Having some faith in substance abuse prevention
Newport County churches get involved in fighting opioid epidemic
PORTSMOUTH/TIVERTON/LITTLE COMPTON — The Rev. John Higginbotham can testify that members of the clergy are not shielded from the harsh realities of opioid abuse in their communities. In fact, they often come face to face with it.
“In May of 2017, we had a parishioner who lost her son to an opioid overdose. It was heroin laced with fentanyl,” said Father Higginbotham, an Episcopal priest at Holy Trinity Church in Tiverton.
Ray Davis, the former coordinator of the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition and now the assistant director of the Newport County Prevention Coalition, is all too familiar with the tragedy.
“I worked with that young man when he was at Portsmouth High School years ago, and I knew the mom. What (the parents) have gone through, none of us can comprehend what that’s like,” said Mr. Davis, a member of Father Higginbotham’s congregation.
Now prevention specialists and local clergy are working collaboratively to support the health and safety of those families inflicted by the disease of addiction. The Newport County Prevention Coalition will host a two-day “Faith Forum” for prevention professionals and faith leaders on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 29-30, at the Atlantic Resort in Middletown (see related story).
“This is a health issue; it’s not a moral failure. There’s help available and we’ll help you find it,” said Mr. Davis.
Local prevention coalitions first reached out to clergy members in Portsmouth, Little Compton and Tiverton about six years ago.
“We started inviting people to come to a clergy breakfast,” said Rebecca Elwell, director of the regional coalition. “We wanted to gather people to start a conversation on ways we could work together with the faith communities and prevention. We also just wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the faith leaders for the work they were already doing in prevention. They serve a tremendous role in the lives of young people in prevention, but also in the lives of families who are struggling through addiction or the loss of a loved one due to addiction.”
‘Protective factor’
The faith community is key in prevention, Mr. Davis said, because it offers what’s known as a “protective factor.”
“We know if kids are involved in an athletic activity or the arts, that’s a protective factor. Same thing if a family’s involved in a faith community. The scientific facts are they are less likely to become involved with substance abuse issues,” he said.
Not every church got on board, Mr. Davis acknowledged. “It’s just like the schools. When I first started in Portsmouth, I heard, ‘Well, we can’t be as bad as Barrington.’ Some churches are the same, saying, ‘We don’t have the problem here,’ while others told us they were glad we were here.”
Father Higginbotham was one of the faith leaders who did jump on board. No shrinking violet, for two years he fought plans to bring a Twin River Casino to Tiverton. He lost that battle, but is starting up a Gamblers’ Anonymous chapter at the church. The first weekly meeting is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26.
Gambling is an addiction similar to a dependence on drugs or alcohol, he said. “We’re trying to get rid of the stigma that this is a moral failure, that this is their own fault and they deserve what they get,” he pointed out. “The church is deeply concerned about this and we feel that when people are involved in church activities, it lessens the attraction to drugs and alcohol.”
Father Higginbotham started going to prevention coalition meetings to get resources for youngsters in his congregation. Through Mr. Davis’ connections, he brought in a group of Portsmouth mothers— informally known as the “drug moms” — to speak to kids in his confirmation class. He insisted the children’s parents be there, too. The moms shared powerful stories about their addicted children, some of whom died from opioid overdoses.
One mother told him she no longer had any jewelry, not even a wedding band, because her son had sold it all to buy heroin.
“It was very compelling and heartfelt. What I wanted to happen was a conversation on the way home with their parents. They came back in and wrote a paper and talked about what their mom and dad said,” said Father Higginbotham.
‘Pharming’ at parties
The priest also heard first-person accounts about the pressures youngsters face when they’re hanging out with their peers.
“You know what really got me was one of my kids in the confirmation class,” he said. “She made the comment that, ‘We go to parties, and somebody has a dish filled with all kinds of pills. You have to do your research on these pills before you take them.’”
Father Higginbotham told the girl she shouldn’t have to worry about doing research. “Just don’t take them — period,” he said. “I knew we had a problem here, and that’s why I wanted the parents to come.”
The party scene he described is known as “pharming.”
“That’s been going on for quite a while,” said Mr. Davis, noting that kids often rationalize their behavior: “It’s a prescription pill, so therefore it’s got to be good.” The pills are often taken from bottles not secured by other family members, which is often how many youngsters get hooked on opioids, he said.
“It’s so accessible,” added Father Higginbotham. “They can get oxycontin, oxycodone and other opiates quite easily from their own parents’ medicine cabinets.”
Father Higginbotham arranged for Mr. Davis to speak with clergy from the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, including Bishop W. Nicholas Knisely, who was skeptical at first.
“The bishop’s first reaction was, ‘I don’t want an expert coming in an telling us what to do,’” recalled Father Higginbotham. After assuring the bishop that wouldn’t be the case, “Ray went in there and just gave them the facts.”
After that meeting, the bishop authorized the dissemination of a “prevention toolkit” to the rectors and priests in 54 churches in the Diocese of Rhode Island.
The toolkit is a guide to local resources on substance abuse prevention and is filled with practical information, Mr. Davis said — “Where are the treatment facilities here? Who are some off the counselors? What’s this about the prescription drugs?”
Mr. Davis said he’s grateful for all the faith leaders who have forged partnerships with local prevention specialists. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Deacon John (Silvia) and all the work that St. Barnabas in Portsmouth has done in recovery for years. They were huge partners in the community,” he said.
Marcia Blackburn, faith formation coordinator at St. Barnabas Church, got involved with the Portsmouth Prevention coalition, while a retired minister, Joe Runner, was an “instrumental” member of the Tiverton Prevention Coalition, he added.
‘Faith and Fire’
The partnership with clergy led to another initiative assisted by state grants called “Faith and Fire,” involving local fire departments in prevention efforts.
Zachariah Kenyon, a Little Compton resident whose daughter attends Portsmouth High School, is a captain in the Providence Fire Department who started the Safe Stations Program in that city. Available 24/7, the free program allows anyone to visit one of Providence’s 12 fire stations and immediately get connected to treatment support and services.
Prevention specialists are working on a plan to transport anyone in need to one of the Providence stations, where they’ll get immediate medical attention and brought to a treatment center if necessary.
“We don’t have a treatment facility here in Newport County,” explained Mr. Davis.
The significance of the prevention coalitions’ partnership with local faith leaders cannot be underestimated, said Mr. Davis, noting it led to other community meetings that attracted school officials, police, parents, clergy members and others.
“From that has come a change in some of the attitudes in Portsmouth and elsewhere,” he said. “We do have a problem, so let’s do something about it.”
