Drug & Sexual Abuse: Recent Headlines

Leahy will lead hearing on rural crime

VCF Staff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:20:09 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "Senator Patrick Leahy plans to come to St. Albans next week to chair a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on rural crime." The hearing will "focus on drug-related crimes and efforts to address drug abuse through prevention, treatment and enforcement." Leahy said "he's hoping to learn what the federal government can do to help small communities like St. Albans deal with the recent growth in drug-related crimes." Those scheduled to testify at the hearing include law enforcement officials and drug prevention specialists.

Link to article

Smokeout in Vermont focuses on 'independent quitter'

VCF Staff — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:08:05 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that Vermont Department of Health is unveiling a new smoking cessation program to coincide with the American Cancer Society's 33rd Annual Great American Smokeout. The objective of the program called "Your Quit, Your Way" is"to reach what the department calls 'independent quitters'...people who want to stop smoking in their own way, on their own terms." According to Sheri Lynn, Tobacco Control Chief for the Health Department, "Smokers now have access to free tools and strategies available through the Vermont Quit Network" such as free nicotine gum, patches and lozenges.She added, "We have pedometers, so that instead of taking a cigarette break you can go out and take a walk and track your steps. We also have things to distract your hand, putty or worry stones, and you can get podcasts and hear about the proven tips and strategies to keep smoke-free."

Link to article

Nine Vermont college presidents want drinking debate

VCF Staff — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:04:30 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "ten leading Vermont college educators are among scores of their colleagues from across the country calling for a debate about the merits of the minimum drinking age of 21." Educators who have signed onto the Amethyst Initiative, which wasdeveloped by former Middlebury College President John McCardell, maintain thatthe 21-year-old minimum drinking age is not working because more young people are drinking irresponsibly. College of St. Joseph President Frank Migloriecommentedthat "once people reach 18 years of age they are given full citizenship, except the right to drink alcohol." Since July 2008, 134 college presidents from around the country have signed the initiative."

Link to article

Barre police urge residents to get rid of old meds

VCF Staff — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:49:11 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "Barre police are urging city residents to dispose of outdated and unused prescription drugs to prevent them from" being stolen and or used improperly. Indeed, Barre is launching a Prescription Drug Repository Program from October 13 to November 14. During the program, Barre police will "have a locked receptacle in the lobby of the public safety building where people can dispose of their drugs." The program is modeled after a St. Alban's program that resulted in the collection of about 7,000 pills from late May to late June. "The St. Albans plan followed a spike in calls involving the theft of prescription medications."

Link to article

Sanders announces grants for teen centers

VCF Staff — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:06:36 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that thirty "teen centers around Vermont will get some needed money thanks to a federal grant secured by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.The funds will help pay for health and fitness programs." Vermont is home to forty-two teen centers which "provide after-school and weekend activities for kids, and help [youth] avoid drugs and other unhealthy behaviors." Sanders noted, "We live in a society now in tough economic times. We have a situation with both mom and dad working - there is nobody at home. What I see happening around this state is that there are a lot of kids who after school spend their time hanging around on street corners getting tempted to do self-destructive type activities." He concluded, teen centers "provide needed after-school activities in an environment free of drugs and violence."

Link to article

Doc Seeks Drug Facilty Approval for St. Johnsbury Addicts

VCF Staff — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:12:43 +0000

The Caledonian Record reports that Dr. Scott Stone, a Montpelier-based doctor who operates drug treatment facilities in Montpelier and Morrisville that treat heroin, morphine, methadone, fentanyl, and percocet addictions, is proposing to fight hard-drug addiction in St. Johnsbury by opening up a treatment facility in the area. "The treatment facility would prescribe and administer the drug Suboxone, which prevents withdrawal symptoms, and [would] provide intensive outpatient group therapy to residents within a 20-mile catchment area." Stone explained, "We're trying to get a start on stopping the next generation of this scourge. We're trying to help the community out, and really help the people that are addicted to this kind of drug."

On Tuesday, Stone met with the St. Johnsbury Development Review Board to request a permit for a facility on St. Johnsbury's Railroad Street. "A treatment facility on Railroad Street, however, may be an uphill battle. The town review board tabled Stone's request for lack of information, and questions about its proposed location. He was also "instructed to provide written documents including program dynamics, need in the area, treatment steps, patient expectations, and the range of medication stored on site. He was encouraged to look for office space in the town health-services zone, around Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, and review St. Johnsbury zoning regulations."

Link to article

State-wide DUI program kicks off

VCF Staff — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:23:11 +0000

The Bennington Banner reports that "for the next two weeks, local and state police will be out in full force, attempting to keep drunk and impaired drivers off the road." The campaign, called You Drink You Lose, is "aimed at keeping impaired drivers off the road through education and enforcement, including increased patrols and DUI checkpoints. It is held during the last two weeks of August because, traditionally, this is when the most drunk drivers are on the road." Notably, "in 2007, 25 of the 66 people that died on Vermont's roadways were killed in alcohol related crashes. In the five years prior, 140 people died, or 28 per year, in alcohol-related crashes in the state."

Link to article

College presidents seek debate on lower drinking age

VCF Staff — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:53:13 +0000

Vermont Public Radio reports that "college presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18." The presidents are part of the Amethyst Initiative which was formed "more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the drinking age." The group was started by former Middlebury College president John McCardell and maintains that "current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus." In Vermont, those participating in the effort include the presidents of Bennington College, the Vermont State Colleges, Middlebury, the New England Culinary Institute, and the Vermont Law School. "In New Hampshire, President James Wright of Dartmouth College and President Paul LeBlanc of Southern New Hampshire University [have] signed onto the list."

Link to article

Abuse Coalition Collects First-Person Accounts

VCF Staff — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:06:54 +0000

The Bennington Banner reports that the Southshire Substance Abuse Coalition, a local substance abuse organization, is "looking to collect first-person accounts of drug and alcohol abuse in the community." The organization is hoping to use those testimonails to "raise awareness on the consequences of using [drugs]" and in turn, "make people reconsider their own [drug] use." Thus far, the Coalition has collected one account from an anonymous male college student. The account details the student's "brother's drug use and how it destroyed his brother's life and tore his family apart. The student did it as part of a court diversion program through the Center for Restorative Justice after receiving an underage drinking citation of his own."

Link to article

State gets $1M to fight drugs

VCF Staff — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:20:32 +0000

The Brattleboro Reformer reports that 13 Vermont community coalitions have received a total of $1 million in Drug-Free Communities grants through the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The grants "assist community groups in work to prevent and reduce drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse among youth." They also "seek to strengthen community anti-drug coalitions among local organizations, law enforcement agencies and state anti-drug offices." In announcing the award U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. said, "There is a myth that drug abuse is only a big city problem, but Vermont and other rural areas are also coping with its problems." Two of the thirteen recipients include the Deerfield Valley Community Partnership in Wilmington and The Collaborative in South Londonderry, which will receive $90,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Link to article