Communi-Key
Cumberland, North Smithfield & Lincoln Prevention Coalitions
April 2019
Spring has sprung and it is hard to believe there is less than 2 months left of the school year. It is a busy time of year, filled with proms and graduations, school projects and sports. And again, we are, as always, thankful for the support from our communities!
“April is a promise that May is bound to keep." - Hal Borland
National Drug Take-back Day!
This Saturday is National Drug Take-Back Day!
A special thank you to the members of the Lincoln Prevention Coalition for reminding us just “How easy” it is to drop off unused/expired medications & keep them from getting in the wrong hands!
Cumberland & Lincoln Police Stations are equipped with a safe Drug Disposal box, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
For a safe location spot near you, click HERE!
Hidden in Plain Sight: Boys & Girls Club
"Hidden in Plain Sight' will be on display at the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019, from 6-8pm.
This interactive presentation allows adults to explore a teenager’s mock bedroom. As part of the program, prevention specialists will guide attendees to be able to recognize & identify drug paraphernalia, hiding places, lingo, signs & symptoms that may indicate alcohol or drug use or other risky behaviors. This knowledge can be invaluable for adults to be proactive in helping community youth.
This event is strictly for age 21+ (Due to the nature of content, this is an adult-only event).
Do you know where to look? Discover how alcohol & other drugs can be easily hidden in a teen’s bedroom.
Do you know what you are looking for? Become educated on the latest substance abuse trends, signs & symptoms.
Do you know what to do? Learn about local resources & ways to bring awareness to your community!
Go ahead: Pick Your No's!
Have YOU Picked YOUR "No's"?!?!
A very big thank you to Sayslesville & Central Elementary Schools and the AMAZING 5th graders for welcoming the Lincoln Prevention Coalition to present “Pick Your NO’s”!
”Pick Your NO’s” teaches our youth how to say NO to negative influences, ranging from bullying & substance abuse.
They were an amazing bunch of respectful, kind and fun young adults! Over 80 5th graders took part in this interactive learning presentation!
Stay Connected!
Stay on top of all the latest news, trends and events by "Liking" & "Following us! Our Facebook page is, Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bvprevention/
And last, but not least, we are on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BVPrevention. Be sure to "Like" and "Share" us with your friends and family!
Have questions? Any suggestions? Please email Pam Shayer, at pshayer@lincolnri.org.
We want to hear from you!
"Be The Person" in Cumberland!
The Cumberland Prevention Coalition is proud to be a part of a unique mental health and substance abuse series at the Cumberland Public Library, encouraging members of the community to “Be That Person” who notices when someone is struggling and connects them to resources for help.
The goals of the series are to help reduce the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse, improve early identification of behavioral health issues, educate people about available resources, improve connection to treatment and ultimately reduce deaths to suicide and overdose.
Monthly series topics run the fourth Wednesday of the month from January to May, excluding April. The workshops will address mental illness, substance abuse and trauma, as well as how to recognize when help is needed and how to access resources. There will also be special focus on developing strategies for talking to people about these uncomfortable topics. For more information, click HERE!
Please join us at the Cumberland Public Library, from 6:30-8pm:
May 22nd: "Resilience"
Prom Time...Keep Memories Alive & Survive the Drive!
Prom time can be an exciting time....the dress, flowers, a fancy tux, and of course, creating memories with friends to last a lifetime.
We urge parents to talk with their teens BEFORE the "big" night about the dangers of impaired driving. According to a report from *HealthDay, some young adults say they are more likely to ride with a marijuana-impaired driver than an alcohol-impaired driver.
Impaired driving is high-risk driving that can have disastrous results. Remember: If you feel different, You drive different!
The Lincoln Prevention Coalition would like to thank the many area businesses that are proudly displaying these "tent cards" during prom season as a reminder to our teens and adults, alike!
North Smithfield High School: Taylor's Message
The North Smithfield Prevention Coalition sponsored guest speaker Kathi Meyer of "Taylor's Message" during April for North Smithfield High School Students.
After a night of binge drinking and poor choices at a series of underage drinking parties, Kathi’s 17 yr old daughter Taylor found herself alone in the woods, and drowned in only two feet of water. They found her 3 days later.
Two months later Kathi started sharing Taylor’s story with students and parents in hopes that her message would enlighten others on the dangers of underage drinking and poor choices. Passionate about reaching students hearts and minds, she simply shares with students what happened that night, how it could have been prevented and how Taylor’s death has affected her family, Taylor’s friends and the community. Students and parents leave Kathi’s presentation feeling like it was their friend or daughter that was lost that fateful night. Her presentation goes far beyond binge drinking, underage drinking and poor choices! Each audience member takes away something different.
Kathi has become a alcohol awareness speaker and made this her mission in life to spread Taylor’s Message. Kathi’s presentation is heart wrenching but ends with an inspirational message of hope, love and a new found power for students to deal with peer pressure and tough choices they face every day. Her honesty, openness, and heartfelt message is packed with powerful take aways and it is a presentation that will not be soon forgotten.
"Think Fast" & "No First Time" at LHS
The Lincoln Prevention Coalition sponsored the “Think Fast” presentation, April 5th at #lincolnhighschool
ThinkFast is an interactive awareness game show that appeals to all ages with its MTV style production set, mainstream music and videos, an entertaining host, and informative and engaging trivia. ThinkFast utilizes wireless remote controls, which allows the entire audience to play at one time! From start to finish, messages of prevention, responsibility, and awareness are non-intrusively reinforced.
It was a fantastic & interactive way to talk with the students about the dangers of distracted driving....especially during this upcoming prom & grad season! And congrats to the winning team....enjoy the $100 Amazon gift card!
The Lincoln Prevention Coalition will also sponsor a presentation by the Evan G. Foundation with "No First TIme".
The Evan foundation was organized in 2014 -15 after founders, John & Stephanie Greene, lost their son, Evan, to an opiate overdose. Like so many others, Evan’s journey began with one pill offered by a peer. That one pill led to a horrible addiction that ultimately ended his life.
John & Stephanie bravely share Evan’s Story as part of a comprehensive program that includes an educational component presented by a Massachusetts State Trooper & Drug Recognition Expert, and an awareness component presented by a recovering addict.
The No First Time 45 minute presentation and 15-minute question and answer period are designed to educate young people on the danger of experimenting with drugs and engaging in risky behavior.
Interested in becoming a member of the Cumberland, Lincoln or North Smithfield Prevention Coalition?
Interested in finding out or becoming a member of the Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition? Please join us for our monthly meeting!
(For Lincoln Residents) Tuesday, May 21st at 6:30pm, Lincoln Police Department
(For Cumberland Residents) Tuesday, May 21st at 4:00pm, McCourt Middle School
(For North Smithfield Residents) Thursday, May 23rd at 2:00pm, NS High School
Please join us & learn how YOU can be a part of prevention for the community!
Please watch our Facebook page, Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition, for more exciting news!