PA ADDICTION PROJECT Group Meeting – Sunday January 22, 2012 at 1:00.   The Post Gazette will be joining us to see what the determination of a Group of people can accomplish!   If you are amazed or appalled about how Addiction is dealt with in our society, please join as we work towards a change - Jade Wellness Center    4105 Monroeville Blvd.  Monroeville, PA

Forty years of the U.S. “War on Drugs” has evolved to the point where we spend billions of dollars in the futile attempt to keep drugs from entering our country, and we spend much less money to help the estimated 23 million Americans currently addicted to drugs.

With little more than 4% of the world’s population, the US has more than 70% of the world’s illicit drugs.

Too many people have someone in their lives who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, but they have no idea what to expect next or how to help their loved one.  As a group, we are raising awareness about addiction and related problems, and we are working to educate people on the subject of addiction as a disease.  If you would like to help advocate for a change and join our group please contact (Lucy@myjadewellness.com) OR call Jade Wellness at 412-380-0100.      

Additionally, JADE Wellness offers Free Addiction Educational Seminars to those trying to deal with the chaos of Addiction in their Families and Lives.   Learn about the Disease of Addiction.   Questions and Answer Sessions by Experts in the Field.            

Schedule of Educational Seminars are as follows:

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

TIME: 6:30 — 8:00 p.m.

4105 Monroeville Blvd Monroeville, PA

Lucy@myjadewellness.com   or call 412-380-0100.

About JADE Wellness Center

JADE Wellness Center is located in Monroeville, PA and committed to provide an outlet to drug addiction through individualized treatment plans, which include Medication Assisted Treatment and counseling.

Our doctors, nurses and staff are among the best in western Pennsylvania and the country. The most talented, experienced and compassionate professionals in the addiction treatment world are at JADE Wellness Center, ready to help you face your situation and prepare to move on with your life. Take a moment and read about each of them.

Jade Wellness accepts the following insurance:

·         Highmark

·         UPMC

·         Health America

·         Cigna

·         Aetna

·         Gateway

·         UPMC for You

·         United Healthcare

Our Offices

We're just a short ride from Pittsburgh, PA, JADE Wellness is located in Monroeville, PA right off of 376-E or the PA Turnpike.

New synthetic drugs are now being marketed in Pennsylvania.  A new product named, “Jewelry Cleaner” (synthetic cocaine) is on the shelves of head shops and some convenience stores. It comes as a powder in a vile. Two that we know of are called “Eight Ballz” and “Cosmic Blast.”  There are probably others.  These are very dangerous chemicals and can cause hallucinations and body temperature increases up to 108 degrees.  (read more)

 Student Assistance Training Series

1-800-472-1177 | gatewayrehab.org | Nationally Renowned Addiction Treatment

DATE & TIME: Jan. 25, 26, Feb. 7, 8, 2012

All classes from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

LOCATION: Gateway Rehab - Corporate Headquarters311 ROUSER ROAD, MOON TWP., PA 15108

TOPIC: Student Assistance Program (SAP) TrainingCompetency-based training.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Administrators, teachers, school counselors, nurses, school resource officers, school probation officers, social workers, agency liasons.

CREDITS OFFERED: Act 48, social work and nursing credits available.

REGISTRATION: Fee is $350 per person. Register on-line at http://www.gatewayrehab.org/conferences-trainings For questions call Alice Watson (ext. 1193) or Debbie Whiteford (ext. 2504), 412-604-8900. School personnel – please contact your superintendent for PDE funding. Regarding questions on PDE funding, contact Rene Urick, 724-785-6851, c-rurick@state.pa.us.

TRAINERS: deRicci Horwatt, Executive Director, and Sandy Conaway, Senior Prevention Specialist Gateway VisionGateway Rehab School-Based Prevention, Commonwealth-Approved Trainers.

(PARTICIPANTS MUST ATTEND ALL FOUR DAYS)

Dear Community,

The Alliance is planning to produce another educational video: “Listen II”.

