Building Community Support for Law

Enforcement April 10-12, 2012

Walt Disney World Swan Resort

Accepted Learning Objectives: 1.  Outline drug abuse prevention and intervention

strategies relevant to all communities.

2.  Describe the creation and implementation of community education kits as an effective means of engaging multiple stakeholders.

3.  Explain opportunities for law enforcement officials to enlist community partners in developing education and prevention strategies.

Disclosure Statement

All presenters for this session, Officer Cully Desmond, Rebecca Heuser, Mike Mayer and Dan Smoot have disclosed no relevant, real or apparent personal or professional financial relationships

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

•  Ozaukee County Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) Prevention Consortium, coordinated by Starting Point of Ozaukee County, was created to oversee ATOD prevention and early intervention programs and activities in Ozaukee County, WI.

•  Membership consists of representatives from: business, clergy, medical, law enforcement, youth organization, human services, public health, parent networks, recovering community, all five school districts, university extension, media and community volunteers.

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

•  Address the growing public health problem of prescription drug abuse in Ozaukee County, WI.

•  In Ozaukee County, 13% of sixth to twelfth graders indicated in a recent survey (2010-11) having tried pharmaceuticals in the last year.

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

•  Using a Drug Free Communities Support Program grant from SAMSHA, the ATOD purchased six MedReturn Drug Collection Units for placement in various law enforcement agencies throughout Ozaukee County, WI.

•  Locations include police departments in Mequon, Thiensville, Port Washington, Saukville and Grafton. The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department also has a unit.

•  Named the OzMed Drop Project, this program offers year round prescription drug collection through local law enforcement agencies for the convenience of their residents and their health and safety, especially the youth in the community.

•  Drugs collected are monitored and appropriately disposed of by each collaborating law enforcement agency.

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

“We are grateful for the enthusiasm and cooperation the public and our community police departments have demonstrated for the OzMedDrop Project. It has exceeded all expectations. We feel confident that this ongoing effort will reduce risks for our youth and our environment.”

Gail J. Bruss, Ozaukee County (WI) ATOD Prevention Consortium

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

“As the commander of the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Department’s Anti Drug Task Force I have found that the abuse of prescription medications has become one of the top two drug abuse problems in Ozaukee County. Prescription drug abuse is often a precursor to heroin abuse. The deadly combination of prescription medication and heroin overdoses are destroying the lives and families of too many Ozaukee County residents.

The program effectively allows families an environmental friendly option in disposing of unused medications in a timely fashion. It assures that family members, friends or other guest who may be an addict don’t have an opportunity to get their hands on unused prescription medications.

From my perspective if the take back program can prevent even one tragic overdose death then it will have been worth it.”

Lt. Rodney Galbraith, Ozaukee County (WI) Sheriff's Department, Detective Bureau/Drug Unit

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

Other county-wide programs:

Bucks County, PA “This will certainly help get rid of unused and expired prescriptions and put them out of reach of young people. However we hope this effort is duplicated throughout the region so even more people can afford themselves of the opportunity to properly dispose of these prescriptions on any given day.”

Lee Rush, Community Organizer, Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition, Bucks County, PA

Norfolk County, MA MedReturn Drug Collection Units are available for residents to drop off unwanted medications throughout Norfolk County, MA Police Departments.

Kennebec County, ME Prescription drug drop boxes have been placed in 12 locations throughout Kennebec County to properly dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

"Prescription drugs have been a big issue, and there have not been any permanent ways for people to get rid of them. Consequently ... people keep them in their cabinets where they're accessible to people who shouldn't get them." Nancy Findlan, prevention director for Greater Waterville (ME) Communities (from Portland Press Herald)

Bucks County, PA

Norfolk County, MA

Building Community Support for Law Enforcement – Mike Mayer

MedReturn Drug Collection Units located in Florida: Dade City Ocala Delray Beach Winter Park Live Oak West Palm Beach - 10 units Inverness Boca Raton Palm Springs Lake Mary Oviedo Altamonte Springs New Port Richey Fort Lauderdale Oviedo Tarpon Springs Fernandina Beach

Dade City, FL Police Chief

Ray Velboom & Chrissie Parris

of ASAP

Unit purchased by Dade City Police Department and the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP).

Chrissie Parris, Coalition Coordinator of ASAP, believes that it is imperative to do everything possible to change the devastating reality of the number of deaths associated with prescription drugs.