitions placed
13th out of the 64 competing charities! We consider this a respectable showing for our first year.
Congratulations goes to all of the winners of our agency competition. We appreciate
everyone who was willing to Bleed for a Cause!
Now, his expertise takes him west to
Portland, Oregon where he will oversee
the physicians program at one of Hazelden
Betty Ford Foundation’s 15 sites across
the U.S. Hazelden, the nation’s largest
non-profit treatment organization merged
with Betty Ford, another leading addiction
treatment provider to form the Hazelden
Betty Ford Foundation. In January 2013,
a new clinical initiative was introduced
by Hazelden aimed at delivering more
effective treatment for opioid addiction
called COR-12 (Comprehensive Opioid
Response with the Twelve Steps).
This initiative will not be foreign to
Dr. Carran because a major part of his
work at Transitions was to use Suboxone
as an adjunct to the abstinence-based
treatment that the agency has been provid-
ing for 45 years.
While we will certainly miss ‘Dr. Todd’,
as he was known at the agency, we are
extremely proud of him and appreciative of
all that he has brought to Transitions during
his tenure and beyond. Dr. Todd is now in
a prime location for hiking and fly fishing,
we hope he has lots of opportunities to
enjoy these Oregon offerings and has many
rewarding experiences in his new
prestigious position!
LOCAL CHURCHES PAY IT FORWARD
NORTHERN KY HATES HEROIN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
(Continued)
In one year’s time, the impact that N KY
Hates Heroin has made and continues to
make is indescribable. From facebook with
more than 6600 likes, to the website that
provides resources and a point of con-
tact for families seeking help, to directly
being involved in finding treatment for
individuals, to making significant donations
to agencies like Transitions that are the
providers of treatment and other support
services, they are a family who is making
a difference. They are Nicholas Specht’s
family. N KY Hates Heroin was one of the
Silver Sponsors for Transitions Healthy
Newborns House. Combined with a
previous donation, they contributed
$3000 to this project and most recently,
became a Silver Sponsor at the $2500 level
for Transitions’ 45th Anniversary which will
be held on October 3rd. Holly Specht is
currently one of three co-chairs for this
upcoming event, along with Kim Wright
and Pennie Tackett.
On June 7th, N KY Hates Heroin held their
first 5KWalk/Run which garnered tremen-
dous support. While the organizers were
expecting a show of a few hundred, the
actual turnout was more than 1500!
(Photos of the event can be found at www.
facebook.com/nkyhatesheroin/photos)
Due to the success of this event, another
donation of $2000 was made possible and
was designated for Transitions Droege
House, a program that was there when
Nicholas needed help.
We are so very grateful to Nicholas’ family
for their generosity in giving financially and
in giving of their time as committed and
tireless volunteers.
Noel Stegner (left), Nicholas’ grandfather and Holly Specht, Nicholas’ mom presented Transitions’ Executive Director, Mac McArthur, with a check from the proceeds of the first N KY Hates Heroin 5K Walk/Run.
For a week in April, thousands of
church families ate less to give more to
organizations like Transitions that are
busy changing the world everyday.
A fast of beans and rice resulted in
remarkable savings on each family’s grocery
bill. The savings was then tallied up and
collectively invested. For Crossroads
Church the collection came to a grand
total of $497,975.77! Transitions received
$10,000 of the designated $200,000 raised
by Crossroads and dedicated solely to
addressing the heroin epidemic in the
Tri-State area.
Members of Grace Fellowship Evangelic
Free Church also participated in the beans
and rice fast and donated $2, 851.67 to the
work of Transitions.
These donations will be used helping
babies born to heroin addicted
mothers by supporting Transitions Healthy
Newborns House.
[ www.nkyhatesheroin.com ]
Terry Phillips (pictured left), Crossroads Churchand Peter La Ruffa, Grace Fellowship EvangelicFree Church presented checks to Transitionsfrom the beans and rice fast.
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Interact for Health announced they have
awarded grants totaling $171,000 to “help
curb the heroin epidemic in Northern
Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati”.
Transitions, one of the four agencies to
receive an Interact for Health grant, will
use its $28, 880 over two years to make
Suboxone more available to low income
individuals and increase the number of
Naloxone rescue kits.
The grant will cover, the cost of bringing
low-income patients into the Transitions
Suboxone program. Suboxone is an FDA
approved medication used to assist the
treatment for opiate addiction. Suboxone
is prescribed by a physician following an
assessment of the patient. It can be effective
in managing withdrawal symptoms which
in turn helps the individual to engage
in treatment.
The grant will also help increase the
availability of Naloxone in Northern
Kentucky. Funding will provide the
materials included in 480 Naloxone
Rescue Kits which will be distributed
by Northern KY People Advocating
Recovery at the free clinic in Coving-
ton and to patients leaving the Droege
Detox Unit at Transitions. Naloxone is a
medication which can reverse a potentially
fatal opiate overdose and is the generic
of Narcan which is used routinely
in hospital emergency departments to
reverse overdoses on opiates.
