Best Practices for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Our interviews with 70 experts, individuals, families, and clinicians provided incredible insights for addressing the opioid epidemic from a broad industry wide perspective.
Working for the Massachusetts Service Alliance, part of the Corporation for National Community Service, we were tasked with identifying what was working to address the opioid epidemic; and identifying the gaps that represent opportunities for impact.
Interviewing 70 thought leaders from a broad range of behavioral health and treatment sectors allowed us to identify best practices programs and gaps for prevention through treatment and sustained recovery.
BHI then conducted an asset scan and identified possible organizations doing work in the opioid recovery industry that might benefit from additional capacity of 20 AmeriCorps members.
Co-Design Workshops/Journey Mapping
BHI partnered with Mad*Pow to co-host a solution co-design workshop with students in recovery.
We wanted to understand their journeys, hear about their dreams, get insights on where interventions would have helped them earlier in the process, what triggered their decision to seek help, what they’ve gotten back now that they are in recovery.
We’ve held multiple journey mapping and solutions co-design sessions with students in recovery with the intention of creating a staged framework called RAMP®
Drug Story Theater
BHI partnered with Drug Story Theater and the Zeiterion Theater to bring a school and community based performance to Southeastern MA. Students in recovery delivered an improv theater performance about their journey to, and recovery from, addiction.
The performance led to one of the most amazing community discussions around the issues of substance use, addiction and community connection.
The student actors answered questions from students and community members.
We believe the power of peer voices is the most underutilized asset in the field of behavioral health, and performances such as Drug Story Theater where students can hear directly from their peers is an example of a program that has the ingredients to change behaviors.
Creative Expression Project
High School students supported those in recovery with messages of hope and inspiration.
Behavioral Health Innovators invited schools and the recovery community to create artwork in any medium they chose – videos, drawings, slam poetry, photography, and more.
Here is a link to a video created by high school students at Dartmouth High School.
Their video titled “Time Wasted,” was based on a powerful poem called “Wasted Time” which was written by an anonymous young person in recovery.
Prayer flags were also created by Dartmouth (MA) High School students and young people at the Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford.
