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| News from the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) |
July 5, 2011 |
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Good morning!
The Medford murders that occurred on Father's Day rocked Long Island. Truth be told, though, our region's prescription drug crisis has been percolating for the last decade. We know by now that untreated addiction is progressive in nature and if the senseless murder of four innocent people isn't hitting rock-bottom, I don't know what is.
We're not alone in our problem and pharmacists nationwide, by virtue of their professions, are at particular risk. The AP reported last week that armed robberies of pharmacies increased from 380 in 2006 to 686 in 2010 - an 81 percent jump. The number of pills stolen increased from 706,000 to 1.3 million during that time period. Opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone are overwhelmingly the most stolen drugs.
It's time to address this crisis head-on. Let's find ways to limit doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping. Let's better educate doctors and patients about the potential dangers associated with opioid painkillers. Let's step-up our prevention efforts and let's increase access to treatment. Enough talking; let's get it done.
Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D
Executive Director |
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Whack-A-Mole |
 Synthetic pot is back. A story in the Sun-Sentinel last week detailed how manufacturers of synthetic marijuana - recently banned by the DEA - have changed the chemical formulation just enough to get around the ban and in fact, have come up with a more potent product now available in some stores and on the Internet.
The five commonly used chemicals in products known as "K2" and "Spice," were re-classified on March 1st as Schedule I substances, which have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use for treatment and a lack of accepted safety. Reported consequences of using synthetic pot include severe agitation, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, vomiting and, in some cases, hallucinations, tremors and seizures. The classification is scheduled for review in 2012.
One of the most popular re-formulated products on the market right now is called "Barely Legal." |
| Join PUSH Next Monday Night! | | Join us for our next PUSH meeting next Monday night (7/11) as we celebrate passage of the 911 Good Samaritan Bill and map out our next set of public policy priorities. The meeting gets underway at 7:00PM and will be held at Sweet Hollow Presbyterian Church at 95 Old Country Road in Melville. Directions are linked here. We hope to see you there! |
| LICADD & DFLI Fishing Trip! |
 On Sunday, July 31, 2011, the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) and Drug Free Long Island, Inc. will host its second annual Fishing Fundraising Event to support programs for at-risk children and families.
The two nonprofits will co-sponsor chartered boats leaving from Captree and Freeport, followed by a family barbecue at John Burns Park in Massapequa. Proceeds from the event will be used to raise public awareness about substance abuse and will support LICADD's school-based prevention programs. LICADD's Executive Director, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds said, "We are thrilled to partner with Drug Free Long Island, Inc. on behalf of families and children struggling with the life-threatening effects of drugs and alcohol. This is a great way for families to come together to enjoy the beauty of Long Island while supporting our mutual goal of saving lives."
LICADD and Drug Free Long Island, Inc. share a common mission to advance through public awareness, education, and advocacy the transformation of Long Island into a DRUG FREE environment for the general safety, health, and welfare of children and all members of the community. Janice Talento, President of Drug Free Long Island, Inc. said, "Working with LICADD has given our community a broader picture of the epidemic facing our youth. We will continue to partner with LICADD to build a safe tomorrow."
Registration is $40 per person for fishing/barbecue or $15 per person for the barbecue only. Space is limited, so please reserve your place today by calling Drug Free Long Island, Inc. at 516-308-4068 or email info@dfmli.org. Reservations may also be made through LICADD at 516-747-2606 or email rcslattery@licadd.org. Join LICADD and Drug Free Long Island, Inc. for live music, wonderful prizes, a great family outing, and a very important cause! |
| Mentoring Program Picnic | |
 The day consisted of various organized activities including face painting by Girl Scout Troop 1804 of West Islip and a program-wide kickball game. The picnic was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together, meet new people, reflect on new friendships, and enjoy a beautiful summer day. During lunch, mentees were mesmerized by a magician coordinated by Girl Scout Troop 1804. Lauren Ventimiglia, BUDDY Program Coordinator stated, "It was heartwarming to see the growth of LICADD's Buddy Program and the relationships that have flourished between the mentors and mentees. Smiles were abundant and a great time was had by all."
The presence of LICADD's community partners was truly inspirational. We are thankful for the Girl Scouts and Kellenberg's continued support and look forward to working with them again in the near future! If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Lauren Ventimiglia, BUDDY Program Coordinator at 516-747-2606 or lventimiglia@licadd.org |
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| LICADD Newsletter Sponsorships | |
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| Save The Date | |
Invitational Golf Outing
September 19, 2011
The Creek & Piping Rock Clubs
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For more than 50 years, LICADD has operated almost entirely on community contributions and donations from people like you. We don't have fancy offices, glossy brochures and a stable of administrators. Our budget is lean, our overhead is minimal and our operations are laser-focused on our core mission of saving lives. That means that your donation goes further when you give to LICADD. And today more than ever, every dollar counts.
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LICADD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and contributons are 100% tax-deductible. LICADD is a BBB-Accredited Charity and we meet ALL 20 BBB Standards for Charitable Accountability. |
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