News (Media Awareness Project) - US MS: $25K Grant Would Target Drug Abuse |
| Title: | US MS: $25K Grant Would Target Drug Abuse |
| Published On: | 2003-12-19 |
| Source: | Sun Herald (MS) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-19 03:02:31 |
$25K GRANT WOULD TARGET DRUG ABUSE
GULFPORT - The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $25,000
grant if Harrison County will pay remaining costs for a prescription
drug abuse prevention program.
Purdue Pharma is offering the grant in partnership with a
science-based program that studies a community's risks among youths,
offers training and plans specific actions. OxyContin, a painkiller,
is associated with a growing number of overdoses and related abuse
problems.
A cross-section of leaders from related agencies heard details
Thursday. The committee agreed that they need more information before
making a decision. They also will need at least $15,000 for related
costs.
"We don't have an umbrella agency like the Jackson County Children's
Services Coalition for a unified approach that brings representatives
from all related agencies to the table," said Fred Walker, chairman of
the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.
"This is a start," he said.
About 120 people in Harrison County have died of prescription drug
overdoses in the past three years, said Gulfport Police Capt. Pat Pope.
"We're working toward a statewide prescription database that would
make it easier to identify prescription fraud and people who need
help," he said. "But we need law enforcement, the courts, schools,
social services and related agencies talking to each other."
The more than 30 people attending the forum at the Harrison County
Adult Detention Center shared concerns, such as the success of the
program in other communities. They appointed a panel that will provide
answers Jan. 15.
The program, Communities That Care, identifies risk factors among
youths, such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school
dropouts and violence, said representatives of the Channing Bete
Company, which administers the program.
"There are 20 proven risk factors that are predictors of problem
behavior," said David B. Henshaw of Channing Bete. "If you address
those issues and change their behavior, you change their lives for the
better."
Mobile County, Ala., joined the partnership Wednesday and committed
$54,000 to the program.
"We don't want to sell ourselves short," said Richard Rose, Gulfport
Ward 2 councilman. "It may take more than $15,000 for us to achieve
what we want to do."
Some of the school representatives said they didn't know the Gulf
Coast Mental Health Center has a $300,000 grant for drug prevention
programs in schools.
"That just illustrates how we need to do a better job of
communicating," Walker said.
Sheriff George H. Payne, whose agency co-sponsored the forum with the
Long Beach task force, said 80 percent of the more than 900 inmates at
county jail are there because of drug problems.
"We need a holistic approach," he said.
GULFPORT - The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $25,000
grant if Harrison County will pay remaining costs for a prescription
drug abuse prevention program.
Purdue Pharma is offering the grant in partnership with a
science-based program that studies a community's risks among youths,
offers training and plans specific actions. OxyContin, a painkiller,
is associated with a growing number of overdoses and related abuse
problems.
A cross-section of leaders from related agencies heard details
Thursday. The committee agreed that they need more information before
making a decision. They also will need at least $15,000 for related
costs.
"We don't have an umbrella agency like the Jackson County Children's
Services Coalition for a unified approach that brings representatives
from all related agencies to the table," said Fred Walker, chairman of
the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.
About 120 people in Harrison County have died of prescription drug
overdoses in the past three years, said Gulfport Police Capt. Pat Pope.
"We're working toward a statewide prescription database that would
make it easier to identify prescription fraud and people who need
help," he said. "But we need law enforcement, the courts, schools,
social services and related agencies talking to each other."
The more than 30 people attending the forum at the Harrison County
Adult Detention Center shared concerns, such as the success of the
program in other communities. They appointed a panel that will provide
answers Jan. 15.
The program, Communities That Care, identifies risk factors among
youths, such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school
dropouts and violence, said representatives of the Channing Bete
Company, which administers the program.
"There are 20 proven risk factors that are predictors of problem
behavior," said David B. Henshaw of Channing Bete. "If you address
those issues and change their behavior, you change their lives for the
better."
Mobile County, Ala., joined the partnership Wednesday and committed
$54,000 to the program.
"We don't want to sell ourselves short," said Richard Rose, Gulfport
Ward 2 councilman. "It may take more than $15,000 for us to achieve
what we want to do."
Some of the school representatives said they didn't know the Gulf
Coast Mental Health Center has a $300,000 grant for drug prevention
programs in schools.
"That just illustrates how we need to do a better job of
communicating," Walker said.
Sheriff George H. Payne, whose agency co-sponsored the forum with the
Long Beach task force, said 80 percent of the more than 900 inmates at
county jail are there because of drug problems.
"We need a holistic approach," he said.
[sidebar]
WHO THEY ARE
Fred Walker, businessman and chairman of the Long Beach Substance
Abuse Task Force, was selected Thursday to chair a panel that will
review the success of a prescription drug abuse prevention program
offered in about 400 communities. Panel members and who they represent:
Lisa Crain, Gulf Coast Mental Health Center.
Roland Flowers, DARE officer, Pass Christian Police
Department.
Mitchell King, assistant superintendent, Harrison County School
District.
Capt. Rick Kirk, chief of criminal investigations, Biloxi Police
Department.
The Rev. Louis Lohan, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Long Beach.
Joycelyn Moody, assistant principal, Harrison Central High
School.
