Council Administrative Offices | 215.345.6644 -- Information, Intervention, Recovery Support Line | 1.800.221.6333
News
In the News
Back to BCOPE Home Page
View and Download PDF flyer for Narcan training here:
View and Download PDF flyer for Narcan training here:
September 21st, 2016 at 7:00 to 8:30 pm Upper Perkiomen YMCA 1399 Quakertown Rd, Pennsburg PA
August 30, 2016 at 7:30 p.m Barn Plaza 1745 Easton Road, Doylestown PA
Generation Found
Reserve your Seat Today http://gathr.us/screening/15681
From the creators of the groundbreaking film, THE ANONYMOUS PEOPLE, comes GENERATION FOUND, a powerful story about one community coming together to ignite a youth addiction recovery revolution in their hometown. Devastated by an epidemic of addiction, Houston faced the reality of burying and locking up its young people at an alarming rate. And so in one of the largest cities in America, visionary counselors, law school dropouts, aspiring rock musicians, retired football players, oil industry executives, and church leaders came together to build the world’s largest peer-driven youth and family recovery community.
Independently filmed over the course of two years, GENERATION FOUND takes an unprecedented and intimate look at how a system of treatment centers, sober high schools, alternative peer groups, and collegiate recovery programs can exist in concert to intervene early and provide a real and tested long-term alternative to the “War on Drugs.” It is not only a deeply personal story, but one with real-world utility for communities struggling with addiction worldwide.
8-31-16 International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. Overdose Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
Click here to find out more about IOAD: http://www.overdoseday.com/
7-27-16 Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission provide FREE Opioid Toolkits to community
Contact David Fialko at Dfialko@councilsepa.org for more info or to acquire toolkits.
5-11-16 Bensalem Narcan Training
5-9-16 D.A.V.E Narcan Training
4-30-16 GOT DRUGS? Turn in your unused, undeeded or expired medications for safe disposal - go to www.buckspromise.blogspot.com for more info.
3-2-16 Warrington Police Officers recognized at State Capitol
Several Warrington Township Police Officers were recognized for the departments use of Naloxone when faced with opioid overdose. Naloxone is useful both in acute opioid overdose and in reducing respiratory depression due to opioids such as heroin or prescription opioid pain medications. To date their have been over 600 reported overdose reversals performed by the states dedicated law enforcment officers. Click here to read more
2-28-16 Mayor of Ithaca, NY wants to host nations first supervised heroin injection facility
The mayor of Ithaca, New York says he wants his city to be the first in the United States to host a supervised injection facility for people who use heroin, the Associated Press reports. Read more here
2-18-16: BCOPE's New Logo announcement
During the February 11, 2016 Bucks County Overdose Prevention & Education Collaborative (BCOPE) monthly meeting, our focus was two fold. First we unvailed the logo selected to be the face for BCOPE marketing. The logo designer, Mr. Douglas Good a Central Bucks South student, accepted prizes which included a cash prize donated by Warren Industries / North American Survey Supply Co., a day in Harrisburg as a page to Representative Marguerite Quinn, and a commemorative plaque recognizing his talents by the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission. Mr. Emmett Nyce, a student at Central Bucks South, received the honor of runner-up. Emmett accepted a cash prize also donated by Warren Industries / North American Survey Supply Co., a certificate for a tour of the Capital Building in Washington DC for four people – donated by Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, a gift basket donated by Representative Frank Farry, as well as a commemorative plaque recognizing his talents by the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Second, the meeting highlighted a collaborative effort between Bucks County Probation Parole, The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission and BCOPE. As a result of this collaborative effort, materials were designed to educate and combat the rise in overdose deaths across the county. Starting in February 2016, all new intakes at Bucks County Probation Parole will receive a packet providing them with information on “Where to turn for help with drug and alcohol issues in Bucks County”, "Overdose Response", how to utilize the Bucks County Drug Tips Hotline, PAStop.org info, and Bucks County Medication Disposal Drop Box list. These packets will also be made available as resource to any community member at sites such as The Council of Southeast PA, Inc., The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and other treatment providers who participate in the dissemination efforts. It is our hope that these packets will increase the likelihood that Bucks County community members receive the treatment, services and/or knowledge base that will help save a life.
