The Marion Opiate Task Force has worked since July of 2010 to raise awareness about the increase in heroin and prescription based opiate abuse. With a primary focus on education, awareness and prevention, the group decided a new name was appropriate and will now be known as the STAND Coalition – Stop & Take A New Direction. That focus on education will include a special presentation from Cole’s Warriors on October 22.
In the last few years, there has been ample discussion in Marion around the issue of heroin and other drug abuse. At the same time, there have been multiple efforts aimed at increasing awareness, resources and supports to address the problem. Since July of 2010, one of those efforts has been from the opiate task force, now called STAND Coalition, coordinated by the ADAMH Board.
One of the STAND Coalition’s big successes was in the spring of this year when they organized a Town Hall Meeting on Opiates to share information and create discussion. The event was attended by over 300 people.
The coalition includes representation from the recovery and treatment community as well as judges, law enforcement, prevention professionals, probation, education and social service providers.
STAND has two events planned for the fall. The first slated for October 22, 2013 brings Danielle Smoot, founder of Cole’s Warriors to Marion. Smoot lost her son Cole, 16, to an accidental recreational overdose of prescription methadone, an opiate. As a result, she has worked tirelessly to gather schools, community members, the legal system and churches in her Springfield community.
Cole’s Warriors is a partnership program of Family & Youth Initiatives, the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, schools and community organizations in Clark County. It was formed in the wake of the death of Cole, a sophomore at Tecumseh High School.
Cole’s Warriors is committed to providing information and education regarding the consequences of prescription drug abuse. The organization out of Springfield, Ohio has a three pronged approach:
- Education that includes school assemblies, presentations to health classes and community groups;
- Voluntary Drug Screening Program. and
- Tip Submit – a mobile app which allows tipsters to anonymously report to local law enforcement.
This community presentation featuring Smoot will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene (233 W. Church Street), October 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
The second event is Parenting for Prevention, also held at the First Church of the Nazarene. This program will focus on parents and include a discussion of monitoring social media among other topics.
Both events are free and open to the public. Parents are encouraged to come to the Cole’s Warriors program with their teens. At each event, snacks and babysitting will be provided free of charge and all who attend will be entered to win a $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card.
STAND Coalition asks that each community member consider what they can do to be part of reducing drug use in Marion County. Parents, grandparents and community members can increase their efforts to access factual information about drugs and impart that to kids. You can also take a visible stand against illicit drug use and report concerns to the Marion TIPS line at 375-TIPS (8477).
For more information about the STAND Coalition contact the ADAMH Board at 740-387-8531.
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