Thank you, Amanda Thames, for the wonderful story in the Jacksonville Daily News about our SAPHE youth participating in Sticker Shock. Click below to read the story.
Archive for Uncategorized – Page 2
CCSAP’s SAPHE youth from Richlands High School participated in the Sticker Shock campaign at the Richlands Piggly Wiggly in May. SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club students placed warning stickers on sugary alcoholic beverages that did not appear to contain alcohol. The SADD club advisor is Jacqueline Gaddy. Participants in the campaign were Alexandria Humphrey, Laycee Adkins, Shelby Barney, Dani Middleton and Kyra Fromke.
Students at Havelock High and New Bern High signed the Prom Pledge presented to them on Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of pressures they will face at prom this weekend. CCSAP and Craven County Task Force members set up a large banner for students to sign in addition to a small pledge they could take with them to remember their promise. On the back of the prom pledge was a list of tips to remember in an effort to say no to drugs and alcohol.
Some students walked by, but many stopped to read the pledge and sign. It read:
I PROMise.
I recognize there are consequences for every decision I make. I promise not to drink alcohol or use drugs, because I know they are both harmful and illegal for me to use. I promise to call my parent/guardian for a ride if I feel unsafe. I commit to living in a safe and healthy way. I promise to always wear a seatbelt, not text while driving and to never ride with an impaired driver.
We even heard from students who just wanted to talk about tragedies that are unfolding around them every day. One student shared that he lost his brother just this week to a drug overdose. Another found out that his mom’s friend had died of alcoholism.
It’s stories like this that encourage us to push forward for this cause–preventing substance abuse before it ever starts. We are making an impact! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with this prom pledge drive. We look forward to visiting West Craven High School in May.
On Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CCSAP, local businesses, area law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 13th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Call 1-800-882-9539 to find the closest location for safely disposing of your medications. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked.
Last October, Americans turned in 366 tons (over 730,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 12 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 7.1 million pounds—more than 3,500 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. 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. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 29 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.
There is so much happening in our five counties! Please see our newsletter by clicking on the image below:
Coastal Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention (CCSAP), the Craven County Task Force and NC ALE are teaming up to present a Town Hall Meeting to address underage drinking and substance abuse on Wednesday, April 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Grover C. Fields Middle School, 2000 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in New Bern, NC. ALE Special Agent Matt Knight and several other state and local leaders will speak at the event, which is free and open to the public. The Town Hall Meeting is being held to educate parents, grandparents, healthcare providers, teachers and employers about drinking and substance abuse among our youth.
Knight’s program will begin with an interactive demonstration that shows participants what warning signs to look for and where to find them in their teen’s room. Volunteers will be invited on stage to search for things like torn plastic bags, deodorizers and even broken hangers.
Don’t know why these items are red flags? Knight will discuss what might be happening in your teen’s life if you find these things—everything from taking pills or drinking for the first time to actually dealing drugs. Knight explores trends among teens who abuse alcohol and drugs as well as slang, availability and prevalence of drugs in our area. This very informative program is for adults, as it will give them the tools to become empowered in their child’s life.
After the interactive demonstration, Knight shares stories of his work as an ALE agent as well as personal stories that have changed the course of his life. The program will conclude with time for attendees to speak to our local leaders and visit vendor booths, which will be onsite to provide valuable local resource information.
For more information about the Town Hall Meeting, see CCSAP’s website at www.ccsap.org or call the office at (252) 649-1615.
CCSAP is a five-county coalition covering Carteret, Craven, Onslow, Jones and Pamlico counties. The coalition is working on the 5th year of a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant through the Office of National Drug Control Prevention (ONDCP). Each county has a Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force working within its local communities. Our goals are reducing underage drinking and preventing misuse and abuse of prescription medications for our united vision: creating communities free from substance abuse.
ALE Special Agent Matt Knight will present “When Love is not Enough: A Town Hall Meeting to Address Underage Drinking and Substance Abuse” at the USO Building in Jacksonville from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd. The event is free and open to the public. Please spread the news about this important event!
Click below to open a printable flyer for this event. Share!!
Kelli Knapp, CCSAP Board Chair, Project Director Moneka Midgette and Dare Oliver, CCSAP media coordinator, are in the Washington, D.C., area this week to join approximately 3,000 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s) 27th Annual National Leadership Forum.
CADCA’s Forum will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and the abuse of synthetic drugs and marijuana to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce underage drinking.
The coalition representatives will hear from several federal leaders including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who will receive CADCA’s National Leadership Award at the event. CCSAP will also meet with U.S. representatives and senators at the Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event.
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, the nation’s largest training event for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers, is taking place at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center Feb. 6-9.