Please explore our website for resources and more information on the successes BCOPE is achieving in Bucks County. BCOPE is a collaborative that is open to anyone who wishes to participate. The next meeting is Thursday, March 10th - from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Location is: Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. We hope to see you there, please contact David Fialko at dfialko@councilsepa.org for more information on getting involved.
Click on image below for a slideshow of the meeting highlights
2-14-16 A new poll finds 49 percent of Americans say heroi use is a vey serious national problem.
2-4-16 Central Bucks School District Nurses Trained on Naloxone
Fifty two Nurses participated in a Naloxone Training and panel. The panel consisted Mr. David Fialko, Prevention Specialist, The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., Mr. Richard Vona, Director of Law Enforcement Training, Bucks County, Mr. Matthew D. Weintraub, Chief of Prosecution, District Attorney Office Bucks County, Chief Kenneth Coluzzi, Police Chief, Lower Makefield Township Police,Dr. Brenda Foley, Assistant Medical Director, Emergency Department, Doylestown Health. The school district will implement the nurses and health staff access to Naloxone once policy and procedure is approved.
1-30-16 Drug and alcohol programs and experts in Pennsylvania are working to reduce overdose deaths and get the antidote known as naloxone into more peoples' hands
The Bucks Courier Times ran an article on how Bucks County is combating the heroin /opioid overdose pandemic. Click here for the article and video
1-27-16 Bucks County Rangers Trained on Naloxone
Fifteen Bucks County Rangers have been trained on Naloxone adminstration for first responders. The Bucks County Rangers have now joined the ranks of other law enforcement and first responders to provide the life saving drug to persons experiencing an overdose.
1-4-16 Neshaminy School District Nurses Trained on Naloxone
Fourteen Nurses and Health Staff participated in a Naloxone Training provided by BCOPE. The school district will implement the nurses and health staff access to Naloxone once policy and procedure is approved.
11-21-15 Pennridge & Council Rock School District Nurses Trained on Naloxone
Seventeen Pennridge School District Nurses & thirty three Council Rock School District nurses participated in a Naloxone Training provided by BCOPE. The school districts will implement nurses access to Naloxone once policy and procedure is approved.
11-20-15: Pa., N.J. lead nation in young men's overdose deaths
Pennsylvania leads the nation - New Jersey is fourth - in drug overdose deaths among young adult men, according to a new analysis, raising the level of urgency about an epidemic that over the past decade has killed more than twice as many Americans as homicide. Read full article here
11-19-15: Drug Overdose Rates Soaring Among U.S. Youth
Drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed among teens and young adults in the United States, with rates tripling or quadrupling in one out of every three states, a new report says. Read Full Article
11-19-15: State Physician General Rachel Levine signed a standing order for Naloxone (Narcan)
As of last week 10-29-15 Governor Tom Wolf’s administration signed a state wide standing order for intranasal naloxone. What this has allowed for is not only improved access by means of the over the counter availability but it also opened the door for a new user friendly FDA approved form of Naloxone (Narcan). Narcan Nasal Spray has been made easier to administer since no assembly is required, it is pre-packaged, easy to open and relatively inexpensive and does not require any formal training.
Pricing varies for the NARCAN® (naloxone hydrochloride) nasal spray. Average price for the two pack 2mg per dose seems to start around the $41.00 price point. It is suggested you call around for best price.
Prescription drug abuse and heroin use have taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families, while straining law enforcement and treatment programs. Today, the President will travel to West Virginia to hear directly from individuals and families affected by this epidemic and the health care professionals, law enforcement officers, and community leaders working to prevent addiction and respond to its aftermath. Read More....
