Rx Medication Take Back Day – Saturday, April 28th
Category: Newsletter
A message from Shasta Spencer, Youth Outreach Coordinator
This year I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County to create The Outreach Team. Our team consists of amazing young college age adults and high school seniors who are positive role models with a passion for encouraging middle and high school students to make healthy choices. Our team has a schedule each month visiting six middle schools in Nevada County where we combine prevention education and activities in a fun and interactive way. Much of what we present is focused on highlighting that most teens are NOT using drugs and alcohol… dispelling common misperceptions that “everyone’s doing it”. We also share easy real life ways kids can respond to any situation where they are faced with the decision to use alcohol or any other drugs.
It is an amazing thing to experience so many students interested in improving their lives. Each visit the team gets around 50 students who participate and respond to the activities. Not only do they participate, but they do it open-mindedly and with a gigantic smile on their face. The students of Nevada County are absolutely amazing. And along with the students, the staff of each school middle school has been nothing but supportive of our activities. If it weren’t for the staff we wouldn’t be having these activities at lunch. With that being said the Outreach Team would like to give a big shout out to David Figuly; principle of Seven Hills, Teena Corker; principle of Pleasant Valley, Scott Mertz; counselor of Union Hill, Scott Lay; principle of Clear Creek, Chris Roberts; principle of Lyman Gilmore, and Thomas Bivens; principle of Ready Springs for being so supportive with what the team is doing.
The first couple of months of outreach have been a huge success, and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue visiting middle schools this next semester.
If you know anyone who might be interested in joining The Outreach Team please contact me, Shasta Spencer at: Outreach@CoRR.us, or call: 530-273-7956.
Promoting the Positive: Our posters have been displayed at middle schools throughout Western Nevada County
Outreach Locations:
- Union Hill
- Lyman Gilmore
- Ready Springs
- Pleasant Valley
- Seven Hills
- Clear Creek
Interested in joining the Team?
Are you an energetic, outgoing, and self-motivated young adult who enjoys being a positive role-model for middle school and high school students?
We are looking for Outreach Team Members interested in empowering youth to create a positive culture among their peers and to make healthy choices. Outreach will combine education that dispels myths and misperceptions around alcohol and other drug use with fun activities and healthy alternatives for youth in the community.
School site visits will be a time to build relationships with youth and inspire them to make a difference!
JOB DUTIES:
- Must be available for at least 3 – 4 school site visits per month
- Must be able to attend monthly Outreach Team meetings
- Must have a car to drive to school locations (mileage reimbursed)
- Must have a passion or desire to work with youth/students
- Must be a positive role model, self-motivated, energetic, and possess positive communication skills
Download application HERE
Please contact Shasta Spencer, Youth Outreach Coordinator to schedule an interview. (530) 718 – 0332
Alcohol Retail Signage Campaign raises awareness of consequences for purchasing, providing alcohol to underage minors and prevent underage drinking
In March of 2013, the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County’s Alcohol Prevention Committee began a collaborative effort with local alcohol retailers and law enforcement to promote awareness and mitigate instances where youth are accessing alcohol with a signage campaign. The realization for this effort came as a result of Coalition participation in ABC and law enforcement operations (Minor Decoys, Shoulder Taps, etc) where it seemed that, while citizens were aware that it was illegal to buy, sell, or provide alcohol to persons under 21, there were no admonishments in alcohol retail establishments that this is a serious offense. Alcohol retail locations throughout the state of California were assessed through Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community surveys and visited by Coalition team members with the optional sign display warning patrons against “buying, selling, or providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21…” For Healthy Stores data on Nevada County, click HERE.
With the incredible partnerships, willingness of retailers to participate, and support of the community, our Coalition has paved the way for the Truckee FWDD and Coalition for Placer Youth to replicate our template with great success in neighboring communities.
Existing projects between the ABC, local law enforcement, and the Coalition include assemblies addressing the risks and consequences of underage alcohol use and promoting positive messages about healthy choices.
The goal of our local campaign is to have the signage in all establishments throughout Placer County where alcohol is sold.
For additional information, visit www.drugfreenevadacounty.org
or call (530) 273-7956.
Join us in celebration of community-based change
The Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County brings together the collective expertise of the community, families and youth to support a community-wide prevention movement to reduce substance use among Nevada County’s youth.
Publicly held meetings are every other month on the second Wednesday, The Campus ~ 180 Sierra College Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
We, as a community collaborative coalition, welcome individuals from all sectors of the community to share their voice and attend these meetings.
