Joining Forces to Address Heroin Epidemic
Hazelden Publishing and Seven Counties Services join forces to address the opioid epidemic in Kentucky
For Immediate Release: March 21, 2016
Contact: Gwen Cooper, VP External Affairs
502-498-0783 gcooper@sevencounties.org
Louisville, KY— Illustrating that decisive and comprehensive steps are needed to address the epidemic of opioid overdoses in the Louisville area, Hazelden Publishing and Seven Counties Services announced today an agreement that will make Seven Counties the first Hazelden Publishing Solution Provider in the nation for its proprietary and innovative Comprehensive Opioid Response with the Twelve Steps (COR-12™) program.
The two organizations will formally announce their collaboration at a joint press conference on Thursday, March 31 at 10:30 AM at the Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center (JADAC), 600 S. Preston Street in downtown Louisville. Media is welcome to attend.
“Opioid addiction is an unspeakable tragic public health crisis, one that demands up-to-date, evidence-based treatment protocols that offer the brightest promise of recovery,” said Marvin D. Seppala, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the world famous Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, of which Hazelden Publishing is part. “We must move past stigma and let evidence-based science and compassion guide our response to this crisis.”
Scott Hesseltine, MA, MBA, LADC, Vice President of Addictions at Seven Counties Services, noted that in metro Louisville there were 43 overdoses reported in the first 14 days of March, up from 26 in February and seven in January, and said that “clearly, there is a pressing need for innovative, evidence based treatments that address the path to recovery in a holistic way.”
COR-12™ program
“The COR-12™ program is about how an abstinence-based, Twelve Step–oriented program like ours can incorporate medications appropriately,” continued Hesseltine. “We believe in and have staff trained in the COR-12™ model and believe strongly in this unique approach that provides long term wraparound services individualized to the special needs of patients with opioid use disorders.”
Under the agreement, nationally-recognized Seven Counties will serve as subject matter expert and designated regional Solution Provider for the training and implementation of the COR-12™ framework for the treatment of opioid use disorders. The two organizations have training events on the protocol scheduled for April, May and June. This national announcement also coincides with the opening of a treatment clinic in Bullitt County as a result of Kentucky Senate Bill 192 funding.
“Joining forces with Seven Counties is a big step forward in our mission to help individuals suffering from opioid addiction,” said Joe Jaksha, publisher at Hazelden Publishing. “Working together we can bring hope and healing to Kentucky, which has been hit so hard by the opioid epidemic.”
Town Hall Meeting
Seven Counties further announced that it will host a special Town Hall Meeting to discuss the heroin crisis and new treatment approaches on Thursday, March 31st beginning at 6:00 PM at the Zoneton Firehouse, 5328 N. Preston Highway, in Shepherdsville.
At that event, a community “Naloxone” training will follow a panel discussion, sponsored by the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition and Seven Counties Prevention Division. Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse an opioid overdose, and kits to administer it will be distributed at the end of the training.
For more information on the press conference announcing the new partnership and the public Town Hall meeting, please contact Gwen Cooper, gcooper@sevencounties.org or 502-498-0783.
About Seven Counties Services
Seven Counties Services is the preferred provider of behavioral health care, substance use and developmental services in Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties of Kentucky. Seven Counties is nationally recognized for innovative and effective services and treatments, and is the largest non-hospital, not-for-profit employer in the Louisville Metro area. Nearly 1,400 clinical and administrative staff members and over 225 volunteers create and deliver quality life changing programs and services to more than 34,000 people annually. Seven Counties is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. For more information visit www.sevencounties.org
About Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and Hazelden Publishing
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Hazelden Publishing, an operating division of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, helps individuals, professionals and organizations recognize, understand and overcome the challenges of substance abuse, addiction and closely related issues by innovating, creating and distributing content along with providing solutions and training. Learn more at www.HazeldenBettyFord.org and on Twitter @hazldnbettyford.