10-27-15 Naloxone (Narcan)Training/Kit Distribution Coming to Bensalem, PA
Training will make the lifesaving antidote to an Opioid overdose available to the family and friends of those who struggle with the disease of addiction.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 this free program comes to Bensalem, PA.
This session marks the 6th for the group
The event will take place from 7pm-9:00pm at the Bensalem Township Building
24oo Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020.
Reservations are required and sign-ups are limited. To register, individuals should send their name to davewarriors73@gmail.com
Livingrin to Host Naloxone Training:
Naloxone access in Montogemery County:
Mongtgomery County Commissioner Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, in her capacity as interim county medical director, Thursday issued an order allowing the county’s approximate 160 licensed pharmacies to dispense naloxone to the public without a prescription.
Read more here: Montgomery County pharmacies can issue overdose antidote without a prescription
October 28th: Heroin Kills!’ talk to be held at DelVal
DelVal will host a community education event on the heroin epidemic in Bucks County on Oct. 28.
Delaware Valley University’s criminal justice and counseling psychology departments are working together to host a seminar on the heroin epidemic in Bucks County. The seminar will be Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Life Sciences Building auditorium. The event is open to the community and there is no cost to attend. Guests do not need to register in advance. Assistant District Attorney Matt Weintraub will be leading the program.
October: PASTOP.org
The PASTOP.org website is designed to educate parents, teachers, family members and other caregivers about the risks of prescription painkiller and heroin use, the relationship between prescription painkiller and heroin use, and what to do when you need help.
Funded through a generous grant from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), the website offers free materials about opiate addiction for D&A professionals to download and distribute, as well as information and resources for anyone looking for HELP.
PA Stop is designed to educate Pennsylvanians about the risks of prescription painkiller and heroin use, the relationship between painkiller and heroin use, and what to do when you need help. They are working to prevent non-medical use of prescription painkillers and, in so doing, to break the connection between heroin and prescription painkillers. Together, we can stop opiate addiction before it starts.
We encourage all of you to visit their website and explore how you can utilize their resources.
October 26th - Town Hall Meeting - Quakertown
October - National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month (NMAAM)
Did you know that one in five young adults has abused a prescription drug and that one in 25 youth ages, 12 through 17, has abused cough medicine to get high from its dextromethorphan ingredient (CADCA 2015)? The Council is taking part in National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month to help raise awareness about the dangers of prescription (Rx) drug abuse and over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine abuse. For more information about prescription and/or over-the-counter medicine abuse, check out the links below:
Teen Medicine Abuse Fact Sheet
Rx Take Back in Bucks County - Saturday - October 17th
www.preventrxabuse.org/other-resources/helpful-websites/#.Vg5-GflViko
9-22-15 Overprescribed opiate painkillers take heavy human toll
By STATE REP. GENE DIGIROLAMO and DEB BECK | Posted: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 12:15 am
“Pseudo-addiction” is a term utilized to minimize and misrepresent the dangers of addiction to prescription opiates, according to a lawsuit filed in California against the major manufacturers of prescription opiates.
Zohydro ER, an extended release hydrocodone product (an opiate), was approved for sale in the United States by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration despite an 11-2 vote of disapproval by its own medical advisory panel.
Opana, a new narcotic painkiller believed to be 10 times stronger than morphine, was approved by the FDA in 2006, with an extended-release product approved in 2013. Now, there is widespread diversion of suboxone, a prescription opiate intended to treat heroin addiction. In addition, recently we learned the FDA has approved the use of the painkiller Oxycontin for children as young as 11.
What’s going on here?
In August of this year, the Washington Post reported the federal government “... proposed $133 million in new spending to curb the overprescription of opioid painkillers, the drugs that have proved to be the primary gateway to heroin use....” (Washington Post, Aug. 16)
Overprescribing? Yes indeed. Over 16,000 pounds — eight tons — of unneeded, discarded prescription and other drugs were taken off the streets of Pennsylvania through the drug take-back program in a single year. Eight tons of these drugs were prescribed but were apparently unneeded.
