Substance Misuse
Beyond Influence
Beyond Influence believes that by promoting healthy choices and habits while simultaneously dispelling the common misconceptions surrounding drinking, smoking and substance use, we, as a community, will provide our population with the tools necessary to say ‘no’ and avoid the numerous pitfalls and dangers associated with substance use.
Beyond Influence seeks to create an environment where all youth and young adults receive support from their families, social networks and communities to achieve their maximum potential. We serve and support the Greater Nashua Public Health Region.
By engaging community members in a coordinated effort to promote behaviors that measurably improve the health and wellbeing of our youth and young adults, Beyond Influence seeks to prevent the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and substances. Beyond Influence seeks the participation of individuals, organizations, businesses, schools, legal system representatives, teens, young adults and their families in a concerted effort to dispel misconceptions surrounding substance abuse and promote positive social norms among youth. Get involved and stay connected by following Beyond Influence on Facebook.
Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care
The Substance Use Disorder Continuum of Care (SUDCoC) represents the ideal integrated framework that covers Prevention, Promotion, Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery. This framework is based on the Resiliency and Recovery Oriented System of Care model which depicts synergy, collaboration, and communication with key stakeholders within the GNPHR. It “encourages communities to support resiliency and recovery and to lay the foundation for public health regions to begin to address the gaps in the continuum over time” (Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS), 2016). Whole-person and whole-community support is vital for the SUDCoC’s success in promoting health, preventing the misuse of substance and overdoses, assuring access to patient-centered and individualized treatment, and helping those suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD) achieve supported, long term recovery.
Throughout this public health crisis, New Hampshire has seen a significant rise in substance use, followed by an increase in demand for SUD services. This increase in demand for services exposed major gaps and barriers within the network of services and the SUDCoC. In response to identifying and acknowledging these gaps in access, BDAS created a position with the main commitment to “developing comprehensive, effective, and accessible continuum of care in every region of the state that includes prevention identification and early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports, and integrated with primary and behavioral health” (BDAS, 2016).
SUDCoC Presentations
- Naloxone/Narcan Training: The objective of this trainings is to learn the signs of an overdose and how to administer Naloxone/Narcan.
- Talking ’Bout My Generation: The objective of this presentation is to discuss and gain an understanding of SUD in NH focused on 18-25 year olds (who compost the largest demographics of substance misuse in NH).
- Harm Reduction and Syringe Service Presentation: Explains harm reduction in the context of SUD, the services that are considered Harm Reduction, and the benefits of a syringe service program.
- SUD Assessments for Adolescents: Focuses on the most common forms of assessments available for adolescents and the settings they are used in.
Access to Services
If you are looking for access to Mental Health, Behavioral Health, or SUD services in the GNPHR, please visit 211nh.org or call 2-1-1. A comprehensive list of Behavioral Health and SUD services in the Greater Nashua region can be found here.