March 18, 2011

Medication Take-Back Day Scheduled for Nebraska City on April 16th

The Safe Rx Committee of Partners for Otoe County is sponsoring the community's second medication take-back day on Saturday, April 16th from 10:00 to 2:00 at the City Hall parking lot on 15th Street and Central Avenue in Nebraska City. People will be able to anonymously dispose of unused, unwanted, or unneeded prescription and over-the-counter medications in pill and liquid form. No needles. This is a free and anonymous program. No questions asked. The medications collected will be turned over by the Nebraska City Police Department to the Drug Enforcement Agency for proper incineration, keeping the medications out of the water supply and the hands of young children.

Sgt. Dana Schebaum, Nebraska City Police Department, is leading the April 16th take back event in Nebraska City. Other local partners participating include: Nebraska City Elks Lodge, U-Save Pharmacy, Walgreen's Pharmacy, St. Mary's Community Hospital, Southeast District Health Department, Nebraska City Rescue Squad, Nebraska City Housing Authority, and Region V Systems.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, and studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

In an effort to address this problem, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States conducted the first ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on September 25, 2010. The purpose was to provide a venue for persons who wanted to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. This effort was a huge success in removing more than 121 tons of potentially dangerous prescription drugs from our medicine cabinets. Nebraska City Police Department was one of about 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies that participated in the first event.

Due to the overwhelming success of the first event, the DEA is planning a second National Prescription Drug Take Back event in April. This will be a great opportunity for those who missed the first event or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted medications to safely dispose of them.

Prenatal Care

Bill Debated at Public Hearing Wednesday

State Sen. Kathy Campbell's LB 599, a bill that would require the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to apply for approval to pay for prenatal care for unborn children regardless of their immigration status, was debated in a pubic hearing before the Health and Human Services Committee on March 16th. According to the Omaha World Herald, more than 12 people testified in support of the bill, and Vivianne Chaumont of the state's Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care was the only person testifying against the bill. The bill's sponsor acknowledged that passage of the bill would be difficult. "Money is a very prized commodity this session, so this may be very difficult," Campbell said.

Proponents of this bill included hospital representatives, lawyers and clergy. They argued that life is more valuable than fiscal prudence. Others argue that good prenatal care is more cost-effective in the long run. The person testifying against the bill said the bill would "cost millions that the state doesn't have." The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

District 2 State Senator Dave Pankonin serves on the Health and Human Services Committee. Senator Pankonin appreciates the input of his constituents and you can contact him at the address below to provide your opinion about this bill:

Senator Dave Pankonin

District #2, Room 1101 State Capitol

PO Box 94604

Lincoln NE 68509-4604

Phone: 471-2613

Email: dpankonin@leg.ne.gov

The latest information about activities of the legislature is available at

http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/.

Spring means nice weather, warm sunshine, and more opportunities to be on the road!

Springtime is just around the corner, and for many parents that means that teens are going to want to get some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, and hang out with their friends more. Your teen may have just gotten their license, or their friends may be newly licensed. Either way, it is likely that your teen may be in a vehicle with other teens. Now is the time to influence your teens about risky behaviors of young drivers and teach them how to make smart decisions.

Have you quizzed your teen passenger lately lately?

Peer pressure is very common among teens and sometimes it may be difficult for them to stand up to what they believe in or what they feel is safe. It is important to practice with your teen to prepare them for the peer pressure of driving in an unsafe situation.

Would they have the courage and know how to ask their friends to:

Buckle their seat belt?
Stop texting and driving?
Keep their eyes on the road?
Keep their hands on the wheel?
Stop speeding?
Stop putting on their make-up while driving?
Stop eating and/or drinking while driving?

What did the average teen say?

Role Model Role Play

Parents, while talking helps, it is also beneficial to sit down with your teen and actually practice role playing different unsafe situations that may arise while they are a passenger in a vehicle with a teen driver!

Example #1:

Mom and Dad, bring your son/daughter into a car (parked of course) and role play a specific situation that your teen feels they have already experienced or may experience in the future.

Characters: Dad is the teen driver and son is the passenger.

Scene: A friend is driving your son home from school. Both teens are buckled and are having general conversations about their day in school.

Dad (teen driver): "Man I have a lot of Algebra homework to do tonight. I wish we didn't have to show the work for ALL the equations."

Son (teen passenger): "Yea I know the feeling. I have a huge essay to write for English class and I have no clue what I am going to write about yet."

Background Noise: Beep Beep. Dad's phone just received a text message.

