UMass Medical School pharmacist presentation on nicotine replacement therapy

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass - The REACH Community Health Foundation’s tobacco treatment program will host a presentation by Jake Nichols, Pharm. D, MBA, BCPS on “How You Can Quit Smoking: Your Questions Answered” on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in North Adams.

Nichols, the Director of Clinical Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is a pharmacist with clinical, academic, and management experience. His areas of expertise includes education, drug utilization evaluation, medication formulary management, and clinical pharmacy services.

The presentation is Tuesday, November 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire, 535 Curran Highway, North Adams. The presentation will focus on Nicotine Replacement Therapy, commonly called NRT. In addition, REACH Tobacco Treatment Coordinator Jennifer Civello will be on hand to talk about counseling that is available through REACH. Refreshments will be served.

“As of January 5, 2009, the buildings and grounds of Northern Berkshire Healthcare will be tobacco free. We are offering extra support and resources to staff and community members to help them prepare for this important date,” said Civello.

November is a great month to start planning a quit attempt, according to Civello, who noted that the Great American Smokeout is Thursday, November 20. REACH and the American Cancer Society offer a variety of resources for community members to help them with their quit attempts.

The REACH Community Health Foundation is a nonprofit subsidiary of Northern Berkshire Healthcare and is dedicated to improving the health of the Northern Berkshire community. In addition to tobacco treatment programs, REACH runs programs in breast cancer support and care navigation, caregiver support, and nutrition and fitness. For more information, please call 413-664-5567.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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