December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Awareness Month – Celebrate safely
During the holiday season, and year round, it is important that we celebrate safely by not driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs. We are all familiar with the terrible consequences of driving under the influence yet an often overlooked and ever growing issue, especially in teens and young adults, is the issue of drugged driving. Drugs, even those prescribed by a physician, can impair perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory.
New and young drivers are the most at-risk for crashes on the roads and are at risk for the most harmful effects of drug use. As teens take to the roads, parents can take action by talking about the dangers of drunk, drugged, and distracted driving. It’s important that our youngest drivers learn how to drive safely and make healthy choices.
Local Progress and Facts about Teen and adult Impaired Driving
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- Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes.
- Fewer teens (18% of teens in grade 9 & 11) reported this year that they had driven after drinking, or rode with someone who had. Down from 2012 when more than 35% of teens in same grades reported in they had driven after drinking or rode with someone who had. (California Healthy Kids Survey)
- In 2012, 10,322 ( increase from 2010 – 10,228) people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.(NHTSA)
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In 2012, a total of 1,168 children age 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those 1,168 fatalities, 239 (20%) occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Out of those 239 deaths, 124 (52%) were occupants of a vehicle with a driver who had a BAC level of .08 or higher, and another 38 children (16%) were pedestrians or pedalcyclists struck by drivers with BACs of .08 or higher.
- At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of being involved in a crash is greater for young people than for older people.
- Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for 15 – 19 year-olds in 2007.
- Did you know that 1 in 3 drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 who were tested, tested positive for drugs?
“According to the data, 30% of all DUI arrests result in a finding of no alcohol, but, instead, the presence of pharmaceuticals. Only 10% of DUI arrests are alcohol-only events. This is a staggering number on the national level. Worse yet is the fact that law enforcement does not have the ability to confirm specific substances other than alcohol from the field without a blood or urine draw followed by an extended forensic process. Field tests and training are our best resource for the time being.” – Lincoln Police Chief, Rex Marks
Drunk and drugged driving related accidents are totally preventable.
Renew your commitment to drive safely and act responsibly.
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Holiday Treat: Join us in creating awareness about drinking responsibly and encourage hosts to offer delicious, non-alcoholic beverages to their guests. For adults, this is great way to model responsibility and demonstrate to youth that drinking alcohol is not necessary to have a good time. We know that this helps keep our streets safer through the Holidays.
The Holidays are the perfect time to introduce friends and family to the concept of Mocktails – visually appealing, non-alcoholic and delicious beverages to serve at parties, and to order while you are out on the town.
Click HERE for a list of recipes
Holiday Treat: CoRR, a Coalition partner, will be sponsoring Safe Taxi on New Year’s Eve again! Now in its fourth year of service, Safe Ride New Year’s Eve, is a joint effort between CoRR and Gold Country Cab & Courier to aid in the effort to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the roadways after celebrations.
Community Recovery Resources is teaming up with the owners of Gold Country Cab & Courier for the third year for Safe Taxi on New Year’s Eve sober cab rides. Looking back at the last 3 years, more than 150 local residents received free rides home to ensure a safe transport from their New Year’s celebrations. This year, we hope to see even more community members celebrating responsibly and not drinking and driving.
Here are some helpful links:
Holiday Tips
Mocktail Recipes
A Holiday Message from CoRR
DrugFreeNevadaCounty.org
CoRR.us
NHTSA.gov/impaired
Celebrate Safely. Don’t Drink and Drive.
Looking back at a year in prevention…
To all of our volunteers, Parents, Youth and Community Allies…We are grateful to YOU! Thank you for taking the time to be involved this past year on behalf of young people in our community. You have emailed, surveyed, collected Rx medications for safe disposal, volunteered to staff booths, provided education, designed posters, attended meetings, trainings and focus groups, donated items, time or space, written opinion pieces for the paper that highlights that most youth in our community are making really great choices to NOT use alcohol or other drugs, and you join us in our vision that young people in our will be free of alcohol and other drug use, have a positive vision of their future and grow up to be healthy, productive and civic-minded adults.
