The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County is responsible for the planning, funding and monitoring of public mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services delivered to the residents of Cuyahoga County. Under Ohio law, the ADAMHS Board is one of 50 Boards coordinating the public mental health and addiction treatment and recovery system in Ohio.

The Board is a quasi-independent part of county government, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board contracts with provider agencies to deliver services that assist clients on the road to recovery.

Coping with the Holidays Brochure

The ADAMHS Board is offering tips on reducing the extra stresses of the holiday season in a booklet entitled Coping with the Holidays.

Coping with the Holidays offers suggestions on things like how to reduce stress, deal with loss or change and enjoy the holidays on a budget. In addition, resource numbers are listed for those who find the stress of this holiday season, or any other time of year, too much to handle. To view the brochure, click here.

The ADAMHS Board is also releasing a new resource this holiday season. The
Holiday Recovery Tips resource card offers information about navigating the holidays for individuals living in recovery and suggestions for how to support family members and friends in recovery during the holidays. To view the resource card, click here.

Don't Miss Cleveland Play House's: Every Brilliant Thing!

Every Brilliant Thing,a play about mental illness, suicide and hope, runs at Playhouse Square's Helen Theatre from now until December 22, 2019. The ADAMHS Board is a proud Community Partner for this wonder (BRILLIANT) show!

Show Description: If you were to make a list of things that make life worth living, what would be at the top? Ice cream? Family? The even numbered Star Trek films? Who would you share your list with? For our character in this uplifting solo performance, it’s their mother. This surprising and immersive theatrical experience speaks openly about depression, mental illness, and suicide. With poignant humor and joy, Every Brilliant Thing takes us on a journey through grief, healing, falling in love, and (re)discovering all that life has to give.

Order tickets online: https://tickets.clevelandplayhouse.com/Online/default.asp

Now Accepting Applications: ADAMHS Board 2020 Client Artwork Display Program

The ADAMHS Board is now accepting applications for the 2020 Client Artwork Display Program. This program showcases client artwork, highlights our provider agencies, recognizes the benefits of art therapy and celebrates the recovery community.

Individuals receiving mental health and/or addiction recovery services in Cuyahoga County may display artwork in the Ohio Room at the ADAMHS Board for one month. Display months will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your agency would like to display artwork, click here to access the agency participation form. If you are a client and would like to display artwork, click here to access a participation form.

Participation forms must be returned to Madison Greenspan, External Affairs Officer, by email at greenspan@adamhscc.org.

2020 Advocacy Action Agenda

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County has develop and updates its Advocacy Action Agenda each year to guide its advocacy efforts. This agenda was developed with the overarching goal of promoting recovery of individuals living with mental illness and addictions by adopting and acting on the five Recovery Oriented System of Care principles:

• Focusing on Clients and Families.
• Ensuring Timely Access to Care.
• Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Drug-Free Communities
• Prioritizing Accountable and Outcome-Driven Financing
• Locally Managing Systems of Care

The ADAMHS Board uses the Advocacy Action Agenda to develop messages to legislators, state agencies, policy makers, clients, providers and the community to advance important behavioral health issues. The 2020 Advocacy Action Agenda was approved by the Board at the General Board meeting on November 20, 2019.

Items on this agenda are in addition to the advocacy that the Board provides on a daily basis through its work of ensuring that mental health, addiction treatment and prevention services and supports are available to help children and adults reach recovery.

The Board also collaborates with other groups, such as the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition, NAMI and the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities in promoting other advocacy efforts. Some items on the Advocacy Action Agenda may take higher priority at different times throughout the year.

Click here to review the 2020 Advocacy Action Agenda

Fall 2019 Training Institute

The ADAMHS Board offers trainings year-round to help behavioral health professionals earn necessary CEUs/RCHs. The following trainings are being offered in the Fall Training Institute:

DECEMBER

To review the detailed Fall 2019 Workshop Schedule, click here. (It may take a few moments to open.) Please be sure to read through the "important information" section on page one of the workshop schedule before registering for a training.

Additional Funds for Grassroots Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution Program in 2020

Grassroots fentanyl test strip distribution will continue into 2020 with 60,000 more test strips being made available through funding from the County and ADAMHS Board. Fentanyl test strips are easy to use and can detect fentanyl in drug residue. Anyone using illicit drugs – heroin, cocaine, crack – can use these strips to see if the drugs they bought contain fentanyl and make an informed decision about using that drug. Learn more about fentanyl test strips and where to get them at testyourdrugscc.com. Want to become a fentanyl test strip distribution site? Please contact Beth Zietlow-DeJesus, Director of External Affairs.

Fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid that is 50 times more powerful than morphine, is now being found in powdered and crack cocaine, meth and heroin. Fentanyl has also been found in illicit pills made to look like OxyContin and Xanax.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdoses and overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County. 

Naloxone is an opiate blocker (antagonist) that can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. The ADAMHS Board encourages everyone in the community to carry naloxone. Free Narcan/Naloxone kits are available through Project DAWN.

If you know someone struggling with substance use, make sure they know about fentanyl test strips and Project DAWN. Help us share the message and save lives: "Your drugs may contain fentanyl. Test your drugs, never use alone and carry Naloxone/Narcan."

Are you or someone you know ready for help? Call the 24-hour Suicide Prevention, Mental Health/Addiction Crisis, Information and Referral Hotline at 216-623-6888.

