Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 3-12-13: Announcing Our Youth Media Contest!

The Ulster Prevention Council is pleased to announce our Spring 2013 Youth Media Contest:

Open to all Ulster County Students 

• Posters

• Radio

• Video Projects 

Help us get these important messages out to Ulster County communities:

·         The dangerous health risks associated with the misuse of prescription medications

·         Alternatives to drug use: getting involved in social & recreational activities in your community

·         Awareness of the harmful effects of marijuana on youth brain development & I.Q.

·         Be Aware, Don’t Share prescription drugs and Lock Your Meds to keep kids safe

WIN PRIZES !!!

• Best Video Message- $250 Gift Card

• Best Radio Message- $150 Gift Card

• Best Poster- $75 Gift Card

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 1ST

Winners to be selected on MAY 10th

Contact: Lori @ Ulster Prevention Council

Email: lrotolo@familyservicesny.org

Phone: (845) 458-7406 ext.231

The Youth Media Contest is held in honor of Phil Terpening, former chairman of our board and outstanding citizen, legislator, and friend. We have created the Innovations in Substance Abuse Prevention Awards to honor his memory.

MEDIA  CONTEST

Student Application

Individual:

Name _______________________________________________   Grade:__________

                                                OR

Group:

Name _________________________________________________Grade:__________

Name _________________________________________________Grade:__________

                                                                                         

Name _________________________________________________Grade:__________

Name _________________________________________________Grade:__________

Name _________________________________________________Grade:   ________             

School ________________________________________________________________

Category      □  Poster        □  Radio PSA       □  Video PSA

Project Title __________________________________________________________

	Return to:  Ulster Prevention Council 85 Grand Street Kingston, NY 12401 Attn:  Contest ! Or email:  lrotolo@familyservicesny.org

 

           

 

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 3-4-13: Ask Your Doctor

ASK YOUR DOCTOR – The Institute for Family Health’s new TV series on Ellenville Public Access Channel 20
The first in a series of health-focused TV shows aired on Thursday, Feb. 28^th, with Institute Physicians Dr. Maya Hambright, Medical Director at Ellenville Family Health Center and Dr. Ray Harvey, Medical Director at Kingston Hospital and Controlled Substance Director for IFH, along with resident physician Amy Soussan, MD. 
The focus of this show was on Prescription Drug use and misuse, which has become a health crisis/epidemic facing our nation, and specifically, our communities.  Students from the Ellenville Radio/TV production class developed questions on the topic and conducted the interview with the doctors.  Questions included:  How did the prescribing of medications become a health crisis?  What are the dangers of sharing pills prescribed for you with someone else?  What should people do if they have prescriptions at home that they no longer use or need?  What prescriptions are most addictive?  How do you know if someone is drug-seeking? What is being done by the medical community to address this issue? 
DVDs of the “Ask Your Doctor” series, along with other shows from the Spotlight on Wawarsing series (which highlights a different human service program or agency each week), will be available for those interested in showing them in waiting room areas and at community events.  Contact Lori at UPC 458-7406 ext. 231.


Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 2-25-13: Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  
Saugerties Police Department establishes permanent drug drop box
Those looking to get rid of their unused, unwanted, or expired medications can now visit the permanent drop box location at the Saugerties Police Department.  The location is part of Ulster County’s program to reduce prescription drug abuse.
“The Ulster Prevention Council has been working closely with the Saugerties Police Department to give residents an easy way to keep their medicine cabinets clean,” said Cheryl DePaolo, Director of the Ulster Prevention Council. 
“According to the 2012 Ulster County Youth Development Survey, one in ten Ulster County youth in grades 7-12 reported abusing prescription drugs, so it is important to do as much as we can to make these substances less available” said DePaolo.
Proper disposal of medications has long been a difficult problem for New Yorkers.  Flushing them pollutes the water supply.  Throwing them in the trash make than an easy target, not only for thieves, but for pets and wildlife. “Many communities around the country have held one-day or limited time collection efforts, but very few easy public access to a safe and secure permanent collection system” said DePaolo.
Drugs can be dropped off twenty-four hours per day, and there is no paperwork required. The police department will store the collected medications in a secure area, and then turn them over to federal authorities for disposal.
Through the implementation of a permanent drug collection unit, community members have the opportunity to help keep excess prescription and over the counter medication out of the hands of youth and substance abusers through safe and secure disposal.  

Police will accept all prescription medications and samples, all over-the-counter medications, vitamins, pet medications, medicated ointments, and liquid medication in leak-proof containers.

