November 2011
Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition Newsletter
Sparking Inspiration for Fall-Winter Prevention Efforts 
In This Issue
First Annual Awards Night
Synthetic Drugs Marketed to Coffee County Youth
Personalized Prevention Campaigns for Local Schools
Director's Prevention Inspiration

It should come as no surprise that our Coalition is made up of community members fully dedicated to their community.  This fact is even more evident during the Holiday season as I watch so many continue to give of themselves to those in need during this time of year.  It makes me remember the power of community connectivity.
 
Did you know that one can determine how connected a community is by the number of Christmas lights and Holiday decorations?  The more connected our community is the more likely we are to make positive sustainable changes.  When every community member has buy in, they feel responsible to the bigger community picture. 
 
So remember prevention truly is grassroots and often starts with asking your neighbor for a cup of sugar or an invitation to join a community watch group.  Give someone the gift of community this year and reach out your hand to a neighbor. It starts the chain of community change!
With Thanks,

Kristina Clark
Executive Director
Local Community Shout Outs!

 

Tullahoma Police Department lives up to their "Outstanding Prevention Partner" Award by completing a foot and vehicle checkpoint in Tullahoma during Homecoming to enforce underage drinking laws and drinking and driving laws.

 

Congratulations to Youth Coalition Member, Caleb Baker!  Caleb received the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America on November 14, 2011.  We are so lucky to have him and his incredible family as Coffee County community members.

 

Thank you to all our Prescription Drug Take Back   volunteers on October 29, 2011.  We are grateful for your support and for giving up your Saturday.  A special thanks to Richard Randolph and Kelley Peterson, our local Pharmacist volunteers.  Also thank you to First Vision Bank and College Street Elementary for providing the locations. Over  1,400 prescription narcotic pills were turned in at the event by community members.  Overall, over 70 pounds of prescription, over-the-counter, and veterinary medications were turned in at the one day event.
 
Mayor of Tullahoma Lane Curlee has mentioned the efforts of the Coalition twice in his weekly Notes from the Mayor in the paper.  We are incredibly grateful for his recognition.  We wanted to return the favor by saying thank you for supporting the Alcohol Vendor training with the Tullahoma Police Department.  We look forward to continuing our successes together.

 

Permanent Drug Take Back Box At All Law Enforcement Locations


Tullahoma Permanent Box 

 
Permanent Take Back boxes are now located in the lobbies of the:
Coffee County Sheriff's Department
Tullahoma City Police Department
Manchester City Police Department
 
Citizens can drop off their unwanted, unused and/or expired prescription, over-the-counter, and/or veterinary medications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at each site.  Law enforcement personnel will then properly dispose of the medications including all personal information.

 

Please forward this information to all your contacts so we can get the word out about this important program.  The number one way our youth are accessing prescription and over the counter drugs is through the medicine cabinets in our community!    If you would like additional information please contact the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition.
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Coalition Receives Recognition in Tennessee Department of Mental Health's Quarterly Newsletter

 

 

The success of the Building Strong Families Conference August 16th and 17th has not gone unrecognized by State Officials.  The Coalition partnered with Centerstone's Building Strong Families Program to hold a two day conference connecting mental health, prevention, and treatment providers in the Coffee County and surrounding rural areas.  Over 200 people attended the event. The Coalition both helped fund and organize this successful event. 
 
 
* This article includes our financial support of the conference, but neglects the fact that we helped organize the conference and co-managed the 2 day event with the Building Strong Families Program.
 
First Annual Awards Night A Huge Success
Catherine Murray receiving her "Outstanding Prevention Partner Award"
 

November 9th, 2011 marked the Coalition's first annual Awards and Recognition Dinner.  The evening gave the Coalition an opportunity to thank all of its members, as well as, celebrate the Coalition's last 6 years of success!  A portion of the dinner was devoted to honoring Investigator Leroy Haggard of the Coffee County Sheriff's Department, who passed away in June. 
Mr. Haggard's passion initiated the Coalition's Semi-Annual and Permanent Prescription Drug Take Back programs.  The Coalition will be forever grateful for Mr. Haggard. Mr. Haggard's family members were present to receive the Coalition's "Prevention Champion" award.  This award will be a yearly award presented to an outstanding prevention champion in Coffee County. 

 

Also, 12 Outstanding Prevention Partners received awards for their commitment to prevention excellence.  They are as follows:

 

Coffee County Schools - For Outstanding Commitment to Coalition Sustainability and Drug Abuse Prevention

 

Centerstone's Building Strong Families Program - For Outstanding Commitment to Community Improvement and Engagement

 

Centerstone Regional Leadership - For Outstanding Commitment to fostering Non-Profit Growth and Development

 

Manchester Police Department - For Outstanding Collaboration with State and National Agencies

 

Coffee County Sheriff's Department - For Outstanding Leadership in Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention

 

Tullahoma Police Department - For Outstanding Innovation in Underage Drinking Prevention and Enforcement

 

David Pennington, Coffee County Mayor - For Outstanding Government Leadership in Substance Abuse Prevention

 

Catherine Murray, McMurr's - For Outstanding Commitment to Excellence in Community Service

 

Coffee County Middle Schoo l- For Outstanding Collaboration in Education Focusing on the Whole Child

 

Richard Randolph, Marcrom's Pharmacy - For Outstanding Commitment to Excellence in Community Service

 

Jesslyn Johnson, Coordinated School Health, Manchester City Schools - For Outstanding Leadership in Public Health Prevention

 

Leslie Brasfield, Coordinated School Health, Coffee County Schools - For Outstanding Leadership in Public Health Prevention.