Looking back at a year in prevention…
Here are some highlights in 2014:
- Assembly at Grizzly Hill School: Coalition partners, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department and The Outreach Team are continuing collaboration with a series of interactive school presentations about underage drinking consequences, reasons to choose a drug and alcohol free lifestyle and highlighting the positive choices youth are making today. With the help of ABC funding, the Sheriff’s Department is focusing on education, prevention and compliance enforcement to reduce youth access to alcohol and underage drinking. The funding also allows them a unique opportunity to collaborate with the Coalition in outreach and education presentations for local students. READ MORE
- Alcohol Retailer Sign Campaign – Local alcohol retail merchants are offered a unique opportunity to display signage to warn patrons of the risks associated with buying, selling, or providing alcohol to persons under the age of 21. This joint effort on behalf of community partners – NCSO, District Attorney, Cliff Newell, Public Health, and CDFNC members – is a forward-thinking movement to promote awareness and prevention of underage drinking in Nevada County. This project has also been successfully replicated by the Tahoe Truckee Future Without Drug Dependence (TTFWDD) Coalition and the Coalition for Placer Youth with the support of their local collaborative partnerships.
- Mentoring Project– Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County was one of three coalitions across the nation awarded a mentoring grant to mentor, support and build capacity of a new coalition in the Placer Communities of Auburn and Lincoln.
- Parent U – October 25th: A joint effort with community partners Grass Valley Police Department (GVPD), Nevada County Children’s Mental Health, One-Stop Business & Career Center, Youth Council, Sierra College Foundation, Sierra College Nevada County Campus, The Union, Mountain Event Productions, and Community Recovery Resources, the Coalition was able to host the first ever Parent U workshop event with free workshops for parents of middle and high school age students filled with inspiration, learning, and resource building geared for parents who want to intentionally raise their children for success. Workshops are designed to empower parents of middle and high school age students with information, skills and resources. View or Download the Parent Toolkit HERE
- CADCA 2014 – “We are the change, we are CADCA” 2014 was a tremendous experience for the Coalition’s Youth Outreach Coordinator, Shasta Spencer, who was able to participate in the week-long summits for youth prevention advocacy in Washington, D.C. in February 2014. This annual work-shopping event brings together coalitions from all across the United States to share prevention successes and learn new skills to provide enhanced prevention opportunities in their own communities. READ MORE
- The Outreach Team – The Outreach Team has successfully made it to six middle schools in Nevada County sharing education and prevention activities to reduce the percentage of students who misuse alcohol and other drugs. The team has been out and about since September visiting each school monthly. During the visits, the team puts on fun activities in which incorporate a hidden messages to educate the students on the risks and harms of alcohol and other drugs. READ MORE
- SBIRT – More than 100 healthcare professionals received free training on Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) this year providing greater awareness and increasing access to vital community intervention services. READ MORE
- Writing & Reciting – This joint effort with the Auburn Hip Hop Congress facilitated creative expression for several youth interested in fulfilling their passion through writing. READ MORE
- Athletes Committed – Launching Athletes Committed in Nevada County. Life of an Athlete… Living a life of excellence. NJUHSD is launching Athletes Committed in January. We’re excited to support Nevada Union and Bear River High Schools by bringing Olympic Trainer and founder of Life of an Athlete, John Underwood to introduce this model for success.
Parent U Seminar – October 25th, 2014
If you’re a parent of middle or high school age students, then this free seminar for parents who want to intentionally raise their children for success is for you!
Parent U offers free registration, childcare, light morning refreshments, and lunch. Workshops are designed to empower parents with information, skills and resources.
Workshops are presented by incredible speakers such as Detective Zack LaFerriere (GVPD); Mental health and substance abuse professionals, Ginny Cutler, CPCC, LMFT (CoRR) and Rebecca Slade, LMFT (NCBH); educational and career professionals including Dean Stephanie Ortiz (Sierra College, Nicola Murphy (One Stop), Principal Thomas Bivens, and Rose Murphy (NJUHSD); national entertainer Barry Friedman; and featuring a Keynote address delivered by renowned author and nationally recognized professional speaker, Rick Pierce.
Space is limited, please REGISTER today at www.corr.us/parentu
Download flyer HERE.
Prescription Medication Take Back Day Saturday, September 27th, 2014 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
On Saturday, September 27th , Grass Valley Police Department and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department, partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County in a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” day. This program allows members of the public to drop off potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal and destruction at the Corner of Neal and South Auburn in downtown Grass Valley.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Monitoring, securing and safely disposing of medications can prevent the abuse of prescription drugs and protect our environment. Many people are not aware that medicines that languish in homes are susceptible to misuse and abuse. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In an effort to prevent unnecessary contamination of our ground water, we ask community members to refrain from flushing their prescription medications down the toilet. A 2008 study by the Associated Press found traces of pharmaceuticals in tap water across the U.S. and evidence suggest this water pollution may also have negative affects on wildlife.
DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
- Grass Valley – Corner of Neal and South Auburn (parking lot across from Safeway in downtown Grass Valley)
- South County – NCSO Sub Station located at 10496 Combie Road, GV
- Nevada City – Rood Building 950 Maidu Avenue, NC
- Penn Valley – West County sub station 11352 Pleasant Valley Road, PV
WHEN: Saturday, September 27th, 2014 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
For more information on Permanent Safe Disposal Sites, please visit: www.drugfreenevadacounty.org
Contact Information:
Shelley Rogers, Coalition Coordinator: shelley@drugfreenevadacounty.org 530-273-7956
Lt. Alex Gammelgard, Grass Valley Police Department: agammelgard@gvpd.net 530-477-6400
Local Middle School presentation highlights the positive choices youth are making
Coalition partners, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department and The Outreach Team are continuing collaboration with a series of interactive school presentations about underage drinking consequences, reasons to choose a drug and alcohol free lifestyle and highlighting the positive choices youth are making today. With the help of ABC funding, the Sheriff’s Department is focusing on education, prevention and compliance enforcement to reduce youth access to alcohol and underage drinking. The funding also allows them a unique opportunity to collaborate with the Coalition in outreach and education presentations for local students.
The students of Grizzly Hill School on the North San Juan Ridge received a morning surprise after breakfast from guest speakers and a musical performance. The morning’s presentation began with local youth singer/songwriter, Sierra Skye who performed acoustic and vocals for the students. Sierra introduced Nevada County Sheriff’s, Corporal Brandon Corchero and Deputy Micah Arbaugh who presented information about the value of making healthy choices to choose not to use alcohol.
After the informative presentation by NCSO, Outreach Team members Shasta Spencer and Melissa Kelley, highlighted the positive choices youth are making including current California Healthy Kids Survey data showing that 90% of Nevada County middle school students did not use alcohol over the 30 day period prior to the self-reporting survey. The Outreach Team, currently recruiting new Team members to participate in activities hosted at local middle schools focused on positive messages for our community, engaged the Grizzly Hill students with an interactive balloon activity as well as education on the great choices Nevada County youth are committed to making.
NSJ Family Resource Center (FRC) advocate, Diana Pasquini promoted the vast array of services provided at the FRC and introduced special guest, Kuk Sool Won martial artist, Tony Reyna, for an interactive demonstration with the students. Mr. Reyna, who will be volunteering classes for local residents at the North San Juan Community Center, has been training in the Korean martial art, Kuk Sool Won for more than 30 years and “firmly believes that the etiquette, patience, self-discipline, and perseverance that are developed through martial arts training will help all Kuk Sool students in their daily lives. The positive environment of Gold Country Kuk Sool Won affects every student that trains there”. Reyna shared his personal life experience while promoting the massage that making positive choices can open doors to successful futures.
Musical guest, Sierra Skye, closed the presentation with a song she wrote, “Safety”, which spoke to her personal life experience. 
The Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County brings together the collective expertise of the community, families and youth to support a community-wide prevention movement to reduce substance use among Nevada County’s youth. The public is welcome to attend the bi-monthly community forum meetings. MEETING SCHEDULE
The Coalition would like to thank all who made this presentation possible including:
- North San Juan FRC, Diana Pasquini
- Gold Country Kuk Sool Won, Tony Reyna
- Musician, Sierra Skye
- Nevada County Sheriff’s Corporal Brandon Corchero and Deputy Micah Arbaugh
- Grizzly Hill Principal, James Berardi and staff
- Shasta Spencer, Youth Outreach Coordinator
- Melissa Kelley, Prevention Advocate
- Shelley Rogers, Program Coordinator
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Role Models Wanted ~ The Outreach Team
Are you an energetic, outgoing, and self-motivated young adult who enjoys being a positive role-model for middle school and high school students?
We are looking for Outreach Team Members interested in empowering youth to create a positive culture among their peers and to make healthy choices. Outreach will combine education that dispels myths and misperceptions around alcohol and other drug use with fun activities and healthy alternatives for youth in the community.
School site visits will be a time to build relationships with youth and inspire them to make a difference!
JOB DUTIES:
- Must be available for at least 3 – 4 school site visits per month
- Must be able to attend monthly Outreach Team meetings
- Must have a car to drive to school locations (mileage reimbursed)
- Must have a passion or desire to work with youth/students
- Must be a positive role model, self-motivated, energetic, and possess positive communication skills
Outreach Locations:
- Union Hill
- Lyman Gilmore
- Ready Springs
- Pleasant Valley
- Seven Hills
- Clear Creek
Download application HERE
Please contact Shasta Spencer, Youth Outreach Coordinator to schedule an interview. (530) 718 – 0332
This position is paid for through a monthly stipend by the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County.