Welcome!

The Jackson County Anti Drug Coalition created this blog to keep coalition members and community residents up to date on our happenings! Our coalition is working to decrease alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalant, and prescription drug abuse among our teens, as well as adults. We have lost one too many of our children to substance abuse - it is time to make a change!



We hope you will join us the first Monday of each Month at the City building in Ripley for our coalition meetings. The youth meeting begins at 5pm and general coalition at 6pm. We will see you then!


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

State of WV collects 2,397 pounds of pills

Take-Back Day yields 2,397 pounds of pills
By Andrew Clevenger
The Charleston Gazette
P>CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginians turned over more than a ton of prescription pills as part of a national effort Saturday to keep old, unused or unwanted medicine from being abused.
The final statewide tally was 2,397 pounds of prescription ...

Monday, September 27, 2010

JCADC Awarded 2nd Year of DFC Funding!

The Jackson County Anti Drug Coalition, has been approved for a Year 2 continuation grant through the Drug Free Communities Support Program, directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Substance Aubse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

There are currently 549 coalitions who have been approved for continuation grant funds. An additional 169 communities were awarded DFC grants for the first time this year. "The Drug Free Communities program embodies the Obama Administration's dedication to evidence-based community prevention efforts that protect the health of our young people," said Director Kerlikowske. "Data show that communities receiving DFC funding have seen significant reducations in past 30-day use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana among middle and high school studnets. I applaud the hard work of local community leaders, youth, parents, educators, healthcare professionals, faith-based leaders, law enofrcement officials,a nd others who are working together daily to strengthen communities and save kids' lives."

To learn more about our grant, or to get involved join us at a Coalition meeting the first Monday of each month. Youth Coalition meets at 5pm and the General meeting begins at 6. All meetings are held at the Ripley City Building.

95 POUNDS of Medications Collected!


The Anti Drug Coalition, the Sheriff's Dept, and the DEA collected 95 pounds of unwanted, unused, and expired medications! Thank you to those who brought in medications!
If you missed our event, we are hoping to have another one in November. We are waiting for approval by the DEA. Once received, we will begin advertising our November Take Back Date!

Thank you again!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Obama Administration Official URGE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REDUCE RX DRUG DIVERSION AND ABUSE

White House drug policy Director Gil Kerlikowske HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CHALLENGES OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIC Before CONGRESSIONAl Caucus On Prescription Drug Abuse

WASHINGTON – Today, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), called attention to the increasing severity of the Nation's prescription drug abuse epidemic and outlined the Obama Administration's plan to prevent and reduce prescription drug abuse during his remarks at the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse. He also commended Representatives Mary Bono Mack (R-45th CA), William Delahunt (D-10th MA), and Hal Rogers (R-5th KY) for their leadership in creating the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, and called for a concerted Federal response to this important issue.
Last week, Director Kerlikowske joined the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to release the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The survey reports an estimated 21.8 million Americans (8.7%) aged 12 or older were current (past month) users of illicit drugs in 2009; an increase of 9 percent from 20.1 million in 2008 (8.0%).
Particularly troubling are increases in the non-medical use of prescription drugs. For people 12 and older, the 2009 estimate of 5.3 million current nonmedical users is up 20% from the 2002 estimate of 4.4 million. Additionally, non-medical users of prescription drugs outnumber new users in any other class of drugs. Of the 2.6 million new users in 2009, 2.2 million were non-medical users of prescription pain relievers.
"The 2009 NSDUH data highlight how serious a threat to public health we face from the abuse of prescription drugs," said Director Kerlikowske. "The Congressional leaders responsible for today's forum come from both sides of the aisle, because prescription drug abuse crosses all party lines, income levels, and races. The response to this issue will require collaboration from us all."
The 2010 National Drug Control Strategy outlines several steps to address what Director Kerlikowske calls "the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States."

