Documentary Takes a Personal Look at Substance Use Disorder
Maia Coleman

On Island, a documentary about substance use disorders on Martha’s Vineyard, premieres this Friday, illuminating stories of Islanders who have battled addiction.

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Survey Taps Attitudes About Substance Abuse
Maia Coleman

Most Islanders believe addiction is a serious problem on Martha’s Vineyard, but a survey of community attitudes found that many also see a general attitude of permissiveness.

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Public Health Campaign Takes Aim at Culture of Alcohol, Drugs
Louisa Hufstader

Martha’s Vineyard is set to become a laboratory for social change, as a broad coalition of Islanders prepares to launch a public health campaign aimed at combating the abuse of alcohol and drugs.

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Police, Recovery Coaches Team Up to Offer Substance Abuse Aid

When a person is struggling with a substance use disorder on the Island, police officers are often among the first to know. Recently Edgartown police have begun to take a more intentional approach.

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State Award Aids Substance Abuse Recovery
Landry Harlan

Community Services has been awarded $400,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to open a recovery support center in partnership with the Island hospital.

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County Budget Includes Money to Battle Substance Abuse

A $1.9 million county budget for the coming fiscal year will include a modest expenditure to battle substance abuse disorders on the Vineyard.

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Crisis Stabilization Center at Red House Becomes Reality

Leaders at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services signed off on a long-planned agreement this week that clears the way for use of the building known as the Red House.

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In the Grip of Heroin Addiction, Suboxone Can Be Path to Healing

Several Islanders credit the medication known by the brand name Suboxone for successful, extended recovery from opiate addiction.

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Raising Hope for Help with Substance Abuse
Alex Floyd

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services has spent more than a year working on a plan in collaboration with the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to establish a new short-term outpatient care facility to cope with the problem and provide a new option for treating substance abuse.

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Youth Task Force Takes Teen Pulse On Drug and Alcohol Use
Sara Brown

Citing a community effort to counter teenage drinking, the Youth Task Force announced last week that a youth behavior survey shows a decrease in alcohol use by Island teens, though the rates are slightly higher than the national average.

But they also cited concern about a rise in marijuana use, saying that the legalization of marijuana has contributed to increased use by teenagers.

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