COVID-19 is a global viral pandemic hoovering over the world. The silent invisible killer lurking in every human’s droplet. 2020 and 2021 has left its indelible mark on each human being on this beautiful marble we call Earth, including me.
Like most folks I have been in a slump lately. Social distancing’s destruction of the foundation in community engagement was taking a toll on my mental health. A friend defined slump as a ‘state of strategic adjustment’ helping me to turn my lemons into lemon scented optimism.
In 2020, like most of the world, I began to look at community engagement in a different light. The light of technology. I entered this new norm kicking and screaming all the way. Longing for the days of human interaction. Six months in I understood the term ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. It was time to go with the flow. To adapt. To modify outreach techniques and to bring in the experts.
Al McFarlane of Insight News/Conversations with Al McFarlane led the way in my approach to this new normal through the ingenuity and creativity of media. Guiding me through the overwhelming transition into the world of social media platforms, making it a fun and exciting adventure. Helping to launch my own social media platform Carmen Robles and Associates LLC Aqui se Habla Espanol (Spanish spoken here) featuring Dr. Hector ‘Entre Pacientes’ (Between Patients) community-based Q&A video segments.
What began as a grassroots campaign has taken roots. The September 26, 2019 Latino focused opioid conference sponsored by the MN Department of Human Services and The Opioid Response Network, brought together an elite team of professionals and a diverse group of individuals committed to the mission of eradicating this epidemic
Fast forward to September 2022, the momentum continues amidst an unprecedented time of the unknown. Evidence of the importance of collaborations.
Throughout the challenges of shutdowns, self-isolation, social distancing, face coverings community engagement has evolved into a remote form of community partner exchange. Conducting community engagement activities remotely, es el nuevo normal (the new norm.)
According to a weekly publication by CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) Racial/Ethnic and Age Group Differences in Opioid and Synthetic Opioid–Involved Overdose Deaths Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years in Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2015–2017 Weekly / November 1, 2019:
“ blacks experienced the largest percentage change in drug overdose death rates involving any opioid (100%, from 7 2 to 14 4) and for overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (332%, from 2 5 to 10 8) In medium/small metro areas, for overdose deaths involving any opioid, blacks experienced the largest percentage (82%) and absolute increase (6 0; from 7 3 to 13 3 ) Hispanics had the largest percentage increase in rates of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids (262%, from 1 3 to 4 7) ”
The good news is there is hope
Just ask the Opioid Resource Network (ORN.) As stated in their website, “The Opioid Resource Network (ORN) Core Team/Partners comprised of the lead agency, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), and a coalition of 27 national healthcare organizations offers culturally relevant training and technical assistance by providing local experts across the country to help address prevention, treatment and recovery needs and facilitate access to evidence-based resources”.
We won the power ball when we were offered Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera’s leadership.
ORN describes him as “a distinguished general, adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist of the Pennsylvania medical community, Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera has broad experience in community-based programs with an emphasis on those programs that help to increase access to assisted medical treatments for patients with substance use disorder.”
Dr. Colon-Rivera is no stranger to Minnesota. Keynote presenter during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 26, 2019 Conference ‘Esperanza para nuestra comunidad’ (Hope for our community) Dr. ColonRivera returns to facilitate a follow-up, 8-month report card symposium scheduled for Tuesday, May 5th, Cinco de Mayo.
“We can continue family conversations about the consequences and dangers of misusing prescription opioids” stressed Dr Colon-Rivera, “by creating a culturally specific message on preventing opioid use and other substance use disorders (SUD) in multicultural, immigrant youth ”
Partnering with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dr Colon-Rivera’s Cinco de Mayo’s five-day outreach tour Atencion a la Salud (Attention to health) May 1st – 5th, during Cinco de Mayo celebrations 2020, will bring us full circle
Hard to believe it all began at the 2019 St Paul Cinco de Mayo parade where ALMAS youth group from Henry Sibley high school chanted their original, bilingual cheer aka jingle, urging the community to choose love over drugs “ porque mas fuerte es el amor” (because love is stronger )
That event was followed by an informational conference on opioids during Hispanic Heritage Month September 26, 2019, focusing on the Latino/Hispanic/LatinX community You can check out the highlights of the conference at https://www youtube com/playlist?list=PLJ852mmSnFRAWEw-F7kQ1k4btu9ID9mWb
ALMAS youth group, who began the conversation with their original chant at 2019 Cinco de Mayo Parade and participated at the conference, will host Dr Hector Colon-Rivera during 2020 St Paul Cinco de Mayo Parade Saturday, May 2nd
A perfect example of the Power of Youth!
