National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 30
LORAIN, OHIO – The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County and its partners announce that National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place on April 30, 2022. In October 2021, Lorain County Drug Take Back events resulted in the collection of 4,381 pounds of prescription drugs.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will provide free locking medication safes and other drug safety resources across the county at the locations noted below with an asterisk. At the locations listed without an asterisk, visitors can drop off their medications with law enforcement officers or other personnel for disposal. All are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets of potentially harmful drugs by safely disposing of them at this free, confidential annual event.
Locations in Lorain County include:
| *Amherst Police Department | 911 North Lake St. 44001 |
| *Avon Lake Police Department | 32855 Walker Rd. 44012 |
| Avon Police Department | 36145 Detroit Rd. 44011 |
| Columbia Township Fire Department | 25540 Royalton Rd. 44028 |
| *Elyria Police Department | 18 West Ave. 44035 |
| *Grafton Police Department | 1009 Chestnut St. 44044 |
| *Kipton Police Department | 299 State St. 44049 |
| LaGrange Police Department | 301 Liberty St. 44050 |
| *Lorain County Sheriff’s Office | 9896 Murray Ridge Rd. 44035 |
| * Lorain Police Department | 200 West Erie Ave. 44052 |
| *North Ridgeville Department | 7303 Avon-Belden Rd. 44039 |
| Oberlin Police Department | 85 South Main St. 44074 |
| *Sheffield Lake Police Department | 609 Harris Rd. 44054 |
| Sheffield Village Police Department | 4340 Colorado Ave. 44054 |
| *Vermilion Police Department | 5791 Liberty Ave. 44089 |
| *Wellington Police Department | 117 Willard Memorial Square 44090 |
*Locations with volunteers
“Lorain County continues to see the detrimental effects of the opioid crisis,” said Michael Doud, Executive Director of the MHARS Board of Lorain County. “Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity for us all to do our part to ensure that drugs that have potential for misuse do not end up in the hands of those struggling with substance use disorder.”
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.5 million people misused opioids in the year prior. More than 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers. In 2020, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 14.5%) had a substance use disorder in the previous year. In Quarter 4 of 2020, 10.9 million users of drugs other than alcohol perceived that they were using these substances “a little more or much more” than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the survey data. The effort is led nationally by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
For more information visit www.mharslc.org/recovery.
About the MHARS Board
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County brings together the expertise, resources and proud histories of the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County and the Lorain County Board of Mental Health. The people served by mental health and substance use disorder systems have a common goal – recovery. Consolidating the county’s addiction and mental health partners strengthens our ability to coordinate treatment and recovery services, which helps us improve the lives of our clients, their loved ones and the community. Our goal is to maximize delivery of these health services. It means providing the right care, in the right setting, at the right time. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or connect with us on our website at www.mharslc.org.
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Wellington Police Chief Barfield Sworn in as Member of MHARS Board Directors
LORAIN, OHIO – The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County welcomes to its Board of Directors Wellington Police Chief Tim Barfield, who was sworn in at the board’s monthly meeting on March 22. Barfield was appointed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. His appointment fills all MHARS Board of Director vacancies.
“Chief Barfield brings a wealth of experience and insight to this position, especially as a law enforcement officer who has been on the front lines of the opioid epidemic,” said Michael Doud, Executive Director of the MHARS Board. “As our Board serves all of Lorain County, we appreciate having such an esteemed member of Wellington’s community join the MHARS Board of Directors.”
Barfield has been the Chief of Police in Wellington since 2014. Chief Barfield began his career in the Berlin Heights and Amherst police departments. He spent most of his career at the Maple Heights Police Department where he received a number of awards including two for valor. He is passionate about training police officers with a goal of helping them succeed.
Chief Barfield is a member of the Stepping Up Initiative of Lorain County and one of the designers of Wellington safety services Local Initiative to Network Compassion (LINC) program to assist those struggling with substance use disorder. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, Chairman of the Board of the Law Enforcement Training Trust and President of the LINC. He is also a contributing writer to law enforcement publications, and continues to learn and instruct on subjects with an emphasis on awareness, leadership, mental health first aid and ethics. He earned his associate degree in political science from Lorain County Community College. A resident of Lagrange Township, Chief Barfield is a father and grandfather.
About the MHARS Board
The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County brings together the expertise, resources and proud histories of the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County and the Lorain County Board of Mental Health. The people served by mental health and substance use disorder systems have a common goal – recovery. Consolidating the county’s addiction and mental health partners strengthens our ability to coordinate treatment and recovery services, which helps us improve the lives of our clients, their loved ones and the community. Our goal is to maximize delivery of these health services. It means providing the right care, in the right setting, at the right time. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram or connect with us on our website at www.mharslc.org.
Learn MoreGreg Iski
Greg Iski works here at the MHARS Board of Lorain County as our front desk worker.
Greg is a former Army veteran and joins us from the supported employment program at the Nord Center.
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National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
March 21 – 27, 2022 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
What is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week? NDAFW is an annual, nationwide observance of drug and alcohol use among youth. It was first launched in 2010 by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).
DID YOU KNOW?
- Narcan can save a person’s life during an opioid overdose.
- Young people who vaped are four times more likely to start smoking cigarettes.
- Vaping can cause sinus infections, nose bleeds and asthma.
- Smoking marijuana can cause damage to the lungs.
- People who drink before the age of 15 are five times more likely to become addicted to alcohol.
