“Own The Upside” Educational Presentation Now Available!

“Own The Upside” Educational Presentation Now Available!

Polk County, FL – Underage abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other substances are problems facing every community.  However, the good news is that knowing the facts and acting responsibly can help prevent young people from becoming the next substance abuse statistic.

Own The Upside, a campaign that was formed by the Coalition Partnership of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties, is proud to celebrate the true positives in teens today! We believe in encouraging them to make smart choices, be better role models, and engage in healthy distractions, thus owning the “upside” rather than the “downside” about today’s youth.

Did you know this about Polk Students in Grades 6-12?

75% of teens DO NOT use alcohol
88% of teens DO NOT use marijuana
93% of teens DO NOT use tobacco

To support our efforts to reduce substance abuse and celebrate the “upside”, please consider inviting a representative from Own the Upside to share a free educational presentation with your group, organization, school PTA, or business lunch and learn. Community members can play a pivotal part in spreading the word that most of Polk County does not use or abuse drugs, and that is the community standard we want to promote and grow.

To learn more about how to “Own the Upside”, please call Michelle Shiver, Community Resource Manager, at (863) 802-0777 or e-mail michelle.shiver@inneractalliance.org.     

2014 Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Fun Run – Saturday, November 8th

Fall Purge Your Pills Drop Off on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 10AM - 2PM

PURGE YOUR PILLS Rx DROP OFF
Saturday, September 27, 2014

Polk County, FL – StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners for the Fall National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, for citizens who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

Previous prescription medication collections held in Polk County since 2010 have resulted in 6,483 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration.  

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family, friends, and the home medicine cabinet.

Our community’s Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off will include 6 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications for safe and proper disposal. Medications should be placed in a clear, air-tight plastic bag.  

Drop-off locations from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm are:

Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL

Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL

Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 North Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL

Lake Wales Police Department - 133 East Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL

Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL

Winter Haven Police Department – 125 North Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop site locations at the Police Department locations in Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lakeland and Winter Haven. Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water, mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter, pouring into a zip lock bag, and disposing in the trash. To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dump medications into the toilet.

For more information on the local Pill Drop event, please contact Juli Davis, StandUP Polk Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777.

2014 UthMpact Leadership Class IV Hit the Road for September Leadership Day Volunteerism and The Arts

2014 UthMpact Leadership Class IV
Hit the Road for
September Leadership Day
Volunteerism and The Arts

Students from Polk County high schools have been nominated by their school principal or community members to participate in the UthMpact Leadership Class IV for 2014-2015. This unique program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, and key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills.

On September 3^rd, the UthMpact teens set out for their first Leadership Day of the year, themed Volunteerism and The Arts, to experience a unique behind the scenes look at the inner workings of some of our city and county’s finest businesses and organizations.

The UthMpact Leadership group’s schedule for Leadership Day #1 included visits to Bethune Academy in Haines City, The Polk Theatre in downtown Lakeland, and The Florida Dance Theatre, before a much-needed lunch break at Common Ground Park with Chick-Fil-A and the City of Lakeland.  After lunch, the teens scooted over to the Polk Museum of Art and ended the day at Hawthorne Assisted Living!

The first coalition meeting at the Polk County Sheriff's Office went smoothly. The group enjoyed a visit from SWAT and heard from a guest speaker from PCSO. The students began planning for their upcoming community events including Project Prom, Teen Tailgates, Red Ribbon Half Marathon, and the Christmas Parade. Special shout out to the amazing parent volunteers who served a delicious Chili Cook Off dinner!

Marijuana Harmless? Think Again!

It is almost impossible to grow up in America, or any country for that matter, and not be somehow exposed to drugs. Peer pressure, especially for teens, is high and honest information about the dangers of drugs is not always plentiful. Messages on television, in movies, and on social media often glorify marijuana use and drugging. Take a moment to educate and decide for yourself!

Here are some facts from the Foundation for a Drug Free World (www.drugfreeworld.org)

The immediate effects of taking marijuana include rapid heartbeat, disorientation, and lack of physical coordination, often followed by depression or sleepiness. Some users suffer panic attacks or anxiety.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA Sensory distortion                                                                          
Panic
Anxiety
Poor coordination of movement
Lowered reaction time
After initial “up,” the user feels sleepy or depressed
Increased heartbeat (and risk of heart attack)

LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
Reduced resistance to common illnesses
Suppression of the immune system
Growth disorders and an increase of abnormal cells
Rapid destruction of lung fibers and formation of brain lesions
Study difficulties, reduced ability to learn and retain information
Apathy, drowsiness, lack of motivation, personality changes
Inability to understand things clearly

The problem does not end there. According to scientific studies, the active ingredient in cannabis, called THC, remains in the body for weeks or longer. Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. One major research study reported that a single cannabis joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as up to five regular cigarettes smoked one after another. The drug can affect more than your physical health. Studies in Australia in 2008 linked years of heavy marijuana use to brain abnormalities. This is backed up by earlier research on the long-term effects of marijuana, which indicate changes in the brain similar to those caused by long-term abuse of other major drugs. Be smart, be informed, stay drug-free!

