22 | SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

T

his September marks the 
32nd National Recovery 
Month, an annual obser-
vance to recognize and educate 
the American public on addic-
tion and/or men-
tal health and to 
promote recovery. 
This year’s theme 
is Recovery is For 
Everyone: Every 
Person, Every 
Family, Every 
Community. And 
it reminds people in recovery 
and those who support them that 
no one should ever feel alone in 
the journey. Although everyone’s 
journey is different, we are all in 
this together.
Yes, even if you’re Jewish! 
As a young child, I was told 
that we couldn’t become alco-
holics or addicts because our 
faith, traditions and community 
served to protect us. Fast for-
ward many decades later in my 
present role as an addictions 
therapist; I know that while 
faith, family, community are 
protective, they are not an invin-
cible shield. Addiction can be 
found in households and com-
munities regardless of income, 
education, observance or togeth-
erness.
The Jewish Addiction 
Resource Alliance (JARA) is a 

relatively new group, developed 
over the last few years after 
Jewish Family Service hosted 
a day filled with learning and 
resources. The most critical 
takeaway from that day? That 
there are members of our Jewish 
community who are struggling 
with their addictions, and there 
are loved ones who are feeling 
alone and isolated. Membership 
in either group transcends level 
of religious observance.
Through JARA, represen-
tatives from local prevention 
coalitions, treatment facilities, 
clergy and community members 
are banding together to develop 
innovative programming and 
gather resources that members 
of the Jewish community can 
feel comfortable seeking.
Of the estimated 2,684 over-
dose deaths in Michigan in 
2020, 1,768 are attributed to opi-
oids. This represents an increase 
of 16% over 2019, yet less than 
the nationwide average of 30% 
as reported by the United States 
Centers for Disease Control 
(CDC). 
The Michigan Opioids Task 
Force and Michigan Department 
of Health and Human Services 
(MDHHS) have partnered in 
several initiatives to bring these 
numbers down even lower. The 
MDHHS 2021 Opioids Strategy 

is multi-faceted in its approach 
with specific initiatives targeting 
prevention, treatment, harm 
reduction, criminal justice and 
pregnant and parenting users. 
The data is being used to ensure 
equity in access to treatment. 
You can read more about it at 
michigan.gov/opioids.
One example of this 
multi-faceted effort is to increase 
access to Naloxene, (common-
ly known by its brand names 
Narcan or Evzio), which, when 
used within the first 30-90 
minutes of a suspected opioid 
overdose, can reverse the effects. 
Naloxene is found on all EMS 
responders, in ERs and in many 
pharmacies without a prescrip-
tion. Administration is simple 
to learn and a short training is 
encouraged. In fact, anyone in 
the community can take advan-
tage of a free training on Sept. 
19. (See sidebar.)
While I cannot say with cer-
tainty how many lives can be 
saved, I will borrow this quote 
from the Talmud (Sanhedrin 
37a), which has been requoted 
in the movie Schindler’s List:
“Whoever saves one life, saves 
the world entire.
” 

Maureen Lyn Bernard, LMSW, ACSW, 

CADC, CCS, is a clinical therapist at 

Jewish Family Service.

Save a Life:
National Recovery 
Month

Maureen
Lyn Bernard

Free Drive-Up 
Narcan Training

Training takes place 
from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, 
Sept. 19, at Henry Ford 
West Bloomfield Hospital—
Maplegrove Center (6773 
W. Maple Road).
Attendees will receive 
training on the prop-
er administration of the 
intra-nasal Narcan over-
dose reversal drug. You 
must be at least 14 years 
of age to receive a Save a 
Life kit, which includes two 
doses of 4 mg nasal Narcan. 
Registration is appreciat-
ed but not required: tinyurl.
com/driveupmaplegrove.
For more information, call 
(248) 221-7101.
 Offered by the Alliance 
of Coalitions for Healthy 
Communities, Greater West 
Bloomfield Community 
Coalition, Tri-Community 
Coalition, Henry Ford West 
Bloomfield Hospital and 
Maplegrove Center, Jewish 
Addiction Resource Alliance 
and the West Bloomfield 
Fire Department.

Jewish Addiction 
Resource Alliance (JARA) is 
a coalition of organizations, 
agencies, congregations 
and people represent-
ing points along the vast 
spectrum of addiction and 
recovery. JARA’s vision is to 
eliminate the stigma asso-
ciated with addiction within 
the Jewish community 
through education, resourc-
es and support to the indi-
vidual, the family and the 
larger community.
For more information, 
contact the JFS Resource 
Center at (248) 592-2313 or 
resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.
org.