For those of you who have not viewed our very first video, “Listen”, I encourage you to do so.

“Listen” tells the story through a mother’s eyes the pain and suffering families experience from the loss of a child to drugs.  This powerful video, produced in 2004, has been viewed by thousands of parents and children from 5^th grade through high school.

For “Listen II”, we will be looking for a variety of testimonials that address drug use, addiction, over dose and cyber bullying.  Participants for this video that we would like to speak with include parents, siblings, friends, grandparents as well as individuals who have recovered from drug addiction.  

This video will be used in Alliance town hall meetings, in-service programs for professionals, student/parent programs as well as streamed on the Alliance web site.

If you would be interested in sharing your story, please contact Debbie Kehoe to schedule an interview.  Interviews will be held mid November in the Alliance’s office. Not all interviews will be selected for the video.

Drug use and bullying are serious safety concerns that impact all of us. Your stories will assure that the message continues to be heard.

Thank you in advance for considering participating in this endeavor.

I remain sincerely yours,

Debbie Kehoe, Executive Director

(724) 612-5554

Dmkehoe14@gmail.com

All are invited to attend a Town hall Meeting hosted by  Sts. John & Paul

October 27^th 7:00 to 8:30 P.M.

We cannot protect our children if we don’t understand the many challenges they face………

A very important town hall meeting will take place on October 27th at Saints John and Paul Parish in Sewickley from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.  This meeting is open to all adults interested in learning more about the youth drug culture and cyber bullying concerns as they impact children, families and community.

 In the past month, The Alliance has received numerous calls from concerned parents whose children attend one of our local public or parochial schools. Due to the fact that destructive choices children make does effect families, please plan on joining us to learn more about what you can do to safe guard your children.

Evening’s Agenda

* Panel discussion with local professionals 

For more information please contact Debbie Kehoe at
724 612-5554 or dmkehoe14@gmail.com
 

Please forward this announcement to your church ministry, church youth leaders and other regional faith based organizations.

“Raising Awareness of Today’s Youth Culture”

A free luncheon/workshop for faith based professionals

North Way Christian Community, Wexford Campus

November 10, 2011

11:00 to 3:30 P.M.

Today’s youth face many challenges that involve serious safety concerns.  Drug and alcohol use, cyber bullying, sexting, increased symptoms of depression and potential threat of suicide are behaviors that impact everyone. We believe that providing workshops for faith based and school professionals is crucial to understanding and dealing with these serious safety issues.

Agenda

11:00 to 11:30  Registration
11:30 to 12:15  Lunch
12:15 to 12:30  Video: “Signs of Trouble”
12:30 to 1:00    Teen Challenge Testimonials
1:00   to 1:45    Drugs 101
1:45   to  2:00   Break
2:00   to  2:30   Cyber Bullying and Depression
2:30   to  3:30   Panel Discussion

Please click here for our on-line registration by November 3^rd. 

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Kehoe at dmkehoe14@gmail.com 

Or by calling (724) 612-5554

The Alliance will be featured this Sunday on the following radio stations from 6:30 until 7:00 am:   Star 100.7, Y108 and 93.7 The Fan. 

Dear School Administrators, Faith Based Youth Leaders and Ministers, Community Agencies and Law Enforcement,

On October 19^th and 20^th, The Alliance will be hosting a drug impairment training for educational professionals.  Act 48 credit is available (bring your PDE number). This training will be presented by the PA State Police.  It is my sincere hope that all of our Alliance member schools will consider sending (at least) a team of three.  This invitation is extended to non Alliance member schools as well.  In addition, I believe this training would also benefit our faith based community, local law enforcement (including probation officers) and community agencies that work with children. 

Attached to this letter is a detailed description of the training and an on-line registration form.  Please complete your registration as soon as possible and reply no later than October 5^th.  I and a couple of my peers attended this training in July.  What follows are testimonials from that training experience.