Certainly, there are legitimate uses for these drugs, but how could our aim be this bad?
A report of Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission (June 2015) identifies family and friends as the leading sources for these prescription drug opiates. Family and friends — not some Colombian drug cartel. And where do family and friends get prescription opiates? Overwhelmingly, they are obtained from physicians who are subject to a thunderous, murderous marketing campaign to prescribe these drugs.
With 2,525 people dead in one year in Pennsylvania, it’s time to turn off the faucet.
In 2014, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly met with representatives of the manufacturers of prescription drug opiates and asked them to fund some minor initiatives, including drug take-back boxes and Pennsylvania’s new Prescription Drug Monitoring program to address a problem primarily created by the manufacturers themselves. The industry has never responded to this request.
In the meantime, the companies project $15 billion in profits on the sale of prescription opiates in 2016. Also in the meantime, 2,525 Pennsylvanians lost their lives to prescription drug overdoses in 2013, with higher numbers expected in subsequent years.
Recently, the General Assembly enacted legislation to save Pennsylvanians from the very overprescribing discussed here by making Narcan widely available and by establishing the Prescription Drug Monitoring program.
It’s time for the prescription drug manufacturers to step up and take responsibility. It is time for accountability.
House Bill 1511 (DiGirolamo, prime sponsor) would establish just such accountability by imposing a 10 percent impact fee on the sale of opiates in the commonwealth. This impact fee on the manufacturers would be utilized to clean up the damage done to our communities by these powerful, addictive drugs. Funds would go to the counties to purchase life-saving Narcan for local police, to fund opiate-related criminal justice costs and to provide drug and alcohol counseling in county jails.
In addition, the impact fee would provide long-term residential addiction treatment through Department of Drug and Alcohol programs, and would be utilized to support the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in the Department of Health.
Over 2,500 Pennsylvanians are dead. It is time for accountability.
9-29-15 BCOPE Meeting
Come out for BCOPE's Fall Kick Off Meeting! Findout what BCOPE's Advisory Board will be focusing their efforts on and how you can help. The meeting is open to the public. Contact David Fialkoat 215-230-8218 x 3162 or at Dfialko@councilsepa.org with any questions.
10-26-15 Voices of Hope Town Hall Meeting
Voices Of Hope - Town Hall Meeting
Date: Monday, October 26, 2015
Time: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Auditorium
429 S. 9th Street
Quakertown PA 18951
Come join others in your community in the fight against opiate addiction.
Hear leaders from other communities who have started programs to address this crisis.
Complimentary pizza and soda will be provided.
We are all affected by this issue and we each have a role to play. Please join us.
Click Here to View or Download Flyer
9-15-15 Naloxone Training and Kit Distribution
D.A.V.E. – Drug Addiction oVerdose Education, Inc. was founded to help save lives by getting Naloxone into the hands of the friends and family members of those who struggle with the disease of addiction. A secondary focus is to give a voice to the discussion of addiction as a disease, so that we can reduce the stigma and help those that struggle. We believe that addiction is chronic but very treatable, and that the lives of those impacted are worth saving. We are committed to helping keep people alive until they can help themselves. Since January, we have distributed over 300 overdose kits at five Naloxone Training Sessions in Bucks County. September 15th will be our 6th training session. We are interested in working collaboratively with all agencies and individuals to end this epidemic in our County. Please visit our FaceBook and join Here is the link: www.facebook.com/drug.addiction.overdose.education
7-29-15 Drug Forum - Rep. Drugs in Our Community: Reality Check! click here for flyer
In 2014, more than 200 Bucks County residents died from drug-related causes. According to the Center for Disease Control, our country is in the midst of an overdose epidemic. We are not exempt!
