Riders will leave Lincoln’s and ride through the rolling hills from Oak Ridge, through Oliver Springs, Briceville, and Lake City, then on through Dutch Valley and will return to Lincoln’s Sports Grill for appetizers and door prizes.

The cost is $15; all riders will receive the official 2013 Wheel Through the Hills t-shirt.

Register online at http://www.asapofanderson.org/wheel-through-the-hills-registration/.

Not a motorcycle rider? No problem! Visit our website at http://www.asapofanderson.org/ and click “Donate” to support our cause.

We appreciate your support!

Good afternoon, Mr. Hayne.

I have been anticipating the opening of the new Urban Outfitters in downtown Knoxville, my hometown, for some time now—that is until I saw today a product on your website (noted below) of a shot glass replicating the image of a prescription pill bottle. Especially disturbing is the recommended quantity: “QTY: AS MANY AS YOU CAN STOMACH.”

Each day in the United States, 2,000 adolescents use a prescription drug non-medically for the first time (National Institute of Drug Abuse). Abuse of prescription drugs has reached epidemic proportions and overdose deaths attributed to opioid analgesics (pain killers) have surpassed that of cocaine and heroin overdoses, combined. In Tennessee, the rate of overdose deaths far surpasses that of the United States.

The impact of prescription drug abuse reaches beyond these unfortunate deaths. For every overdose death, 10 people are admitted into a treatment program for opioid abuse; 26 people visit an emergency department for abuse; 108 report their abuse or dependence; and 733 people report non-medical use of opioids. (Treatment Exposure Data; DAWN, NSDUH, 2010).

To further complicate matters, the prevalence of babies born addicted to these powerful drugs has increased 300 percent since 2005. East Tennessee seems to be a haven for babies born dependent on opiates (also known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; NAS for short). Already, just through the end of April of 2013, 226 cases have been reported, 65 percent of which are in the East Tennessee region.

We take prescription drug abuse very seriously. It is a matter of life and death in this area. Please consider removing the availability of this product and others that glorify prescription drug abuse from your walk-in stores and online store—for the safety of our community. Lives in our region depend on it.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Armbrister Strutner, MPH, CPS II
Executive Director
Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County
101 S. Main Street, Suite 465
Clinton, TN 37716-3622
ASAPofAnderson.org
(865) 457-3007 office

ASAP would like to extend our appreciation to the following businesses for making alcohol training a priority:

• Fox’s Diner
• Silver Dollar Saloon

These businesses recently participated in off-premise Responsible Alcohol Sales classes, offered by ASAP. Store managers and clerks received training on proper carding techniques, Tennessee state laws, and high risk buyers and situations. Class participants also learned about the vital role they have as the seller in responsible alcohol sales.

Upcoming classes are scheduled the first Monday and second Saturday of each month and are held in the Jolley Building on the 5th floor. Classes are scheduled for the following dates and times:

December 8th, 2012: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
January 7th, 2012: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
January 12th, 2012: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
February 4th, 2012: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
February 9th, 2013: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. During the week of October 22-26, Clinton and Anderson County High Schools participated in the Red Ribbon Rivalry during Red Ribbon Week. The Rivalry was a competition to see which school could sell the most red ribbons. Red ribbons were sold for $1 to bring awareness to drug and alcohol abuse in Anderson County. During the Anderson County High School versus Clinton High School football game held on October 26, the winning school was revealed during half time, and a huge trophy was presented to the winning school. Clinton won! As a community, we raised over $2000. “Being a member of SADD club, I was over the moon about how our local high schools and community came together to raise money for drug and alcohol awareness,” beamed Clinton High School student, Sarah Thomas. As red ribbons were sold at Clinton High School, they were hung on a wall outside the lunchroom. Students and faculty were able to track the school’s progress by seeing the ribbons that covered the walls. Everyone was so excited to see the ribbons they had purchased with their names on them hanging on the wall. “Being from Clinton High School, I was so proud to see my school supporting such a fabulous cause, which led to such an exciting win,” said president of SADD club, Kelli Kent. After a disappointing loss for Clinton’s football team, the school could still hold their heads high for their incredible victory in the Red Ribbon Rivalry. When talking to Emilie Henderson of Clinton High School, her thoughts on Red Ribbon Week were inspiring, “Red Ribbon Week was great because it helped people to understand the importance of a drug free life.” The students of our local schools were very happy to have participated in such a large and well known drug free campaign. It is so refreshing to see the community take a stand for a drug free America. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The community of Anderson County really came together to achieve that philosophy during Red Ribbon Week. As for Clinton High School, we really “threw ‘em down.”

Thanks to our donors!