Lt. Windy Swetman III, community relations director, Harrison County
Sheriff's Department.
Charlie Wood, assistant district attorney.
GULFPORT - The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $25,000
grant if Harrison County will pay remaining costs for a prescription
drug abuse prevention program.
Purdue Pharma is offering the grant in partnership with a
science-based program that studies a community's risks among youths,
offers training and plans specific actions. OxyContin, a painkiller,
is associated with a growing number of overdoses and related abuse
problems.
A cross-section of leaders from related agencies heard details
Thursday. The committee agreed that they need more information before
making a decision. They also will need at least $15,000 for related
costs.
"We don't have an umbrella agency like the Jackson County Children's
Services Coalition for a unified approach that brings representatives
from all related agencies to the table," said Fred Walker, chairman of
the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.
"This is a start," he said.
About 120 people in Harrison County have died of prescription drug
overdoses in the past three years, said Gulfport Police Capt. Pat Pope.
"We're working toward a statewide prescription database that would
make it easier to identify prescription fraud and people who need
help," he said. "But we need law enforcement, the courts, schools,
social services and related agencies talking to each other."
The more than 30 people attending the forum at the Harrison County
Adult Detention Center shared concerns, such as the success of the
program in other communities. They appointed a panel that will provide
answers Jan. 15.
The program, Communities That Care, identifies risk factors among
youths, such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school
dropouts and violence, said representatives of the Channing Bete
Company, which administers the program.
"There are 20 proven risk factors that are predictors of problem
behavior," said David B. Henshaw of Channing Bete. "If you address
those issues and change their behavior, you change their lives for the
better."
Mobile County, Ala., joined the partnership Wednesday and committed
$54,000 to the program.
"We don't want to sell ourselves short," said Richard Rose, Gulfport
Ward 2 councilman. "It may take more than $15,000 for us to achieve
what we want to do."
Some of the school representatives said they didn't know the Gulf
Coast Mental Health Center has a $300,000 grant for drug prevention
programs in schools.
"That just illustrates how we need to do a better job of
communicating," Walker said.
Sheriff George H. Payne, whose agency co-sponsored the forum with the
Long Beach task force, said 80 percent of the more than 900 inmates at
county jail are there because of drug problems.
"We need a holistic approach," he said.
GULFPORT - The company that makes OxyContin is offering a $25,000
grant if Harrison County will pay remaining costs for a prescription
drug abuse prevention program.
Purdue Pharma is offering the grant in partnership with a
science-based program that studies a community's risks among youths,
offers training and plans specific actions. OxyContin, a painkiller,
is associated with a growing number of overdoses and related abuse
problems.
A cross-section of leaders from related agencies heard details
Thursday. The committee agreed that they need more information before
making a decision. They also will need at least $15,000 for related
costs.
"We don't have an umbrella agency like the Jackson County Children's
Services Coalition for a unified approach that brings representatives
from all related agencies to the table," said Fred Walker, chairman of
the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.
About 120 people in Harrison County have died of prescription drug
overdoses in the past three years, said Gulfport Police Capt. Pat Pope.
"We're working toward a statewide prescription database that would
make it easier to identify prescription fraud and people who need
help," he said. "But we need law enforcement, the courts, schools,
social services and related agencies talking to each other."
The more than 30 people attending the forum at the Harrison County
Adult Detention Center shared concerns, such as the success of the
program in other communities. They appointed a panel that will provide
answers Jan. 15.
The program, Communities That Care, identifies risk factors among
youths, such as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, school
dropouts and violence, said representatives of the Channing Bete
Company, which administers the program.
"There are 20 proven risk factors that are predictors of problem
behavior," said David B. Henshaw of Channing Bete. "If you address
those issues and change their behavior, you change their lives for the
better."
Mobile County, Ala., joined the partnership Wednesday and committed
$54,000 to the program.
"We don't want to sell ourselves short," said Richard Rose, Gulfport
Ward 2 councilman. "It may take more than $15,000 for us to achieve
what we want to do."
Some of the school representatives said they didn't know the Gulf
Coast Mental Health Center has a $300,000 grant for drug prevention
programs in schools.
"That just illustrates how we need to do a better job of
communicating," Walker said.
Sheriff George H. Payne, whose agency co-sponsored the forum with the
Long Beach task force, said 80 percent of the more than 900 inmates at
county jail are there because of drug problems.
"We need a holistic approach," he said.
[sidebar]
WHO THEY ARE
Fred Walker, businessman and chairman of the Long Beach Substance
Abuse Task Force, was selected Thursday to chair a panel that will
review the success of a prescription drug abuse prevention program
offered in about 400 communities. Panel members and who they represent:
Lisa Crain, Gulf Coast Mental Health Center.
Roland Flowers, DARE officer, Pass Christian Police
Department.
Mitchell King, assistant superintendent, Harrison County School
District.
Capt. Rick Kirk, chief of criminal investigations, Biloxi Police
Department.
The Rev. Louis Lohan, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Long Beach.
Joycelyn Moody, assistant principal, Harrison Central High
School.
Lt. Windy Swetman III, community relations director, Harrison County
Sheriff's Department.
Charlie Wood, assistant district attorney.
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