2020 Census

The 2020 Census is quickly approaching. The ADAMHS Board is working alongside community partners as part of the Hard to Count Communities subcommittee. It’s important that we get everyone in Cuyahoga County counted in the 2020 Census because there’s a lot of decisions made based on Census results. Did you know that the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on census data? That’s one reason why it’s important that we get everyone counted in the 2020 Census. Click here  to learn more about the importance of the Census. Want to learn more about how you'll be asked to complete the Census? Click here.

24-Hour Suicide Prevention/Mental Health & Addiction Crisis Services

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide call the 24-Hour Cuyahoga County Suicide Prevention Hotline operated by Frontline Service, Inc. at 216-623-6888.

24-hour Crisis Text "4HELP" to 741741. A live, trained crisis counselor will respond within five minutes. The crisis counselor helps you move from a hot moment to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy using effective active listening and suggested referrals – all through text message using Crisis Text Line’s secure platform. 

The Suicide Postvention Response Team serving Cuyahoga County responds to those most immediately affected by suicide loss. The team of volunteers will provide timely response to survivors, a listening ear and information about local resources available to survivors. 

We offer the following screenings: 

     - Alcohol Addiction (with Video Doctor) 

These screenings are anonymous and are not intended to be a diagnosis. The screening tools can help you identify signs that you or someone you know might have a mental health and/or addiction issue. The results only indicate that you may benefit from a professional consultation and services. 

Click this link to access the screening program: http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/ADAMHSCC

Please Note: The online screening program is an education initiative of Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH), and all screenings are informational, not diagnostic. The online screenings, like the paper and pencil screenings held on SMH national screening days, are conducted anonymously and diagnoses and treatment recommendations are not provided.  

Information on Opioid/Heroin Addiction and Help

Heroin is an opiate. Fentanyl and carfentanil are synthetic opioids. Opioids in all forms can be dangerous and are addictive. Anyone can become addicted and often times, heroin addiction begins with a prescription for painkillers. There were 722 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County in 2017 and 551 in 2018. Opioid addiction is a brain disease that can lead to physical changes like depression, personality changes, respiratory and G.I. problems, and general infections. When the drug is ingested into the body, it lights up a feeling of euphoria in the brain, and works to mimic many of the body's systems. After a user's first time getting high, it takes a higher and higher dose to recreate the feeling.

Recovery from opioid addiction is possible. And, those in recovery from addiction often play a vital role in helping others who are living with substance use disorders, including heroin addiction. Medication Assisted Treatment is also successful in aiding with recovery from opioid addiction.

Individuals abusing opioids/heroin/fentanyl need professional help. There are detoxification and treatment programs available in Cuyahoga County: contact our 24-hour information and referral line at 216-623-6888, or visit our Finding Help page for a list of treatment providers. Talk to your primary care physician or even go to the hospital emergency room for help.

The first step to recovery is seeking help. From there, sticking to treatment and getting support are the most important things. Behavioral therapy, counseling, help with withdrawal symptoms - which can be important if the drug has done significant organ damage - is available.

Recovery Speakers Bureau If you are living in recovery from mental illness and/or addiction and would like to share your story as a Recovery Advocate, please complete this interest form.

Looking for a speaker about heroin addiction, treatment and recovery?

Contact Madison Greenspan, External Affairs Officer via email or phone: 216-241-3400 ext. 861.

Ohio’s community mental health and addiction services system is in transition from a system that focuses on acute care to a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) that focuses on recovery management to help individuals not only get well, but stay well.

This transition is called Recovery is Beautiful. The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County is the organization responsible for ensuring that this transition to the ROSC takes place in Cuyahoga County.

If you want to learn more about the ROSC click here.  

The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County provides Problem Gambling information, warning signs and community resources on its website.

Click here or the icon to the left to be directed to the Problem Gambling page.

The ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County supports MetroHealth's Project DAWN.

Naloxone is an opiate blocker (antagonist) that can reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. Overdose deaths are especially common after an individual has had a period of sobriety, such as immediately after detoxification, upon leaving residential treatment, or when leaving jail or prison.

Naloxone is easily given to an unconscious patient as a nasal spray. It will not harm someone who is not experiencing an overdose. However, it has no effect on those who overdose on cocaine, methamphetamines, or alcohol.

Free Naloxone Kits are available to a person addicted to heroin and/or friends and family on a walk-in basis at the following locations:

Cuyahoga County Board of Health, 5550 Venture Dr., Parma, OH 44130
Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Circle Health Services (formerly The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland), 12201 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106
Tuesdays, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thomas F. McCafferty Center, 4242 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113
Walk-in hours: Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

City of Cleveland-EMS Headquarters, 1701 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland OH 44114 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ohio law contains a “Good Samaritan” clause that blankets prosecution of someone who gives naloxone to an overdosing person and then calls 9-1-1, even if the caller was using drugs, to eliminate the fear of calling for help. All first responders including police, firefighters and paramedics can also carry naloxone. Call 216-778-2100 for more information about Project DAWN.

Every person with opiate addiction and their families and friends should know about the potentially life-saving Project DAWN. Click here to download a Project DAWN flyer with contact information.

Click here to view a flyer about the Cuyahoga County Prescription Drug Drop-off Program. To find a drop-off site near you, visit www.rxdrugdropbox.org. 

Free and metered parking is also available on the street.  

  

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