Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge Week 3 - Kindness & Tolerance

 

Red Ribbon Challenge Week 3: 

Kindness & Tolerance 

October 11 - October 17

The theme of Red Ribbon Challenge Week Three is Kindness & Tolerance to remind us that you never know what someone may be going through. Maybe they’re having a bad day and your simple act of kindness turned their entire day around and made it better! This week try to do one random act of kindness each day! 

Join us for the Red Ribbon Challenge at www.RedRibbonRun.com and register for FREE to participate in our fun challenge activities through October 31, 2020 in celebration of Red Ribbon Month!

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24

 

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, for citizens to dispose of unwanted, unneeded, and expired medications in a safe manner. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans have misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medication. 

Prescription Drug Take Back Day will include the following 8 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications in liquid and solid form, vitamins, and syringes for 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
Bartow Police Department – 450 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL
Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL
Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL
Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 N. Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Hamilton Police Department – 100 Smith Avenue, Lake Hamilton, FL
Lake Wales Police Department - 133 E. Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

 

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop sites, funded by GiveWell Community Foundation, at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (weekdays 8-5); Haines City (weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (weekdays 8-5).  Please note: only solids are accepted in permanent drop boxes (no liquids or syringes). To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.

 

Previous medication collections held in Polk County since 2010 have resulted in 20,656 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration. StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. For more information on the local Prescription Drug Take-Back event, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

Saturday, October 10th is World Mental Health Day

 

Saturday, October 10^th is World Mental Health Day

Each year on October 10th, the World Health Organization encourages people across the globe to recognize World Mental Health Day. In 2020, the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest from other sources has heightened collective stress. In the midst of this uncertainty, World Mental Health Day's goal of raising awareness of the availability and benefits of mental health support offers a path toward relief. Seeking support is important for overall health and well-being - so reach out and know that you are not alone!

Red Ribbon Virtual Challenge Week 2 - Healthy Mind = Healthy Body

 

Red Ribbon Challenge Week Two
Healthy Mind = Healthy Body
October 4 - October 10

The theme of Red Ribbon Challenge Week Two is Healthy Mind = Healthy Body to remind us all that Mental Health is a very important component in overall health and well-being! Remember to stop and take a moment for yourself each day to de-stress. You can't take care of others if you are not okay.

Join us for the Red Ribbon Challenge at www.RedRibbonRun.com and register for FREE to participate in our fun challenge activities through October 31, 2020 in celebration of Red Ribbon Month!

October is Safe Sleep & SIDS Awareness Month

 

October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month and SIDS Awareness Month. In order to help reduce preventable sleep-related deaths in infants less than 1-year of age, Florida Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties is sharing the following valuable information to our community.

Sleep-related deaths are 100% preventable and consistently one of the leading causes of death in children under 1 in Polk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep only on their back for every sleep by every caregiver until the child is one year of age. Infants should be placed alone in their crib and on their backs. There should be no bumpers, pillows, loose bedding, or other soft surfaces, such as stuffed animals, in the crib with the infant.

Caregivers responsible for the infant should never be under the influence of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. Also, caregivers should never share beds with the infant.

Polk County recognizes that this is a serious, but preventable issue. Together we can ensure all caregivers have access to education and resources on safe sleep practices. For more information, please visit the Florida Healthy Start website at www.healthystarthhp.org

People with Substance Abuse Disorders More Susceptible to COVID-19 and Its Complications

 

People with Substance Abuse Disorders

More Susceptible to COVID-19 and Its Complications

People with substance use disorders (SUDs) may be more likely to become infected and die of COVID-19, according to recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The effect was strongest for those with opioid use disorder and tobacco addiction because their lungs and cardiovascular system may already be severely compromised due to substance abuse.

Drug use hinders the body’s ability to fight viral and bacterial infections, disrupting immune function. Study co-author, Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, explained, “Opioids, including but not limited to heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl, work by slowing down the breathing rate. In addition, the chronic use of drugs such as tobacco, cocaine, and opioids are associated with heart problems, including risk for heart attacks and heart failure. The combination of the two leads to the increased risk of COVID and its complications.” 

Celebrate the Positives in Polk Youth Culture!

 

Celebrate the Positives in Polk Youth Culture!

UthMpact has taken an active role to "normalize" perceptions regarding risky behaviors by developing a social norm marketing campaign to share "UthMpact Facts". This powerful peer to peer approach is based on statistics among Polk County youth and published in the annual Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS). "UthMpact Facts" shares the reality the most Polk Teens are making the Right Choices by choosing NOT to drink, smoke, or use substances. This can help students avoid succumbing to peer pressure because they feel confident in making more informed personal decisions after knowing and considering all the facts.