Dad (teen driver): Dad looks down and grabs his phone out of the cup holder. "Oh that's probably Jim he was supposed to forward me this joke that his brother sent him. This should be good let's check it out!"

What should your son do? What should he say?

Possible responses: Son (teen passenger): "Hey man, you gotta concentrate on driving. Give me the phone and I'll read it for you." Or Son (teen passenger): "Dude let's wait until we get to my house, we are not that far. Just drive and we'll check out the joke when we get home."

Son (teen passenger): "Hey do you know how dangerous that is? Plus it's illegal let's wait until we get to my house then we'll check out the joke.

Practice different situations with texting while driving, talking while driving, speeding, and buckling up. Give your son/daughter the chance to respond and find out what they would say. If they are having trouble coming up with a response, suggest some talking points and phrases.

Request more role playing activities by sending us a message at www.underyourinfluence.org.

Printable Resources Talking points for you and your teen drivers:
Absolutely no alcohol Seat belt use
Texting and driving
Driving curfew
Passengers: No more than one at all times
GDL Laws: Obeying the laws
House rules

Issue: 34

In This Issue

2nd Medication Take-Back Day Is April 16

Legislative Update

Safe Driving For Teens

Calendar of Events

Help Wanted - Volunteers!

P4OC Offering June Jam Scholarships

Clean Up Your Health

Upcoming Events

March 1 - 31

Brain Injury Awareness Month

National Parent Leadership Month

National Nutrition Month

Tues - March 22

CASA Advisory Board 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. NCCCF

P4OC Finance Committee Meeting

12:00 - 1:00

NCCCF

March 20-26

National Poison Prevention Week

Inhalants Awareness Week

Youth Violence Prevention Week

Thurs - March 24

Youth Legislative Day

State Capital

March 26-29

Lifesavers Conference Phoenix, AZ

April 1 - 30

Alcohol Awareness Month

National Child Abuse Month

Fri -April 1

April Fools Day

Fri - April 8

National D.A.R.E. Day

TiPS On-Sale 10:00 - 3:00 - NCCCF

Thurs - April 14

MADD - Power of Parents - Train the Trainer workshop Lincoln, NE

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Sat - April 16

Medication Take Back Day

City Hall Parking Lot Nebraska City 10:00 to 2:00

Got Drug April

Thurs - April 21

Power Talk 21 (MADD) State Capital

Sun April 24

Kick Butts Day (Tobacco-Free Kids)

tobacco free kids

CONTACT Laurie to post YOUR information.

Help Wanted - Volunteers

Study Buddies 5

The following P4OC programs have volunteer openings that require one hour per week of volunteer time to make a difference in the life of a child:

Study Buddies Tutors:

Nebraska City-2 openings

Syracuse - 3 openings

Talmage - 3 openings

TeamMates Mentors in Nebraska City - 5 openings for males

For more information, click on the links above or call 873-6343.

P4OC Accepting Scholarship Applications for June Jam

2010 June Jam Leadership Conference Participants

Partners for Otoe County is pleased to announce it is accepting scholarship applications for the June Jam Leadership Conference through April 1.

June Jam is a leadership conference offered each summer by Region V Systems at Southeast Community College for students who will be entering grades 7-12. Partners for Otoe County will be awarding up to 8 scholarships for youth actively involved in student drug organizations in Otoe County - PRiDE, PARTY and STOP - and have pledged to lead a drug-free lifestyle. Developing youth leadership is one of P4OC's top priorities, and thanks to a SPF SIG grant from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, we will be able to pay $25 of the $75 registration fee for eight of the many deserving students who are active in STOP, PRiDE or PARTY. For more information, contact Amanda Davis at 269-3166.

Clean Up Your Health, This Spring!

Popular TV show nutritionist shares simple tips on how to return to healthy lifestyle habits

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This spring, rededicating yourself to wellness couldn't come at a better time. At the beginning of the year, you may have committed to maintaining a healthier you and now you've fallen off the bandwagon. In addition to cleaning out the garage and preparing your garden, you should also think about cleaning up your act-when it comes to your overall health and wellness.

"Life...supplemented," a consumer wellness campaign, encourages people to think about spring as the perfect opportunity to get back on track and return to healthy lifestyle habits. With March being "National Nutrition Month," the program is currently reminding consumers that a healthy diet combined with vitamins and other supplements to pick up where our diets fall short, is the best way to get the nutrients the body needs. Healthcare professionals agree about the role of dietary supplements-a recent "Life...supplemented" study(1) found nine in 10 registered dietitians and eight in 10 nurse practitioners report dietary supplements can play an important role in improving or maintaining the health of patients.