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City Officials Guide to Addressing Drug Abuse in Kentucky Communities

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City Officials Guide to Addressing Drug Abuse in Kentucky Communities www.klc.org © Kentucky League of Cities, Inc. 2011 CONTENTS Introduction . 3 Collaboration and Partnerships . 5 Kentucky Drug Task Force Regions Map KY-ASAP Local Boards Map Legislative Update . 10 Sample Drug Resolution City Action . 14 Funding and Resources for City Governments . 17 Treatment . 19 Additional Resources . 22 © Kentucky League of Cities, Inc. 2011 2 INTRODUCTION The Bottom-Line Impact of by our youth is 6 percent as Drug Abuse on Kentucky compared to 4.4 percent in the ABOUT THIS RESOURCE Cities United States. “You can't arrest your way out of the The statistics on drug abuse in City governments often absorb the drug problem.” Kentucky are grim and alarming, trickle-down social, criminal and but not surprising. fiscal consequences of drug abuse. This phrase is often repeated by law Emergency medical care services enforcement, city officials and state There were 61,413 drug and law enforcement costs are just leaders when discussing what tactics arrests made in 2010, part of the front line defense that according to the Kentucky should be used to address drug abuse. must address issues created by drug State Police annual report. But if incarceration is not the answer, abuse. what is? The National Survey on Drug Drug abuse has a high price tag for Use and Health found that The City Officials Guide to Addressing both the user and non-user. Kentucky was one of the top Drug Abuse in Kentucky Communities 10 states for rates in several The National Center on Addiction was created to help city officials drug-use categories among and Substance Abuse (CASA) at understand the scope of the problem and persons age 12 and older: past- Columbia University released a navigate available resources. Please year non-medical use of pain 2009 study that reported the total take this guide back to your community relievers; past-month use of amount spent by federal, state and and share with other city officials and illicit drugs other than local governments on substance community partners. marijuana; and illicit drug abuse and addiction was at least dependence. $467.7 billion: $238.2 billion, For more information, contact Sarah federal; $135.8 billion, state; and Razor at the Kentucky League of Cities at One in five Kentucky teens has $93.8 billion, local. Nationally, 8.9 abused prescription drugs, 1-800-876-4552 or [email protected]. percent of total local expenditures and Kentucky loses 82 people are related specifically to substance a month to drug overdose abuse and addiction, including resources to obtain another high. deaths, according to the public safety, justice, education and Additionally, anecdotal evidence Kentucky Office of Drug health programs. indicates that some Kentucky Policy Control. employers are having difficulties According to the Kentucky The Courier-Journal reported finding employees who can pass a Institute of Medicine's 2007 Health that Kentucky drug addiction drug test. of Kentucky study, "drug abuse has deaths have risen to 1,000 become a major health risk factor "You can have all the tools and deaths per year, more than in Kentucky, in terms of the health resources available for industry, but double the drug death cost to both the user and the state." you can't have your head in the overdose rate a decade ago. Loss of productivity, healthcare sand. People are aware of drug Deaths from prescription drug costs and drug-related crime related problems, but they don't abuse rose from 403 in 2000, to drug abuse costs ranges from understand how deep it goes," said to 978 in 2009. $2.5 to $3.6 billion annually Todd Denham, executive director The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior according to the Kentucky Office of the Winchester & Clark County Survey findings suggest that of Drug Control Policy. Industrial Development Authority. "It is simple, really. The more Kentucky adolescents are at a Drug abuse affects businesses highly skilled, educated and drug- significantly higher risk of through absenteeism, lost free people in your community, the being offered, sold or given an productivity, and increased use of better the economic environment. illegal drug by someone on medical and insurance benefits by That translates to more jobs." school property as compared employees. Impairment can cause to other students in the United major on-the-job accidents and States (27 percent versus 22.3 businesses often endure the brunt percent). The prevalence of of theft from abusers seeking lifetime methamphetamine use 3 © Kentucky League of Cities, Inc. 2011 INTRODUCTION What is the Role of City While environmental management Government in Addressing encompasses a spectrum of Prescription Drug Abuse a Growing Drug Abuse? programs and interventions from Problem in Kentucky Cities primary prevention to early By Doug Nelson, Somerset Police Chief (Acting) By Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, Executive Board intervention and treatment, it Member of the Kentucky League