While most of the funding from the grant
will be dedicated to direct client services, a
portion will also be dedicated to staff train-
ing and the development of measurement
tools to capture data evaluate success and
inform future strategies.
Volunteers from N KY PAR (People
Advocating Recovery), N KY Hates Heroin
as well as others in the community have
been and will continue to be essential in
the effort to combat the opioid epidemic,
in particular their dedication to the free
Naloxone clinics.
Information concerning the times and locations of Naloxone clinics can be found at www.nkypar.org
TRANSITIONS AWARDED INTERACT FOR HEALTH GRANTCASEY’S BUS FINDS NEW PURPOSE
IN THE KNOW: EVENTS SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBERSeptember 13th NKY Ride Against Addiction
& Picnic
Grant County Park11:30 AM Registration
1:00 PM Ride Begins
Sunday September 14th at 2:00 PM & Tuesday September 16th at 6: 30 PMThe Anonymous PeopleBoone County Public Library
1786 Burlington Pike
Florence, KY 41042
October 3rd Transitions’ 45th Anniversary CelebrationMontgomery Inn Boathouse
6:30 - 11:00 PM
October 25th Run 4 Recovery 5kBlessed Sacrament Church
2407 Dixie Highway
Ft. Mitchell KY 9:00 AM
October 25th LNKY Fund Rising Wine TastingVerona Vineyards Noon – 6:00 PM
October 30th Candlelight Vigil Remembering those who have died to
the disease of addiction.
Transitions Grateful Life Center
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Something had to be done immediately to “stop the dying”
Casey Wethington purchased a VW
bus with money he received in 1997 as
graduation gifts. Until this past year, it sat in
the place it had occupied for more than a
decade. Now, Casey’s 1967 Kombi is on
the road again to help save lives. It will
be a year in November that Northern
Kentucky’s Collective Response to the
Heroin Epidemic was rolled out at the
Covington Convention Center. While
there were many components to ‘the plan’,
there was one area of concentration that took
precedence over all the rest. Something
had to be done immediately to “stop
the dying”.
Two things happened, Naloxone had
been proven to be effective in reversing
potentially fatal opiate overdoses and the
state legislature made it possible for the
prescribing of this medication to KY
families. Over the past year, N KY PAR
(People Advocating Recovery) with the
support of Transitions and numerous
volunteers manned two permanent sites
established for free naloxone clinics. But
what about people who do not have ready
access to these locations, one in Covington
and one in Falmouth?
Since Casey died of a heroin overdose,
it seemed only fitting that his bus be
used as a mobile unit. After much tender
loving care, Casey’s bus is ready to travel
to areas around N KY. It’s next stop is
planned for the Kenton County Public
Library, Covington Branch on Saturday,
November 8th at 1:00 p.m.
The clinics, permanent and mobile, offer
so much more than Naloxone and the
training that goes with it. The clinics
provide resources, education and a point of
contact that could save a life and help to
“stop the dying”.
Visit www.nkypar.org for future clinic dates, times and locations.
Photo by: Chris Stegner, BluegrassPhotography.Net
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I entered the Transitions Grateful Life
Center on April4th of 2012. Not knowing
what to expect, surprisingly, I was made
to feel right at home by the staff and the
clients. Over the course of the next 21
months, my life and the way I perceived
it was slowly going to change. The GLC
taught me responsibility and accountability.
They said that the answer to my problem
was in a twelve step program. At first, I
was skeptical but the further I went in
the program, the more I noticed my life
starting to change for the better. I realized
that I cared about the community around
me and I wanted to make a difference
Megan Aike
Campbell County Drug-Free Alliance
(Allyn Reinecke)
Katie Copeland
Crossroads Community Church
Duane & Robin DeGroff
Paige Dodd
Jill Duke
Brian Eviston
The GE Foundation (Robert Corcoran)
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
(Laura Menge)
Meredith Henkenberns
Interact for Health
Randy Lawrence
Elizabeth Long
Debra Myers
NKYHATESHEROIN.COM
Terry Parker
Donald Keith Riddell
Edward L. Smith, Jr.
Theresa Specht
Brian & Emily Walters
Pat West
Jessica Willingham
Anthony & Geraldine Zembrodt
This was the 4th year for Transitions
Grateful Life Center Alumni Picnic. More
than 250 alumni, family and friends attend-
ed the event that included games, prizes,
and fun for all. The food was catered by
the Brighton Recovery Center for Women,
“Center Table – Catering With A Purpose”.
A GRATITUDE MOMENT FROM MARK THANK YOU...Transitions, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which provides substance abuse related services to those who cannot obtain them elsewhere.
In order to do this, we count on the generosity of others. We thank the following individuals, companies, foundations, and agencies which have
recently contributed to Transitions:
Transitions is extremely grateful for the donations made in honor of (IHO) and/or in memory of (IMO) your loved ones. Thank you for thinking of us.
