Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Last spring, residents of Washington County banded together to collect their old, expired, and unwanted prescription drugs and dropped them off at one of several locations for disposal. Records were set because of the awareness and willing involvement of these citizens. Round two of this take-back event is scheduled for this Saturday...

Read Full Article HERE

Washington City Family Night

Detectives Spragg and Page, (Washington County Drug Task Force and Washington County Prevention Coalition,) give information about substance abuse and prevention techniques to parents and families at the Washington City Family Night in October, 2011. This is the second year the coalition has had a booth at the Family Night. Thanks to these great detectives for giving up their evening to run the booth!

WCPC Receives First Ever Utah Coalition Award!

Craig PoVey, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention for the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, presented the Washington County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) with an award in excellence at the Utah Fall Substance Abuse conference in September. Director PoVey said that this is the first time the award has ever been given to a coalition, but said the decision was obvious as he praised the WCPC for all of the collaboration they have created in the community with their prevention efforts, and all of the things they have done to make their county a safer, healthier place. Logan Reid, Chair of the WCPC, who accepted the award on behalf of the coalition, said that the success of the WCPC was a result of not just one person, but of all of the coalition members who have given so much of their time and efforts to the mission of the WCPC.

Prescription drug overdose deaths in Utah are down. Officials credit local coalitions, state-wide media campaigns, and prevention specialists who have been working hard to educated communities about the prescription drug problem in Utah. The WCPC has been a big part of this endeavor. We have contributed to the media campaign and just last year the coalition conducted over 20 presentations in Washington County on prescription drugs. It's a work in progress... but we're making a difference! http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705391230/Prescription-drug-overdoses-in-Utah-are-on-the-decline.html?pg=2

13-year-old Utahn Dies from Prescription Drug Overdose

Thanks to Dan Riding for sending us this article:

A very "sobering" story was printed in the Salt Lake Tribune yesterday. Conner Watson, (13), died after returning home from a party with friends where he consumed some prescription narcotics that he found on the counter (belonging to a friends grandmother). After coming home he watched a movie with his mother before going to bed. The next morning she found him in bed, dead as a result of overdose. It's a very sad story and one that stresses the importance of treating these drugs with greater caution, locking them up, and getting rid of them once they are no longer needed. It's very topical given that our coalition is sponsoring a take-back day this week to address this very concern. Please spread the word about this event and encourage, friends, family and neighbors to clean out their medicine cabinets!

For the full article from the Tribune, click here:

For more info on disposing of medication, refer friends, family and neighbors here:

Underage Drinking Can Create Long-Lasting Brain Changes

A new report published in "Psychology & Sociology" and the journal of "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research" shows that human adolescence marks a critical period for brain development. "This is when the growth of the cortex, our gray matter, reaches a peak and is coupled with major rearrangements of neurons. Dr. Fulton Crews, PhD, professor of pharmacology and director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of N.C. Chapell Hill School of Medicine, said: "It's also a time when the brain's developing neural circuits are more sensitive to disruption. And we and others have shown that the growing adolescent frontal cortex is much more sensitive to damage than the adult frontal cortex, given the same amount of alcohol. The question is, what impact does alcohol [consumption] in the teen years have on the brain and how might that affect our lives as adults?"

Findings show that individuals who drink heavily during adolescence may be more likely to have deficits in being able to adapt successfully to changing life situations as adults. Dr. Crews said that this research shows that young drinkers "...might become a less intelligent, moody, or impulsive individual" later in life.

To read the full article, click here:

A free webinar will be held TOMORROW, March 29th, from noon to 1:30. It's titled "Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don't be a party to teenage drinking." It's more than billboards and brochures. This program can have a meaningful impact on environmental factors which contribute to underage drinking in our community. You can login on your computer and participate in the webinar, or come to the Southwest Center and watch it with staff in the Prevention Department. To register to watch from your own computer, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/814665177 If you plan to watch it at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center please contact Sara: (634-5604) and let her know so she can arrange a room large enough for attendees.

Marijuana in Southern Utah still a big concern

State and federal law enforcement agencies expect marijuana farms in southern Utah to remain a problem during the upcoming growing season. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service and local police will highlight Thursday several cases involving thousands of marijuana plants found growing on public lands in Washington County last summer. Officers will discuss how the public can help with the investigations.

In August, Drug Enforcement Administration officials removed 450 plants in an area where about 1,000 plants had already been harvested. Washington County police officials say about 12 to 14 pot farm busts across the region last year netted about 20,000 plants. Police say the operations may be linked to widespread drug trafficking organizations.

The Intermountain Health Care Health Fair was a big success. Thanks to Kelby, Teresa, Katie, Sara and Logan for manning the booth. We were there for all four hours of the fair and we had 187 people come to the booth, where we gave pamphlets and information on Prescription Drug abuse and other prevention issues. We signed up 24 people on facebook so they get our updates.

Spice is OFFICIALLY BANNED!

Gov. Gary Herbert signed HB23 Friday morning, effectively banning the sale, possession and manufacture of several recreational drugs, most commonly known as "spice" and "Ivory Wave," in Utah. The bill features no time element and takes effect immediately.

Read more...

New Coalition Members

FYI: As per the coalition bylaws, the Chair can appoint new members, and the coalition then has a chance to vote on the appointments. The Executive Committee (Logan, Curtis & Sara) has approved Amber Spencer, Brandy Herring and Dorothy Engelman as new members of the coalition, and their appointment has been approved by a unanimous vote from coalition members. Thanks to all those who took the time to vote, and welcome Amber, Brandy and Dorothy. We're excited to have you on board!

NIDA: Drug Abuse Alters Brain Circuitry Long-Term

NIDA: Drug Abuse Alters Brain Circuitry Long-Term

State-of-the-art brain imaging shows that changes in the brain's reward circuitry caused by substance abuse likely to remain even after drug and alcohol use stop.