“Comprehensive and culturally tailored interventions are needed to address the rise in drug overdose deaths in all populations ” Center for Disease ControlDr. Hector ColonRivera, MD CMRO
1-3 p.m., May 5, 2021
Opioid use in the U.S. has increased since the introduction of COVID-19 and has been especially devastating to Latino and Native communities. To highlight this growing crisis, a webcast, “Las Raices
– The Roots of Stimulant and Opioid Use Disorder,” will be held from 1-3 p.m. on May 5, 2021. The program, held on Cinco de Mayo, is hosted by SPNN (St. Paul Neighborhood Network Public TV) and facilitated by grassroots organizer Carmen Robles and Associates LLC, and the volunteer Hispanic/Latinx Opioid Task Force.
In launching the May 5 segment, we are pleased to introduce Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm to our audience, along with Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera, M.D., a nationally recognized expert on opioid addiction. Commissioner Malcolm will make a brief statement about the state’s concerns about opioid addiction, stimulants, and SUDs During the introduction, Dr ColonRivera will briefly summarize his work that is tailored to health inequities in Hispanic/Latinx communities across the U S and opioid addiction The introduction to the two-hour webcast will be followed by additional speakers Dave Baker, Representative from Willmar (outstate) and Ramsey County Sheriff, Bob Fletcher, moderated by Elizabeth Burgos MSW, LICSW Medical Social Worker The bilingual-bicultural virtual series on health, wellness and safety has been funded with a Minnesota Department of Human Services grant and is supported by ORN (Opioid Response Network.)
A recent story from the Politico website reported concern from the CDC about the acceleration of drug overdose deaths, with the largest increase recorded from March 2020 to May 2020. That increase coincided:
“
…with the implementation of widespread mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic. It found there were roughly 81,230 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. from May 2019-May 2020, which it said is the largest number of drug overdoses for a 12-month period ever recorded. And for the lawmakers who represent districts with high rates of opioid use, they say the downward spiral occurring as COVID shut the country down was visible. Adding to the problem: Studies show people with substance use disorders are particularly susceptible to contracting COVID. It is all tied together.”
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CRECER https://www.crecerservices.org/ Salud America! : https://salud-america.org/
Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/socialtrends/2021/05/14/hispanicidentity-and-immigrant-generations
Addiction Hope: Opioid Epidemic and the Hispanic/Latinx Community: The Drastic Impact (addictionhope.com)
Hispanic and Latino Treatment Centers in Minnesota: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/treatment-rehab/hispanic-and-latino/minnesota
Race Rate Disparity (state.mn.us): https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/documents/raceratedisparity.pdf
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/treatment-rehab/hispanic-andlatino/minnesota
Pew Research Center: Hispanic identity and immigrant generations | Pew Research Center National Hispanic Medical Association: https://www.nhmamd.org/ National Latino Children's Association: https://nlci.org/ Mental Health and Latinos: https://youtu.be/gGBOhQJ9qvY
Recovery Advocay Project - Spanish/Floria: https://youtu.be/TwmHbSPVXeY
Mn Opioid Dashboard: Indicator Dashboards Opioid Dashboard (state.mn.us)
National Prevention Network: https://pttcnetwork.org/centers/pacific-southwest-pttc/home National Prevention Network: NPN conference link - https://npnconference.org/
Prevention Technology Transfer Central Network: https://pttcnetwork.org/centers/globalpttc/bringing-prevention-virtual
Kahoot - Learning Game: https://kahoot.com/ Interactive games and meetings: https://www.mentimeter.com/ Prevention Technology Transfer Central Network: https://pttcnetwork.org/centers/networkcoordinating-office/sdh-and-covid-discussion-series
Prevention Technology Transfer Central Network: https://pttcnetwork.org/centers/northwestpttc/product/six-elements-effective-coalitions
Gateway Film: https://youtu.be/RDLyX5lc7xc