Author: wctrueblue

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) selected School Sector Engagement as a priority focus area this year.  Site visits were planned to allow researchers to provide detailed examples to ONDCP regarding the type of work that some DFC coalitions are doing and offer the chance to learn from the people who are doing coalition work—about how coalitions operate, their challenges and successes, the strategies used to accomplish missions, and lessons that can be shared with other DFC-funded coalitions.

In late July, Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC was contacted by the National DFC Research Team announcing the coalition’s selection as a virtual site visit location. The Research team selected True Blue based on information submitted in recent Progress Reports. The virtual site visit occurred during September with five focus groups of youth TB Crew members, parents, community stakeholders, coalition members, and school administrators; and extensive interviews with DFC staff and coalition leaders. Over the next few months, the Research team will complete data analysis and written dissertation to share with coalitions across the United States.

A few memories of the focus groups:

CLICK the link below for information on talking with college students about the risks of drinking

2020 NIAAA Back to College Fact Sheet

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC was represented at CADCA Mid-year for the third year. This year, Melea Ramin, Coalition Chairperson, Melissa Wolfe, Courtney Menser, Carolyn Sholar, Dianne McFarling, Caroline Denham, and Donna Bumpus attended CADCA’s virtual institute. Participants had the opportunity to view approximately 80 training sessions.

Webster County Ky-ASAP True Blue DFC collaborated with River Valley Prevention Center to provide TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS training (via ZOOM) for a group of teachers on August 12, 2020. Webster County Schools will implement this program in grades K-4 initially, adding additional grades later in the school year.

WASHINGTON – With families encouraged to stay at home due to the nationwide health crisis, the Drug Enforcement Administration is asking Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure until they can properly dispose of them.

The Secure Your Meds awareness campaign addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. The campaign also prompts families to discuss the issue of controlled prescription drug abuse.

“Protecting the health and safety of our communities is DEA’s top priority, especially during the unprecedented public health emergency,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “With Americans at home, families need to be even more vigilant and keep prescription medications safe, secure, and out of reach of children and others in the household.”

DEA holds its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year. However, because of the current nationwide coronavirus pandemic, DEA postponed the 2020 Spring Take Back Day, originally scheduled for April 25, 2020. DEA will reschedule Take Back day for a date shortly after the health crisis recedes and national emergency guidelines are lifted.

In the meantime, DEA wants to remind Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets and secure unused, unwanted, and expired prescription medications for the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, on a date to be determined.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifts restrictions, DEA will reschedule Take Back Day. More information on the Secure Your Meds campaign and Take Back Day is available at http://www.DEATakeBack.com.

Webster County KY-ASAP has partnered with the Dixon Drug Store to provide a drive-thru drop-off location for unused medications during regular store hours. Unused prescription medications may also be returned to Clay Drug Store during regular business hours.

Kentucky’s House of Representatives adopted “tobacco 21” legislation on March 26, 2020; the bill already passed the Senate and will soon be headed to Gov. Beshear’s desk. Senate Bill 56 would conform Kentucky statutes to new federal law raising the legal age to purchase all tobacco products to 21; the bill also would remove status offense and other penalties on youth who purchase, use or possess tobacco products. Following statement is from Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow:

“Today, the Kentucky General Assembly took a crucial step to publicly recognize that tobacco products are extremely harmful, especially for our youth whose developing brains are particularly susceptible to nicotine,” said Ben Chandler, chair of the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow, which comprises more than 225 Kentucky organizations working to reduce tobacco use in the Commonwealth. “While smoking among our youth has been declining for decades, e-cigarette use has exploded the past three years. In 2019, more than 53,000 high school students and 27,000 middle schoolers in Kentucky were using e-cigarette, or ‘vaping.’ Removing the penalties is about improving health as well because inserting kids into our judicial system for these types of offenses leads to worse health outcomes. Congratulations to the Kentucky legislature, and to Sen. Ralph Alvarado, for their work to protect our youth from tobacco.” 

Information provided by:

Rich Nading, Tobacco Control Coordinator, Green River District Health Department

 

Webster County KY-ASAP True Blue DFC and Webster County Board of Education developed a plan in 2017 to implement Character Counts for all students, grades K-12.  Character Counts is framework for developing positive character traits and may be implemented in schools, homes, and communities.

For more information and Character Counts activities visit charactercounts.org or on Facebook @CharacterCounts.