Anonymous
Kyle Felts
Angela Merryman
Ronald Glass
Anderson County Quarterback Club

In October, students, community members and local businesses sold red ribbons to raise awareness for drug abuse prevention. In honor of Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention recognition week, students at Anderson County High School, Clinton High School, Lake City Middle School, Norwood Middle School, Rocky Top Markets, Git N Go Markets, Community Trust Bank, Y-12 Federal Credit Union and Sayow Tattoo Shop competed in the inaugural Red Ribbon Rivalry.

Benefitting Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County, the Red Ribbon Rivalry raised $2,065 which “will be used to provide medication lock boxes to parents and further promote drug prevention in the community,” according to Stephanie Strutner, Executive Director of ASAP.

Mayor Terry Frank was on hand at halftime of the ACHS versus CHS football game to recognize the schools and businesses participating in the Red Ribbon Rivalry. Mayor Frank presented a trophy to Principal Eric Snider of Clinton High School, the winning school and also recognized Robin Hall, store manager of Rocky Top Market at Mariner Point, the highest selling store.

Robin Hall stressed the importance of civic engagement saying, “I don’t know of one family that’s not touched by drugs. It is important for businesses to get involved in prevention because drug abuse hits everybody, not just a select few.”
Students at both ACHS and CHS enthusiastically participated in the Red Ribbon Rivalry. Kelli Kent, President of the SADD Club at CHS said “this was probably one of the best campaigns we’ve ever done.”

Mrs. Merryman’s early bird government class raised over $250 after a brave senior in the class shared his first-hand account of living in a family dealing with addiction.

At ACHS, the student government spearheaded the red ribbon campaign, assisted by the Anderson County Quarterback Club.

ASAP would like to thank the schools, students, businesses, and community members who helped raise awareness for drug abuse prevention during Red Ribbon Week. In all, 2,065 ribbons were sold in Anderson County, showing there is hope in winning the war on drugs. Michael Foster, ASAP Prevention Coordinator noted that “hope lies in the hard work and determination of our communities to create a drug free environment and when we work together, we can make a difference.”

Beginning with proclamations from both Anderson County Commission and Clinton City Council proclaiming October 22 – 26, 2012, as Red Ribbon Week, a Coalition Success Banquet and multiple media spots, Red Ribbon Week concluded with Mayor Terry Frank presenting an award to Clinton High School for being the winner of the inaugural Red Ribbon Rivalry.

While many exciting events were held during Red Ribbon Week, none of them would have occurred without the dedicated work of ASAP’s volunteers. While all our volunteers are outstanding, the following were honored for their service:

For volunteering more than 25 hours:
Anita Vines (33.25)
Kim Pouncey (33.5)
Theresa Venable (41)
Don Green (45)
Doris Day-McBride (46.75)

For volunteering more than 50 hours:
Vaughn Becker (57)
Wendy Williams (50.5)
Amy Olson (55.75)
Randy Myers (60.5)
Marcia Slagle (69)
Kim Guinn (70.25)
Jim Leinart (75.25)
Kris Stults (93.69)

For volunteering more than 100 hours:
Stacey Pratt (133)

For volunteering more than 150 hours:
Kathy Scruggs (163.25 )
John Kelsey (173)
Mary Tuskan (188.75 )

Distinguished Service Award

Bill Hall (296.25)
Coalition Partner Award

Margaret Durgin, Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County
ASAP is proud of all our volunteers and community partners and we celebrate the accomplishments you have been a part of this past year. THANK YOU for all you do!

For an overview of 2011-2012 accomplishments, visit www.ASAPofAnderson.org.

Marijuana is Big Business; however, while the cost of marijuana is expected to be lower once legalized than it is on the black market, Colorado expects to generate between $4 and $21 million annually. Federal law still prohibits any use of marijuana, but current laws already give states the authority to determine penalties for possession, if any. The jury is still out on what the U.S. Department of Justice will do in the wake of this vote. What we do know is marijuana use is related to a myriad of health and safety concerns.

Foremost, marijuana harms the brain, the adolescent brain in particular. Marijuana smoke harms the lungs and contains carcinogens. Use is linked to mental illness, is shown to contribute to neurophsychological decline and has proven to double the risk of car crashes when used before or while driving. Recent research from a longitudinal study released by the National Institutes of Health shows an association of marijuana use with significantly lower IQ scores and learning problems 1.

A ripple effect will certainly be felt from these law changes in the coming years, but coalitions must not stop educating our communities to clarify the mass of misinformation circulating about the effects of marijuana use. The recent election results give us even more work to do to create a healthy environment in which our children will thrive. Perhaps now more than ever, we must fight to protect the progress our society has made in preventing drug abuse to therefore carry that protection on through the present and into the future.

For a comprehensive list of research articles and sources, visit our website at www.ASAPofAnderson.org.