Polk County’s Only Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Fun Run - November 8, 2014

Polk County’s Only Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

                      Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Lake Mirror Promenade                                                    

Polk County, FL –Building on InnerAct Alliance’s successful 20+ years of momentum in presenting one of the largest Red Ribbon Campaigns in the state, the popular Red Ribbon tradition continues with Polk County’s 2^nd Annual Half Marathon, 5K & Fun Run on Saturday, November 8, 2014.

The Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Fun Run, presented by Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, Inc., and event partners MidFlorida Credit Union and Badcock Home Furniture & More, is a Family Weekend where parents can compete in the Half Marathon or 5K, and children can participate in the Kids Fun Run. The scenic run course will take place along picturesque Lake Mirror and Lakeland’s beautiful downtown and Lake to Lake area.

Early registration on the event website at www.RedRibbonHalf.com is encouraged! The fee is $80 for Red Ribbon Half Marathon Runners who register by September 12^th and increases to $85 on September 13^th and to $100 on October 13^th. Fees for the 5K are $25 for runners who sign up by September 12^th, and increase to $30 on September 13^th and to $35 on October 13^th.  Start time for the Half Marathon is 7:00 a.m., and the 5K begins at 7:15 a.m. Check-in will begin at 6:00 a.m.

The Kids Fun Run for students in grades K-8 begins at 8:00 a.m. Registration for the Fun Run is FREE and includes a commemorative Run t-shirt for pre-registered participants, along with free refreshments! Registration check-in will take place at the Lake Mirror Auditorium, starting at 7:00 a.m. The Fun Run will start and finish at Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., in Lakeland, and follow a route that will loop around Lake Mirror. Awards will be given for first, second, and third place runners in gender categories, as well as to the top 3 elementary schools and top middle school with the largest percentage of participating students, based on school census number.

Festivities also include the Red Ribbon Celebration Kick-Off on Friday evening, October 3, 2014, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at LEGOLAND Florida’s interactive theme park for families with children ages 2-12. Families interested in attending are encouraged to visit the event web site at www.RedRibbonHalf.com  to pre-order tickets in advance for a $5.00 donation per admission ticket to cover parking and admission to 6 areas of LEGOLAND.  Admission is limited to the first 5,000 people.

For additional details and event info, please contact InnerAct Alliance’s executive director, Angie Ellison, at (863) 802-0777. Info is also available at the official event website at: www.redribbonhalf.com, on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/RedRibbonHalf and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries

StandUP Polk & UthMpact Coalition Members to Take Part in National Substance Abuse Prevention Conference in Orlando, FL

 

StandUP Polk & UthMpact Coalition Members to Take Part
in National Substance Abuse Prevention Conference in Orlando, FL 

Polk County, FL – Members of the StandUP Polk and UthMpact Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk will join more than 1,700 substance abuse prevention specialists from across the country at the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) Mid-Year Training Institute at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Hotel in Orlando, FL from July 20-24, 2014.

CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute is a one-of-a-kind, intensive week-long training opportunity, offering more than 70 half-day and two-day courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community’s toughest substance abuse problems. Attendees will participate in a variety of lectures and hands-on sessions to expand their knowledge in prevention science and improve their skills in implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce drug and alcohol use. This year’s Mid-Year will feature a number of renowned experts in the field of substance abuse prevention, including Michael Botticelli, Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy, and Kana Enomoto, Deputy Principal Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“We are fortunate to be able to spend a week with similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our skills so we can more effectively prevent drug and alcohol abuse,” said Angie Ellison, executive director of InnerAct Alliance, the agency that serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk. “We hope to return reenergized with new strategies to tackle drug use and its associated problems in Polk County.”

CADCA’s Mid-Year will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and the abuse of synthetic drugs to how to create tobacco-free environments, reduce impaired driving, and develop policies to reduce marijuana use and underage drinking.

StandUP Polk is a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement, community and business leaders working together to take a stand against drugs and bring about positive change for Polk County. UthMpact is the dynamic youth coalition of teen leaders committed to helping educate and deliver key substance abuse prevention messages to teens by their peers. This energetic group has developed anti-tobacco, underage drinking, and social norming campaigns currently being piloted in Polk County middle and high schools. For more information about the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, please contact Juli Davis, StandUP Polk Coalition Coordinator at 863-802-0777, or via e-mail at: juli.davis@inneractalliance.org.

CADCA is the national membership organization representing more than 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make America’s communities safe, healthy and drug-free. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences, and special events.