- Join Rep. Quin and local experts to learn more about questions you should be asking, signs you may be missing and how/where to seek help forsomeone who may be suffering with a drug addiction.
- Tour a mock ’teenage bedroom’ display with an expert;you may see things differently from this angle
- Bring your old , unused or expired prescription drugs for proper disposal
- Wednesday, July 29
4 - 7 p.m.
Bucks County Intermediate Unit
705 North Shady Retreat Road, Doylestown - RSVP to 215-489-2126
7-13-15 - Local Grass Roots Organization D.A.V.E gets Naloxone doses into the hands of community members.
D.A.V.E. – Drug Addiction oVerdose Education, Inc. was founded to help save lives by getting Naloxone into the hands of the friends and family members of those who struggle with the disease of addiction. A secondary focus is to give a voice to the discussion of addiction as a disease, so that we can reduce the stigma and help those that struggle. We believe that addiction is chronic but very treatable, and that the lives of those impacted are worth saving. We are committed to helping keep people alive until they can help themselves. Since January, we have distributed 150 overdose kits at four Naloxone Training Sessions in Bucks County. We are planning another session in September. We are interested in working collaboratively with all agencies and individuals to end this epidemic in our County.
Last week D.A.V.E. launched a facebook page as a way to spread the word about all the efforts that are taking place in our county to combat this addiction. D.A.V.E. invites you to like and share this page. D.A.V.E. is interested in building an information hub and promoting your work on this page, so that the public is informed of all of the efforts that are taking place to combat this disease.
Here is the link: www.facebook.com/drug.addiction.overdose.education
12-1-14 - Good Samaritan Law Takes Effect
Starting today, people can call 911 for help when a person is overdosing without fear of being charged with a crime. Furhermore, anyone can now request a prescription for Naloxone (a life saving drug that once was only accessable by trained personal such as EMT's and First Responders) from a physcian. With the combination of having 911 access without fear of prosecution and having Naloxone readily available to the public, we will no doubt see a increase the number of lives saved by the passing of this law. If you would like to attend a training to learn more about what an overdose is and how to respond to one, contact David Fialko at 215-230-8218 x 3162 or Dfialko@councilsepa.org
10-1-14 - Good Samaritan Law Has Been Passed in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed legislation on Tuesday September 30th, 2014 to provide prosecutorial immunity to people who overdose on drugs and witnesses who call emergency authorities for help. The Bill, SB1164, introduced by Senator Dominic Pileggi, also expands access to the overdose antidote Naloxone / Narcan by allowing physicians to prescribe Naloxone / Narcan to friends and family members of persons with opiate addictions. Click here to read more
9-2-14 - Pitt School of Pharmacy Developing an Overdose Prevention Website with Collaborators from Around the State
– With funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) has launched a statewide overdose prevention website called OverdoseFreePA, which aims to support efforts within participating counties to reduce overdose and overdose deaths. The site’s URL is www.overdosefreepa.pitt.edu. click here to read more
6-2014 - New Link on The Councils website: "Legislation Updates"
This new page will be updated periodically to reflect current status and actions taken on active legislation in both the House and Senate. CLICK HERE
6-23-14 - Cabinet drugs to street drugs
Click Here to see the new PSA addressing opioid abuse in Bucks County. This video was originally created by OCSAPC from Wheeling, WV and shot and edited by Seth Miller, and with thier permission, we are using it to promote substance abuse prevention.
10-25-13 - Discussing the topic of Heroin Use Amongst Suburban Youth on NPR’s WHY FM’s Marty Moss-Coane Radio Times
DAVID FIALKO, a prevention specialist at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and JEREMIAH DAILY, executive director of the Philadelphia-Camden High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program explore the topic at hand.
Click hear to listen to broadcast
This project is made possible by funding through the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. 
Advocacy | Prevention | Information Dissemination & Training | Intervention | Recovery Support