operation unite
DESCRIPTION
Engaging CommunitiesNational Rx Drug Abuse Summit 4-10-12TRANSCRIPT
Operation UNITE
April 10-12, 2012 Walt Disney World Swan Resort
UNITE’s History
• Launched in April 2003 by U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers
• In response to a special report, “Prescription for Pain,” published by the Lexington Herald-‐Leader newspaper during January and February 2003.
• Articles exposed the addiction and corruption associated with drug abuse in southern and eastern Kentucky
• UNITE works to rid communities of illegal drug use through:
– Undercover narcotics investigations – Coordinating treatment for substance abusers – Providing support to families and friends of substance abusers – Educating the public about the dangers of drugs
Operation UNITE’s Mission
• Arrested 3,711 individuals – Seized 104,882 pills – 273 Meth Labs – 23.54 pounds of cocaine – 466 pounds of processed marijuana – 5,844 marijuana plants
• Total Value $11,618,446
• Voucher program – Provided $7.38 million in vouchers for residential treatment – 2,431 individuals entered a treatment program – 1,493 completed – 139 currently in treatment
• Drug Court – UNITE invested $4.244 million to create 30 Drug Court Programs – 3,111 have participated – 1,190 graduated – 495 currently active – 231 completed an education plan – 195 drug free babies born – $1,017,835 collected in fines, restitution & child support
• West Care & Chad’s Hope Center
• 30 Community Coalitions – Over 66,570 youth have participated in UNITE sponsored activities
• Over 11,000 volunteers since 2004 • Drug Free Workplace Trainings – 4,800 employees at Booth Energy Group, Equitable Resources, Firestone, International Coal Group, human resource managers and hotel/motel managers
• Rural youth are at greater risk for substance abuse; they start sooner (11 vs 14 nationally) and progress faster from experimentation to addiction. (University of KY Center on Addiction Research – 2010)
• UNITE’s Treatment Hotline receives an average of 1,200 calls per month just from Eastern Kentucky
• Needle usage has skyrocketed from 1:50/calls to 1:5 (from June 2005 to present)
• We have some counties that have 50% of the children being raised with NO PARENTS in the home.
Eastern KY: Where do we stand?
UNITE’s Goal
• To educate and activate individuals by developing and empowering community coalitions to no longer accept or tolerate the drug culture
• Serves 29 counties of southern and eastern Kentucky
UNITE Clubs help youth develop healthy attitudes and behaviors by learning and practicing life skills, enhancing academic performance, connecting peers, adults, communities and learning through service.
Hooked on Fishing NOT On Drugs • Designed for ages 5 and up,
this on-‐going program places caring adults in a mentoring relationships with youth to provide a fun alternative to using drugs while teaching youth fishing and conservation skills. UNITE provides free training for adult facilitators and assists coalitions with start-‐up costs.
Shoot Hoops
• Shoot Hoops camps provide participants an opportunity to interact with positive role models, receive positive anti-‐drug and self-‐esteem messages in conjunction with basic basketball skills instruction.
• Parent education during camps
National Archery in the Schools Program
• Through the end of the 2009-‐10 school year UNITE has provided $83,673 for 58 NASP programs in 23 counties.
• Since its beginning, NASP has grown to nearly 9,000 schools and 2 million student archer athletes for the 2010-‐11 school year.
Youth Leadership Program
• UNITE initiative designed to train middle and high school youth to be catalysts for helping their peers make positive life choices by demonstrating leadership skills within their home communities.
• Funded by a grant from Walmart.
First Tee of Pine Mountain
• The First Tee program offers golf lessons to kids who otherwise can’t afford to get involved in the sport. The young golfers also learn good sportsmanship, strong work ethic, good moral values, as well as the dangers of drugs.
• NIDA approved curriculum. Pilot project in Bell County, KY
Anti-‐drug Rallies • Raising awareness, building hope and inspiring communities.
• Over 45,000 individuals in east Kentucky have participated.
1. To raise awareness of current community issues
2. To unite citizens and city officials
3. To empower law enforcement agencies
Life with a Record
• A program for students that portrays the obstacles that are created when they have a felony on their record.
Accidental Dealer A campaign targeting parents designed to raise awareness about teen abuse of prescription drugs.
Addicted: A Dose of Reality A program for parents revealing the reality of drug addiction for teens.
One Step Misery A 6 month campaign designed to educate Kentucky on the dangers of Meth.
• 2010-‐2011 School Year: – 1,283 tutored in math – 568 students mentored – 1,993 students taught Too Good for Drugs,
research based curriculum
– 173 parents of kids being tutored were incarcerated due to substance abuse issues
– Carr Creek Elementary, 38 parents of children at that school overdosed.
• 4 Day leadership camp at the University of the Cumberlands • 916 middle school students have participated • Post Survey results: • 88.5% of participants demonstrated an increased knowledge about
drugs • 96% of youth signed a drug free contract • 85% of campers indicated a desire to complete high school and seek
higher education • 86% stated they learned something positive at camp • 87% of the campers indicated they wanted to return in a leadership
position (junior counselor or lead counselor)
Medical Advisory Counsel
• Recognizing the importance of engaging the medical community in order to develop solutions to the problem of prescription drug abuse and diversion, UNITE formed a volunteer group of medical professionals to gather ideas and make recommendations to its Board of Directors.
Website: operationunite.org
Phone: 1:-‐866-‐OP-‐UNITE