They include:
· Increasing prescription drug return, take-back, and disposal programs. Prescription drugs that are commonly abused are often found in the family medicine cabinet, and individuals should dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs to prevent diversion and abuse.
· Educating prescribers about opiate painkiller prescribing. The Administration's FY 2011 Budget request proposes funding for a program to train prescribers on how to instruct patients in the proper use and disposal of painkillers, to observe signs of dependence, and to use prescription drug monitoring programs to detect when individuals are going from doctor-to-doctor ("doctor shopping") in search of prescriptions.
· Public education about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Many people mistakenly believe that prescription drugs are safer to misuse than other illegal drugs, simply because they are prescribed by a doctor. It is important that parents educate their children about the dangers inherent in misusing prescription drugs.
· Expansion and enhancement of prescription drug monitoring programs. Currently, these programs operate in 34 states. The Administration supports establishment of monitoring programs in every state, and is seeking to ensure new and existing monitoring programs effectively use the data they acquire and share information across state lines.
· Assisting states in addressing doctor shopping and pill mills. Criminal organizations have established thriving businesses of transporting people to states with little regulation to obtain prescription drugs from multiple doctors or from pill mills, which distribute drugs indiscriminately. Federal, state, local, and tribal authorities are working together to address this problem.
· Driving illegal internet pharmacies out of business.
· Cracking down on rogue pain clinics that do not follow appropriate prescription practices.
The National Drug Control Strategy provides a blueprint for reducing prescription drug abuse. Parents, law enforcement, the medical community, and all levels of government have a role to play in reducing prescription drug abuse.
www.WhiteHouseDrugPolicy.govThe Office of National Drug Control Policy seeks to foster healthy individuals and safe communities by effectively leading the Nation's effort to reduce drug use and its consequences.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Drug and Alcohol Free Tailgate!

Join the Jackson County Anti Drug Coalition and the Christopher Rhodes Memorial Fund on November 5th for the Alcohol and Drug Free Tailgate Party!!

We will be hosting (along with Jackson General Hospital) the Tailgate party from 5-7:30pm prior to the Ravesnwood vs. Ripley Hatchet Game. Bring the entire family out for pulled pork BBQ or Hotdogs, Chips, Drinks & Desserts! We will have informational booths, children's activities, games, prizes, frisbee golf, and cornhole! For more information contact the coalition at jcoadc@gmail.com or contact Rhonda Davis at 304-373-1597.

A special thanks goes out to the following businesses for working together to make this event possible: McDonald's of Ravenswood and Radon Medical Imaging who donated a 2010 Jackson County Jr. Fair Hog; First Baptist Church of Ravenswood; Calvary Baptist Church; WMOV 1360AM; C-98 Radio Ripley; Glitz & Glamour Boutique; Blue Rose Holistics; Jackson County Health Department; Patch 21 TIFU Club; Jackson County DARE; Athletic Outfitters; Fairplain Union Church; CASA; Jackson Newspapers; River Valley Health & Wellness Center; WV Fine Photography, and the Jackson County Anti Drug Coalition Youth Task Force.

All proceeds will benefit the Christopher James Rhodes Memorial Fund.

Rx Take Back Program Scheduled for Sept 25!

On Saturday, September 25, from 10am - 2pm, the DEA, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, and the Jackson County Anti Drug Coalition are partnering to hold Jackson County's FIRST prescription drug take back program.

Residents can drop unused, unwanted, and expired medications into secure lock boxes provided by the DEA. Other than a brief survey of how you heard about the event, there will be no questions asked. The lock box will then be picked up by DEA officials and properly disposed of by incineration. Residents are asked to mark out any personal and/or identifiable information on pill bottles or boxes.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, 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, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
“The Prescription Drug Take Back day provides a safe way for our community to dispose of the unwanted medicines they have in their homes,” said DEA Washing Special Agent in Charge Ava A. Cooper-Davis. “It is an alarming statistic that nearly one in five teens has tried prescription medication to get high. Working together with all of our partners, this effort will help to eliminate a major source of abused prescription drugs, and reduce the hazard they pose to our families in a safe, legal, and environmentally sound way.”
For more information on this event, please contact the Sheriff’s Department at 304-373-2290 or Amy Haskins at 304-372-2634.