I learned so much from the Drug Impairment Training classes I would go back again! There was so much useful information provided from lecture, videos, manuals, classroom participation, recourses and assessment tools. The instructors were knowledgeable and very helpful. This training is well worth your time. I would highly recommend this training. Sue Karn CSN, North Hills Junior High

I recently attended the “Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals” and found the content to be interrelated to the work Gateway Rehab provides in adolescent/young adult substance abuse and addiction treatment.  In addition to comprehensive treatment, Gateway Rehab also provides Student Assistance Training and consultation to districts throughout Western Pennsylvania.  I believe the information provided by the PA State Police will enhance our training components and reinforce the ability to disseminate information to front line faculty and staff when faced with students who may be under the influence of substances.  Holly Livingston, Gateway Rehab Community Outreach, PA Commonwealth Student Assistance Trainer

I also had the opportunity to attend this training and was extremely impressed with the materials provided and the knowledge I gained concerning the 7 categories of drugs, signs and symptoms of use (including alcohol), assessment measures and communicating with parents. As a former student assistance counselor, I believe this is a must for counselors, nurses, administrators and youth leaders to attend. 

Debra Kehoe, Executive Director

The Alliance For Safe & Drug Free Children

P.S.  We will have various resource booths available both days of the training

2010-2011 Annual Report

The Alliance has just completed its 8^th year as an official 501 (c) 3 organization.  Over the course of time we have adapted to the ever changing economic times, the needs of our school community and the ongoing challenge of raising awareness of the safety concerns that impact our children. During the 2010-2011 school year, The Alliance has undergone numerous changes to assure its sustainability while raising to the challenge of providing the region and our members with vital programs and web site resources.  Read more ...

2011-2012 Alliance Calendar/Resource Guide Now Available

Artwork, poems and lyrics from last spring’s 7^th grade poster contest are featured along with “tips” on how to use the Alliance website resources.  Just send your name and address to dmkehoe14@gmail.com and we will send you this great calendar and resource guide. Enclosed will be a pre-addressed envelope to the Alliance for any donation you can give to help keep our children safe and drug free.

Upcoming 2011 Programs

·         September 27 – North Hills Parent Partnership Program for 5^th grade students and parents at the North Hills Junior High. Program begins at 7:00 pm.

·         October 19 and 20 – Drug Impairment Training for educational and community professionals.  

·         October 27 – Town Hall Meeting at Sts. John and Paul Catholic Church – Begins at 7:00 pm.

·         November 10 – Faith based in-service at North Way Christian  Community.

Alliance Book Recommendation

DRUGS OF ABUSE "FROM DOCTORS TO DEALERS, USERS AND HEALERS"

“Drugs of Abuse: From Doctors to Dealers, Users and Healers” is a new book that provides much needed information about the drugs that are being abused in our society. Illustrated and concise, this material is presented in a simplistic manner that will be appreciated by all, but will provide professionals in treatment and prevention, education and law enforcement, and all areas of healthcare with an excellent reference source. By combining historical information and photographs, with contemporary “street” information and data, this book covers all of the material necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the drugs of abuse. Author Michael Palladini, a registered pharmacist and certified addictions counselor, has written this book with the intention of increasing awareness and knowledge of substance abuse, and to bridge the gap between pharmacy and treatment. Learn More ...

Prescription Drug Addiction

A new national report shows that from 1999 to 2009 (the most recent year with available figures) substance abuse treatment admissions among those 12 and older have gone up for cases involving alcohol, opiates, and marijuana. The report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that one of the most notable shifts that has occurred in this period was in the rise of opiate admissions attributable mostly to prescription drugs – from 8-percent of all opiate admissions in 1999 to 33-percent in 2009 Read more ....

The National Drug Institute on Drug Abuse reports 48 million Americans have misused prescription drugs and its now the leading cause of fatal overdoses nationwide. Read more ...