Items that cannot be discarded at the drop box include thermometers, syringes, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, hydrogen peroxide, and aerosol cans or inhalers.

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 2-12-13: One Billion Rising

The 2012 Ulster County Youth Development Survey data just arrived – a box crammed with disks of data. I’m digging into the numbers and I will have a lot to say about our results in the coming weeks. However, it is time to take a break – to dance!
I’m joining One Billion Rising for V-Day. What is that? Here is some information from the web site:
About One Billion Rising:
One in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.
One billion women violates is an atrocity.
One billion women dancing is a revolution.
On V-Day’s 15^th anniversary, 14 February 2013, we are inviting one billion women and those who love them to walk out, dance, rise up and demand an end to this violence.
What does one billion look like? On February 14 it will look like a revolution.
One billion rising is:
A global strike
An invitation to dance
A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
A new time and a new way of being
One Billion Rising is a promise that we will rise up with women and men worldwide to say “Enough! The violence ends now!”.
I was excited to see that there are at least four events planned in Ulster County.  For details, visit www.vday.org.
Whether or not you can make it to one of the V Day events, please take the time to view the following video. It will give you a good sense of the power of the day and the movement:
http://onebillionrising.org/blog/we-have-an-anthem


Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

UPC Weekly Blog 2-1-13: We've got to do more!

This week I learned of the tragic overdose deaths of two area youths.

100 people die from drug overdoses every day in the United States. Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. Although many types of prescription drugs are abused, there is currently a growing, deadly epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse. Nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are caused by prescription painkillers. 

These drugs were involved in more overdose deaths in than cocaine and heroin combined. Combining alcohol with drugs increases the risk. I’ve been sharing these facts for a while now.  We’ve got to do more. For our youth, for our parents, for ourselves. Effective strategies include universal evidence-based prevention curricula in schools, prescription drug monitoring programs, laws to prevent diversion, increased awareness and education, and better access to substance abuse evaluations and treatment.

Here at the Prevention Council we are rolling up our sleeves. Will you join us?

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog 1-25-13: No Name Calling Week

It's National No Name Calling Week. Do you remember being called names by your peers? I had what my peers called "missionary glasses" the old style glasses from the 60s shaped like cats' eyes. Mine were baby blue and had stars in the corners. I remember being called "Four Eyes". In 5th grade I was called HodgePodge as my last name was Hodges. Later I can remember being called Pop'N'Fresh, referring to my pale skin and body shape. All of these seem fairly benign in comparison to the names that I hear youth use today.

Here's a link to an article in the Huffington Post by William Lucas Walker. It's a little long but I did relate to it and perhaps you will, too. Please support No Name Calling Week, and have a discussion with youth you know regarding this important topic.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-lucas-walker/no-name-calling-week_b_2521125.html#.UQGC779X2ot

Cheryl DePaolo
Director of Ulster Prevention Council

Ulster Prevention Council Weekly Blog: 1-7-13: Medical Marijuana

Today I’m taking a look at New York State Senate Bill 1682 sponsored by Democratic Senators Montgomery, Krueger and Sampson.  A different bill introduced by Senator Savino is also expected to be introduced.              

Senate Bill 1682 would amend the public health law in relation to medical use of marijuana.

The bill would allow use of marijuana in health care, including palliative care, veterinary care and research. As written, dentists, podiatrists and veterinarians would be able to approve patients, and there is no age limit.

A practitioner would certify that a patient has a serious condition, that the patient is under the practitioner’s care, that the condition can and should be treated with the medical use of marijuana, and that other drugs or treatments would not be as effective. Certifications would be effective for a six month period.

Patients and caregivers would be allowed to be in possession of up to eight ounces of marijuana. Consuming marijuana in a public place would be unlawful.

Local health departments and registered non-profit organizations would sell, administer, deliver, dispense or distribute marijuana to those holding valid certifications. Organizations would dispense up to a thirty day supply.

Marijuana would be dispensed in a container with an orange label and marked “CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, DANGEROUS UNLESS USED AS DIRECTED".

Practitioners would be required to file reports for each certification every ninety days including a brief statement of the level and pattern of marijuana use by the patient and the effectiveness of the medical use of marijuana for the patient.

An outside evaluator would conduct an analysis of the practical operation of this act, the clinical value of medical use of marijuana under this act, and the effect on illegal use of controlled substances.

This act would take effect immediately provided that the department of health shall make regulations and issue forms within 180 days.

 

Cheryl DePaolo

Director of the Ulster Prevention Council