Community Members Explore Barriers, Resources for those Seeking Recovery from substance Use Disorder
On February 26, 2023, 25 community members attended the public free screening of the feature documentary film, TIPPING THE PAIN SCALE at University of Maine at Machias Performing Arts Center. The event was co-sponsored by Healthy Acadia and Downeast and included a post-viewing panel discussion about substance use disorder and recovery in our community. Healthy Acadia staff and interns offered prevention materials, resources, and snacks during the event.
The film screening was followed by a panel discussion of community recovery response specialists. Left to right: David Grieco, OPTIONS Liaison for Washington County, Abby Frutchey, Substance Use Response Coordinator at the Community Caring Collaborative, Gretchen Harrington, Healthy Acadia Recovery Coach Coordinator in Washington County, Ann O’Brien PMH-NP at Eastport Health Care, Joe Finnemore AMHC Washington County Court Navigator, Lauren Sachs, Healthy Acadia, PROSPER Health Navigator / Recovery Response Coordinator.
Washington County Maine Recovery Core interns Sean Fusco and Angelena Drisko offered community information and resources at the event.
The addiction crisis in America has reached a new boiling point, and courageous people – at all levels, from all walks of life – are rising to answer the call. TIPPING THE PAIN SCALE is a feature documentary film following individuals grappling with the current systemic failures of how we have dealt with addiction in communities and their journey to develop and employ new, innovative, and often controversial solutions to the problem. It is a quasi-anthology, weaving characters through their own stories as they connect to the issues plaguing all communities and the country in an urgent fight to save lives.
TIPPING THE PAIN SCALE (106 minutes) is a Vivifi Films Production from award-winning producers of THE ANONYMOUS PEOPLE and GENERATION FOUND, Greg Williams & 2-time Emmy award-winning Jeff Reilly, featuring Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh; NFL Pro Bowl Player, Darren Waller; Spoken Word Artist and Educator, Joseph Green; WA State Representative, Lauren Davis; Community Outreach Volunteer, Roz Pichardo; and Boston Police Officer Josh De La Rosa, with Music from 9-time Grammy-nominated Sia.
This Tipping the Pain Scale film screening event and post-viewing discussion were supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The views presented were those of Healthy Acadia and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, visit HRSA.gov.