Operation UNITE

April 10-12, 2012 Walt Disney World Swan Resort

UNITE’s  History  

•  Launched  in  April  2003  by  U.S.  Congressman  Harold  “Hal”  Rogers    

•  In  response  to  a  special  report,  “Prescription  for  Pain,”  published  by  the  Lexington  Herald-­‐Leader  newspaper  during  January  and  February  2003.    

•  Articles  exposed  the  addiction  and  corruption  associated  with  drug  abuse  in  southern  and  eastern  Kentucky  

•  UNITE  works  to  rid  communities  of  illegal  drug  use  through:  

– Undercover  narcotics  investigations  – Coordinating  treatment  for  substance  abusers  – Providing  support  to  families  and  friends  of  substance  abusers  – Educating  the  public  about  the  dangers  of  drugs  

Operation  UNITE’s  Mission  

•  Arrested  3,711  individuals  – Seized  104,882  pills  – 273  Meth  Labs  – 23.54  pounds  of  cocaine  – 466  pounds  of  processed  marijuana  – 5,844  marijuana  plants  

•  Total  Value  $11,618,446  

•  Voucher  program  –  Provided  $7.38  million  in  vouchers  for  residential  treatment  –  2,431  individuals  entered  a  treatment  program  –  1,493  completed  –  139  currently  in  treatment  

•  Drug  Court  –  UNITE  invested  $4.244  million  to  create  30  Drug  Court  Programs  –  3,111  have  participated  –  1,190  graduated  –  495  currently  active  –  231  completed  an  education  plan  –  195  drug  free  babies  born  –  $1,017,835  collected  in  fines,  restitution  &  child  support  

•  West  Care  &  Chad’s  Hope  Center  

•  30  Community  Coalitions  – Over  66,570  youth  have  participated  in  UNITE  sponsored  activities  

•  Over  11,000  volunteers  since  2004  •  Drug  Free  Workplace  Trainings  – 4,800  employees  at  Booth  Energy  Group,  Equitable  Resources,  Firestone,  International  Coal  Group,  human  resource  managers  and  hotel/motel  managers  

•  Rural  youth  are  at  greater  risk  for  substance  abuse;  they  start  sooner  (11  vs  14  nationally)  and  progress  faster  from  experimentation  to  addiction.  (University  of  KY  Center  on  Addiction  Research  –  2010)  

•  UNITE’s  Treatment  Hotline  receives  an  average  of  1,200  calls  per  month  just  from  Eastern  Kentucky  

•  Needle  usage  has  skyrocketed  from  1:50/calls  to  1:5  (from  June  2005  to  present)  

•  We  have  some  counties  that  have  50%  of  the  children  being  raised  with  NO  PARENTS  in  the  home.  

Eastern  KY:  Where  do  we  stand?  

UNITE’s  Goal  

•  To  educate  and  activate  individuals  by  developing  and  empowering  community  coalitions  to  no  longer  accept  or  tolerate  the  drug  culture  

•  Serves  29  counties  of  southern  and  eastern  Kentucky  

UNITE  Clubs  help  youth  develop  healthy  attitudes  and  behaviors  by  learning  and  practicing  life  skills,  enhancing  academic  performance,  connecting  peers,  adults,  communities  and  learning  through  service.  

Hooked  on  Fishing  NOT  On  Drugs  •  Designed  for  ages  5  and  up,  

this  on-­‐going  program  places  caring  adults  in  a  mentoring  relationships  with  youth  to  provide  a  fun  alternative  to  using  drugs  while  teaching  youth  fishing  and  conservation  skills.  UNITE  provides  free  training  for  adult  facilitators  and  assists  coalitions  with  start-­‐up  costs.  

Shoot  Hoops  

•  Shoot  Hoops  camps  provide  participants  an  opportunity  to  interact  with  positive  role  models,  receive  positive  anti-­‐drug  and  self-­‐esteem  messages  in  conjunction  with  basic  basketball  skills  instruction.  

•  Parent  education  during  camps  

National  Archery    in  the  Schools  Program  

•  Through  the  end  of  the  2009-­‐10  school  year  UNITE  has  provided  $83,673  for  58  NASP  programs  in  23  counties.    

•  Since  its  beginning,  NASP  has  grown  to  nearly  9,000  schools  and  2  million  student  archer  athletes  for  the  2010-­‐11  school  year.  

Youth  Leadership  Program  

•  UNITE  initiative  designed  to  train  middle  and  high  school  youth  to  be  catalysts  for  helping  their  peers  make  positive  life  choices  by  demonstrating  leadership  skills  within  their  home  communities.    

•  Funded  by  a  grant  from  Walmart.  

First  Tee  of  Pine  Mountain  

•  The  First  Tee  program  offers  golf  lessons  to  kids  who  otherwise  can’t  afford  to  get  involved  in  the  sport.  The  young  golfers  also  learn  good  sportsmanship,  strong  work  ethic,  good  moral  values,  as  well  as  the  dangers  of  drugs.  

•  NIDA  approved  curriculum.    Pilot  project  in  Bell  County,  KY  

Anti-­‐drug  Rallies  •  Raising  awareness,  building  hope  and  inspiring  communities.  

•  Over  45,000  individuals  in  east  Kentucky  have  participated.  

1.  To raise awareness of current community issues

2.  To unite citizens and city officials

3.  To empower law enforcement agencies

Life  with  a  Record  

•  A  program  for  students  that  portrays  the  obstacles  that  are  created  when  they  have  a  felony  on  their  record.  

Accidental  Dealer  A  campaign  targeting  parents  designed  to  raise  awareness  about  teen  abuse  of  prescription  drugs.  

Addicted:  A  Dose  of  Reality  A  program  for  parents  revealing  the  reality  of  drug  addiction  for  teens.  

One  Step  Misery  A  6  month  campaign  designed  to  educate  Kentucky  on  the  dangers  of  Meth.  

•  2010-­‐2011  School  Year:  –  1,283  tutored  in  math  –  568  students  mentored  –  1,993  students  taught  Too  Good  for  Drugs,  

research  based  curriculum  

–  173  parents  of  kids  being  tutored  were  incarcerated  due  to  substance  abuse  issues  

–  Carr  Creek  Elementary,  38  parents  of  children  at  that  school  overdosed.      

•  4  Day  leadership  camp  at  the  University  of  the  Cumberlands  •  916  middle  school  students  have  participated  •  Post  Survey  results:  •  88.5%  of  participants  demonstrated  an  increased  knowledge  about  

drugs  •  96%  of  youth  signed  a  drug  free  contract  •  85%  of  campers  indicated  a  desire  to  complete  high  school  and  seek  

higher  education  •  86%  stated  they  learned  something  positive  at  camp  •  87%  of  the  campers  indicated  they  wanted  to  return  in  a  leadership  

position  (junior  counselor  or  lead  counselor)    

Medical  Advisory  Counsel    

•  Recognizing  the  importance  of  engaging  the  medical  community  in  order  to  develop  solutions  to  the  problem  of  prescription  drug  abuse  and  diversion,  UNITE  formed  a  volunteer  group  of  medical  professionals  to  gather  ideas  and  make  recommendations  to  its  Board  of  Directors.  

Website:  operationunite.org  

Phone:  1:-­‐866-­‐OP-­‐UNITE