of Cities City government has the unique stresses the prevention of high-risk role of both proactive and reactive behavior through changes to the It would be difficult to find a local elected responsibilities in addressing drug environment in which citizens official in Kentucky who doesn't recognize abuse. make decisions about violence and prescription drug abuse as a major problem in his or her own community. The facts are The proactive measure involves their alcohol and other drug use. staggering. According to the Kentucky Office both law enforcement and The reactive responsibility is of Drug Control Policy: community organizations to exercised through the law educate the public through various enforcement action as well as code The abuse of prescription pain relievers awareness programs. The goal of enforcement. These both address is now only second to marijuana. reducing drugs in our nation environmental concerns as well as From 2006 to 2008, 96 of Kentucky's cannot be done without the human factor. Code 120 counties saw an increase in the rate coordination or close cooperation enforcement can prevent of prescriptions dispensed for controlled between the public and private abandoned dwellings and unsafe substances. Of those 96 counties, 24 saw sector. The city should be involved structures that allow both drug a 20 percent increase. Two counties saw in a continued effort to help young sales and drug manufacturing to an increase of more than 45 percent. people pursue healthy, drug-free take place. Therefore, if locations Prescription drug-related offenses lifestyles. The city may do this for these events are reduced then increased more than 13 percent in 2008. through a comprehensive approach, the events will reduce. The Although the statistics are overwhelming, the more commonly referred to as concept of the control of the numbers do not even begin to scratch the environmental management. This environment being an issue is surface of the slew of social and economic concept involves an understanding similar to the theory introduced by problems caused by prescription drug abuse. of the role in public health and social scientists James Q. Wilson Theft, home invasions, robbery, increased acknowledges a broad array of and George L. Kelling, in an article violence, incarceration, expensive factors that influences individual titled "Broken Windows" which rehabilitation treatment, medical costs from health decisions, including the use appeared in the March 1982 edition and/or abuse of control substances. overdoses and drug-related injuries all of The Atlantic Monthly. Once an threaten the safety of citizens and affect the Environmental management seeks area is prone to drug sales and drug to bring about behavior change bottom line for taxpayers. Additionally, our dealers, it will spread to other areas, communities absorb the economic impact of through multiple channels, both thereby increasing the program. As abusers' time lost from work and increased promoting positive behaviors and such, law enforcement should seek demand on social welfare programs. Pill norms and discouraging high-risk to contain the problem, and then abuse affects every single citizen in my city - behaviors. It encompasses a range deal with individual issues that are certainly not just the abuser. of activities from environmental unique to that area. This twofold change that includes policy changes approach will first prevent the Is there a pill mill in your community? (at the campus and community growth of the problem, and then Suspected illegal activity at any healthcare levels) early intervention programs focus on the root cause of the facility should be reported to the Office of (aimed at students) awareness problem, which may be different Inspector General in the Cabinet for Health activities (aimed at groups known from one community to another. to be at a higher risk for engaging and Family Services. Such reports can trigger in problem behaviors), and health an investigation and often, the threat of, or actual inspection of pill mills causes operators protection programs (that aim to to move or shut down. Four regional offices minimize the harm incurred can provide you with a short complaint form through problem behaviors). that can be completed anonymously. For additional information, please visit: http://chfs.ky.gov/os/oig/dhcfscomplaintinfo.htm. © Kentucky League of Cities, Inc. 2011 4 COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS Forming Community "Drug enforcement takes place at Partnerships and the local level by city and county Collaborative Efforts law enforcement agencies and at CITY PERSPECTIVES the federal level by the DEA. Drug By Midway Councilmember Sharon Turner; Vice There is no one-fits-all approach to task forces help provide a regional Chair, Woodford Co. ASAP Board addressing drug abuse in approach to fill gaps," said Bill communities. Each city has unique It was around 2003, that I heard about the Mark, director of the Northern problems and circumstances, but Woodford Co. ASAP (Agency for Substance Kentucky Drug Strike Force, which collaboration among governmental Abuse Policy) Board.
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