IMO of Tony Bardo Jr.OMEGA Processing Solutions (Scott Henderson & Todd McHugh), Gary & Terri Shields, Constance Demerrero, Michael & Amy Menner,
Frank & Cheryl Kammerer, John & Vicki Lynn Beck, Janice Farrell, Floyd & Susan Williams, Karma Wood, Michael & Cynthia Rilling, Philip &
Mary Ciafardini, Ann Bardo, Samuel & Nancy Ruschell, Kathleen Tieman, Debbie Rechtin,
Mitchells Salon & Day Spa In. (West Chester), Timothy & Margaret Slater, Joseph & Pamela Stone
We apologize in advance for any names inadvertently left off this list. Please send corrections to this list to Charlotte Wethington at: [email protected]
TRANSITIONS GRATEFUL LIFE CENTER ANNUAL ALUMNI PICNIC
and for me it started with GLC. I’m able
to sponsor guys at GLC, teach classes and
simply just be a part of something great.
At this year’s Alumni Picnic on August 9th ,
all of the guys who completed the
program received a coin for being alumni
of the GLC. Much to my surprise they
had something else they wanted to give
out. The host of the picnic announced
the names of 8 nominees for the “Alumni
of the Year Award”. First, I was standing
next to a really great group of guys who
I’m proud to call my friends. Then the
moment came for the presentation of
the award, and my name was announced.
Bob Brink
Paul Casey
Covington Catholic High School
Stella Davis
Jennifer Dershem
Kristen Dorsch
Chrissy Dunn
Focus on Success
Ron & Mickey Ginter
Hazelden Publishing (Jody K RW 9)
Jason & Brooke Hiltz
Larry & Judy Kramer
Neil & Pearl Leonard
Lynda Matthews
Ruth Neltner
Paul Ochsner
Brenda Purcel c/o Lori Purcel
Scanlon & Associates (Geof Scanlon)
Mona Snyder
Vineyard Christian Church
Kathy Walz
Charlotte Wethington
Mrs. Volter
Jessica Zink
Karen Cain
Twenty-four of the more than 300 alumni
of the program were present with thirteen
of those receiving an alumni coin as the
alumni of 2014. This year was the first time
for those who have completed all phases of
the program to join the newly formed GLC
Alumni Association. We are grateful for all
who contributed in any way to this event,
Immediately, my emotions consumed me.
As I received the award, I was asked to
speak. Just then, I looked out in the crowd
to see my daughter running to give me a
hug so big I started to cry. Then as I raised
my head, I see my son who is also in tears
because he is so proud of me. It is moments
like what happened there that push me to
do more. I don’t know if I could ever give
back to GLC what it has given me. I love
the GLC and the chance that it has given
me to better my life, and for that I will be
forever grateful.
Complete Mechanical Services
(Aaron Fry)
Lori Cox
David & Jill Ditzel
Lauren Deters
Duke Energy
Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Dutle
Shelley Frommeyer
Grace Fellowship Evangelical
Free Church
Erica Helmle
Amanda Hopper
Casey Kresser
Lifeline Ministries (Chris Caddell)
Soctt McKinley
Joe Newman
John Spence & Colleen O'Toole
Jamie Richey
Bob Schrage
The Spaulding Foundation
Sheery Walters
James Webster
George Williams
Mr. & Mrs. James Younger
especially Michelle Young, together with
her husband, Aquarius Young, Phase I
Coordinator at GLC, who make up the
‘dynamic duo’ that has organized the event
every year.
Mark D., Transitions Grateful Life Center Alumni Association’s
“Alumni of the Year”.
Transitions Grateful Life Center 2014 Alumni: Pictured left to right, Chad
N., Alex H., Troy H., John H., Mark D., Robert P., Jordan R., Derek K., Ricky
C., Brent J., Josh Z., Tim R., and Josh C.
www.transitionsky.org
Keep your face to the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you" — Helen Keller
Administrative Offices
700 Fairfield Avenue / Bellevue, KY 41073
Phone (859) 491-4435
FAX (859) 491-6598
TDD (859) 491-4436
TRANSITIONS, INC. MISSIONThe mission of Transitions is to help people transition from the pain of addiction to the gratitude of recovery through comprehensive support services. Transitions helps individuals, families, and communities, break the cycles of substance abuse, family abuse, violence, crime and poverty.
Transitions, Inc. was founded in 1969 by volunteers concerned about the lack of substance abuse treatment for the uninsured in Northern Kentucky. Today, we offer women and men a holistic continuum of care comprised of nonmedical detoxification, residential substance abuse treatment, outpatient substance abuse treatment, and supportive housing.
We assist the indigent, the uninsured, the homeless and the working poor of Kentucky.
Editor
Charlotte Wethington
E-Mail [email protected]
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