- People ages 12-20 drink 4% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
So, What Can You Do?
If you or someone you may know has been experiencing issues with drug or alcohol abuse, there are many providers in Lorain County who can assist. Check out the Provider Agencies directory to find the right provider for you or your loved one.
Interested in Expanding Your Knowledge About Drugs and Alcohol?
Check out the MHARS Board NDFAW 2022 Activity Workbook! Also check out NDFAW’s Drug and Alcohol Facts Kahoot! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to view important facts throughout NDFAW.
Need immediate help?
- 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
- 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Helpline for Lorain County: 440-989-4900
- 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text 4HOPE to 741-741
AmeriCorps Week
March 13 – 19 is AmeriCorps Week!
AmeriCorps is an organization that serves people throughout the United States, in areas such as education, economics, disaster response, and providing healthy futures for those that are in need. AmeriCorps Week was created to celebrate the hard work and services that AmeriCorps members provide year-round. At the MHARS Board of Lorain County, Andrea Sedlacek works as our AmeriCorps VISTA member.
Andrea Sedlacek graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2020 with her BS in Criminal Justice, as well as graduating in 2021 from Bowling Green State University with her Masters in Criminal Justice. After graduating in 2021, Sedlacek joined the MHARS Board as the AmeriCorps VISTA worker.
Andrea has been an important member of the MHARS Board, working on different grants and projects for Lorain County. She has worked on the Ohio Collaborative Program Development grant under the Ohio Program for Campus Safety and Mental Health, which provides campus programming, such as suicide prevention training and mental health screenings. Sedlacek is also involved in the Harm Reduction and Family branch and participates in Drug Take Back Day and International Overdose Awareness Day.
Thank you Andrea for everything you do for the Board and the community!
Learn MoreArielle Edwards
Arielle Edwards is the MHARS Board of Lorain County’s Program Officer, working with the Adult Services Director.
Arielle has worked passionately in the mental health field for more than 10 years. Before joining the MHARS Board of Lorain County in 2019, she worked at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court as a Probation Officer in The McDonnell Center Community Based Correctional Facility, where she served as a liaison between the facility, the Court and Probation Department. Earlier in her career, Arielle worked at Recovery Resources in Cleveland first as its EMPOWER Program Coordinator facilitating programming for incarcerated women with PTSD in a therapeutic milieu and then as a forensic liaison, in which she assisted those struggling with mental illness and substance use disorder charged in one of Cuyahoga County’s municipal courts and within the Common Pleas Court. Arielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology for Ohio University where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also earned her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.
Learn MoreJeanette Hinkle
Jeanette Hinkle works at the MHARS Board of Lorain County as the Claims and IT Coordinator.
Jeanette has over 21 years of experience in mental health claims, 14 of those years being at the MHARS Board. She spent seven years at the children’s agency in Lorain County. Before entering the mental health field, she has worked at a variety of places, including working as a civilian employee for the Army. Jeanette holds two associate degrees in the areas of Business and Computers.
Jeanette is a passionate advocate for mental health and addiction.
“Mental health is important to me as I know people who suffer with mental illness and were not receiving adequate help. Getting people connected to the proper services is extremely important for not only the person with the mental illness but the people close to them as well,” she said. “I love the fact that the MHARS Board is concerned not only about the job, but the staff as well. I enjoy helping people and here at the Board I am able to help many people.”
Learn MoreVinaida Reyna
Vinaida Ruth Reyna is the MHARS Board’s Executive Assistant.
She is a longtime resident of the City of Lorain and a graduate of Admiral King High School. She holds an Office Management Certificate from JVS. In February 2005, she was hired with the then-mental health board as a Receptionist, then Secretary and was promoted to Executive Assistant. She is the mother of four amazing young adults and grandmother to a very cool kid. She said of her work with the MHARS Board, “I enjoy being part of serving the community.” Her favorite quote comes from Ghandi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Learn MoreMark Johnson
Mark Johnson works at the MHARS Board of Lorain County as the Chief of Behavioral Health Services and leads the Community Services Team.
Johnson also chairs the Continuum of Care Subcommittee and sits on the Steering Committee for the Lorain County Crisis Response Project. He is also the MHARS lead with the Clear Pathways Learning Community and sits on the State Crisis Task Force. Johnson is also initiating a Continuous Quality Improvement focus that is informed by data and outcomes.
He is a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Supervision, with a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. He started his career as a therapist serving children and families. He has also held several roles including Clinical Services Director for over two decades for a community-based mental health and substance use disorder treatment agency with multiple Northeast Ohio Sites.
Outside of his work with the MHARS Board, Johnson is passionate about the ASP, the Appalachian Service Project. He is an Ambassador, a Project Leader, and a Helping Hand for the ASP. The Appalachian Service Project is a non-profit organization based in Tennessee that organizes over 17,000 volunteers a year across 5 Appalachian states to work on homes for people to be warmer, safer, and drier. Johnson works with high school and college youth to lead week long mission trips with the ASP.
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LCOAT Family Support Branch Debuts Resource Guide
The Lorain County Opioid Action Team’s (LCOAT) Family Support Branch has created a new resource guide for families affected by substance use disorder.
When a loved one struggles with addiction, we may not know how to help. This guide is designed by family members of those struggling with substance use disorder to make the process of finding help a little easier.
Click here to download the printable It’s OK to Talk About It guide.
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