 

 

Please take notes throughout the year on individuals or companies that you believe are changing our community through prevention.  We would like your feedback for nominations next year!
Synthetic Drugs Marketed to Coffee County Youth
 

 

It only takes one look at the above picture to realize that synthetic drugs are not being marketed to the adult population or for incense use.  Scooby Snax along with many other child friendly names are being found at local businesses even though it is now against Tennessee State law to sell synthetic drugs.  The above picture was provided by the Coffee County Adult Probation Deputy Director, Linda Baker. She received information concerning businesses selling synthetic marijuana and bath salts from one of her clients.  En route to provide me with the picture and information, her youngest child saw the picture of the bag and asked for the Scooby Snaxs assuming they were fruit snacks.  Right from the mouth of babes!
 
These drugs are very deadly  and have been shown to cause the following symptoms:
  • Increased heart rate
  • Pale skin
  • Vomiting
  • Dangerously elevated blood pressure
  • Seizures
  • Insomnia
  • Hallucinations and delusions
  • Paranoia
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Muscle and stomach pains

Local community parents have been an incredible force in getting these drugs off the streets by notifying law enforcement authorities when seeing these drugs in local stores.  The Coffee County Sheriff's Department, Manchester Police Department, and the Tullahoma Police Department have been actively responding to these reports.  Please be on the look out for synthetic drugs in your local convenience markets.  They are marketed as incense and plant food.  They are often in small packs with packaging that have popular marijuana themes or provocative pictures.

 

If you come across these items please report it to the local authorities:

 

Coffee County Sheriff's Department - 728-3591

Manchester Police Department - 728-5200

Tullahoma Police Department - 455-0530

 

Want more information?  Follow the links below:

 

 Additional Pictures and Information from Online Parenting

 

Synthetic Marijuana Fact Sheet

 

Synthetic Cocaine Fact Sheet

 

Personalized Prevention Campaigns for Local Schools

 

Red Ribbon Week 2011 was a huge success!  The Coffee County Anti Drug-Coalition and schools within Manchester City, Tullahoma City, and Coffee County School Systems worked together to provide personalized prevention campaigns to be supported throughout the 2011-2012 year.

 

During the week of October 23 - 31, 2011 campaigns kicked off.  The campaigns are direct representations of the data collected by the Coalition through the Student Surveys conducted every other year and themes the schools are focusing on for academic excellence.  By merging prevention messages with the yearly academic themes for the schools the Coalition is able to support the schools' needs and continue the campaigns throughout the year.

 

The Coalition provided campaign materials and items that the students could use such as t-shirts and drawstring backpacks.  Some of the 2011-2012 themes are:

 

"I can be my best at CCMS" (Coffee County Middle School) - Focused on how students can be the best including being drug free.

 

"Building Better Brains-Drug Free Zone" (East Middle School) - Science based campaign on how drugs affect brain cells.

 

"3/4" (Westwood Junior High School) - Silent number campaign showing most youth in Coffee County are not doing drugs.

 

"We Challenge You..." (West Middle School) -  Challenged students to make healthy choices.

 

"Team Up Against Drugs" (Robert E Lee Elementary) -Focused on community service through a food drive and planting a promise to be drug free with individual pledges by students.

 

"Peace, Love, Drug-Free" (Coffee County Elementary Schools and Westwood Elementary)

 

"Better Things to Do Than Drugs" (Farrar Elementary) -Focused on students finding activities they love to do and pledging to be drug free.

 

 

Many of the schools also invited the Coalition Staff and Tennessee Drug Awareness Council (TDAC) volunteers to come speak to youth on the danger of alcohol and drug use.

 

Special to this year's Red Ribbon Week, high school students and coalition members created a red flag display in Manchester and Tullahoma.  This flag display represented the 1,048 (or 48%) students in Coffee County that reported they have a close family member with a severe alcohol or drug problem. As a wrap-up to Red Ribbon Week, 2,500 participants of the Coffee County Child Advocacy Center's "Safe on the Square" event received bright orange re-usable trick or treat bags with our "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" logo.


 

The next phase of our campaign will kick off in the coming weeks.  This will include an educational alcohol brief with local data for parents, teachers, and community adults.  Also, campaign materials including education pamphlets will be provided to every classroom in all three school systems!

 

Upcoming Events and Community Announcements


 

Responsible Beverage Service Training
9:00 am - December 9, 2011
 
Amazing Family Fun Night - Free
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - January 6, 2011
@ The Manchester Recreation Complex
 
Shepherd's House
Our local homeless shelter needs donations to help keep those in need warm this winter.  Please donate jackets, gloves, blankets, etc. to Shepherd's House by contacting Tina Holman at (931) 393-4818.
 
 
 
As always, thank you for your continued support and commitment.  Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions, concerns, or how to get more involved in coalition activities.
 
 

Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition Staff

 

Kristina Clark
Executive Director
931-247-2542

Christina Merino
Prevention Coordinator
931-273-3830

Debra McDonough
Coalition Intern