Students Opposed to Pills Hosts 'STOP the Hurt; Start the Music'

On Friday, June 24, STOP (Students Opposed to Pills) will join with Gosnold of Cape Cod, Freedom from Addiction Network, and the Cape Cod Justice for Youth Collaborative to host an afternoon of music with a cause on the campus of Cape Cod Community College. 

Free and open to the public, the event involves young people in the crusade against opiate abuse and brings together seasoned policy makers, local officials, and Cape residents concerned about the impact of substance abuse on their friends, families, and community. 

Hearing their friends and classmates talk about the pain of loving someone who is deep into opiate addiction, a small group of Cape Cod Community College students decided to do something to help. 

What began as a class assignment for an Cape Cod Community College Honors Communication class, turned first into a student organization on campus, and now into a lead role in grass-roots community activism.  

“Music has therapeutic value as well as political value,” explains Regina Yaroch, CCCC faculty advisor to STOP.

“Whether someone is in recovery, or they’re in the madness and sorrow of loving an active addict, or they’re just looking for laws and policy that make sense, music can be both an emotional outlet and a political tool.  Look at the protest songs of the 60’s and how they changed our cultural mindset, and eventually our foreign policy.” 

The event will begin and end with performances by local bands.  Soxie Blue will open, playing from 3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.  Drummer Brian Gifford and guitarist Sam Mello, both CCCC students, will be joined by Lily DiNardo and vocalist Heather Marie. 

Barnstable High School student Michael Fulginiti’s band Monstropolis will play the closing set from 6:00 p.m.-6:30p.m. 

In between will be remarks from two speakers, including William Luzier, Executive Director of the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention, followed by a songwriting workshop in which participants will write, rehearse and record an original song. 

Luzier has worked closely with Senator Steven Tolman, a key legislator in reforming Massachusetts prescription policies. Trudy Avery, a Sandwich resident and dedicated anti-opiate advocate, is among the invited guests. 

After helplessly witnessing her young adult son fail repeatedly to conquer his Oxycontin addiction, Avery mustered the determination and resolve to do battle with the family’s health insurance company, eventually winning coverage for her son’s inpatient treatment program, and, she believes, saving his life.  

Since then, Avery has channeled her painful and frustrating experience into changing the way insurers in Massachusetts respond to substance abuse treatment claims. The songwriting workshop will be led by Kathy Moser, a songwriter, performer, teacher and social artist known for her poetic lyrics, driving guitar style and goofy stage presence. 

Working with young people is one of Kathy’s passions and she gives workshops, artist residencies and concerts in a variety of educational and institutional settings.  Her work encourages young people to find a place to make a positive contribution to their communities.  Which is precisely the point of this event. 

The event is free and open to all. 

*Editor's Call for Comments:

 Drug abuse, specifically abuse of prescription pills, is a huge issue on the Cape. This prevalence of drug related crimes is growing. If you have teens, would you attend the event with your children? Tell us what you think about this event in the comments below.