News and Events
May 2 - Youth Advisory Board Health Fair
May 3 - Roane County Children and Youth Advocacy Day
Time: 11:00 am - 3:30 PM
Location: Roane County Park
May 11-17 - National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week
May 14 - Patsy H. Crook, R.N., State of Tennessee Assistant Inspector General, will speak on TennCare Fraud & Prevention
Law Enforcement Presentation: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Medical Community Presentation: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Union Lodge #38 (Kingston Masonic Lodge)
For more information, call (865) 224-0205
June 2 - CAMP Begins
June 11 - RCADC Meeting (Noon - open to the public)
June 20 - National ASK Day
Visit the new Roane County Sherrif's Office Website at tnrcso.org
211 Call Centers are now open nationwide. This hotline allows individuals to locate indvidual care services. For more information, or to learn more about your area's coverage, visit 211.org.
Each Roane County high school now has a Positive Peer Pressure (P3) club which receives monetary and material support from RCADC. These clubs have a faculty member who serves as a sponsor. The goal is for these clubs to carry alcohol, tobacco, and drug free messages to classmates as well as to their community. As the program expands, this will be done by a variety of projects and programs.
ROANE COUNTY DRUG TIP LINE : (865) 717-4217
Calls are anonymous and confidential. Tip line is checked numerous times daily.
211 Call Centers are now open nationwide. This hotline allows individuals to locate indvidual care services. For more information, or to learn more about your area's coverage, visit 211.org.
20 WAYS RCADC IS FIGHTING ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE
1. Red Ribbon Week – On the last month of October each year, all Roane County schools are buzzing with activity because of Red Ribbon Week. Each year they become more enthusiastic with new ideas about ways to fight drug abuse among our children. Your RCADC acts as a catalyst to encourage all this activity. It works with each middle and high school Red Ribbon Coordinator to assure his/her week is running actively and smoothly. It assists to make sure they have the materials to run their program. As a result of their enthusiasm, Red Ribbon Coordinators held one of the best weeks.
2. Partnering with Bradford Health Services – John West has led this organization to provide valuable assistance to the RCADC. Besides its representation at all our meetings, Bradford Health provided $100 to each Roane Co. high school to fund its Red Ribbon Week. It has also funded other activities of the RCADC. What a blessing!
3. Partnering with Metropolitan Drug Commis-sion – As a result of a grant received by MDC, Metro has chosen to work with the RCADC on a mentor-mentee basis. As a result, it provides RCADC with expert professional input that comes from Metro’s experience and expertise in the field of drug abuse. Also, the grant provides funding to enable RCADC to hire its first employee, Jessica Fink. She has really put a giant plus in this coalition.
4. Roane State Community College Activities – RSCC has been a valuable partner with RCADC, enabling it to participate in its annual Freshman Experience and Drug Forum. During these events, RCADC has been there to provide literature and personnel who can best address the issues of drug and alcohol abuse.
5. Balloon Release – On Nov. 12, the 3rd Annual Say No to Drugs Balloon Release was held at the gravesite of Clayton Smith at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in remembrance of a “Super Man” who lost his life to a drug overdose. Thanks to all who attended.
6. Christmas Parades – During the annual Christmas Parade held in Oliver Springs, Kingston and Harriman, RCADC was there handing out thousands of pieces of candy, each with a anti-drug message.
7. School Assemblies – During the Fall semester, Mike Jenkins, a former convicted drug user and dealer, spoke to all the Roane County middle age youth at school assemblies. Here he delivered the message about the dangers of drug abuse, discouraging them from ever using drugs. RCADC has been working with this powerful speaker to get him into the high schools of Roane County this February.
8. E. T. T. I. - East Tennessee Teen Institute is a five-day camp held each June at Hiwassee College that provides education and training in youth development, leadership and prevention. The RCADC has sought to find funds to send teachers and students from each high school to this camp. Its goal is to have a minimum of one teacher and five students from each school. When these return from E.T.T.I., they provide the spark to drug prevention in their respective schools.
9. Drug-Free Clubs – The first drug-free club of the 21st century has been started in Roane County high schools this year. Oliver Springs High School started what is called the “P-3 Club”, which stands for Positive Peer Pressure. This was spearheaded by a group of teachers and students who attended E.T.T.I. last summer. The RCADC then received a $5000 grant to fund this club, enabling it to have a banquet, monthly activities, assemblies, etc. – all to encourage all high school students that “It’s cool to be drug free.” This is a model club that hopefully will set the stage to have a drug-free club in each Roane County high school within the next few years.
10. Pro-Active Board of Directors – The RCADC recently elected an 11 member Board of Directors which represents all areas and interests of the county. Among these is Sheriff Jack Stockton. Since his election last November, he has been quite active to fight drug abuse in Roane County.
11. Campaign to attack illegal prescription pill use - Recently, RCADC members attended an all-day seminar of Strategic Planning to determine what was RCADC’s number one priority and how best to handle it. The decision was made that illegal prescription pill use is the greatest drug problem in Roane County. The coalition has planned a variety of measures to attack this problem using all available resources. Too many kids are losing their lives to drug overdose of prescription pills not used as prescribed. RCADC cares!
12. Literature Racks – RCADC has placed racks packed with anti-drug brochures in each high school and middle school, as well as the alternative school. These racks are checked regularly to make sure the literature is current and readily available.
13. Updated Website – RCADC has a new updated website at: www.roaneantidrug.org. This is to enable RCADC to be on the cutting edge of fighting drug abuse in Roane County.
14. Grant Writing – To be successful in fighting drug abuse, lots of money is required. RCADC now has a grant writing committee and grant writers who are trying their best to keep the money coming to support all its endeavors.
15. Newsletter – This quarterly newsletter is one attempt to help fight drug abuse. By publishing this and sending it to all known Roane County school teachers and administrators, businesses, churches and public officials, hopefully RCADC’s mission and purpose will be widely recognized.
16. Monthly meetings – The RCADC meets at noon the second Wednesday of each month at the Kingston Masonic Lodge on 550 W. Spring St., Kingston, TN. The public is invited.
17. The Student Assistance Program – There is a counseling program available in each of the high schools to help teens with their problems. The Student Assistance Counselor, John Peach, is open for referrals. Please call him at 604-0357 if you have a student who needs counseling. All referrals are confidential.
18. Underground Revolu-tion – This is the name given a drug-free group at Morrison Hill Christian Church. Donna Forstrom of RCADC has held an eight-week program, which resulted in 12 teens graduating.
19. C. A. M. P. – Each summer the RCADC tries to provide a six-week program for troubled teens to improve their attitudes toward authority. Thus, C.A.M.P. stands for “Children’s Attitude Motivation Program.”
20. Vigil for Lost Promise – This was held in June last year to bring friends and families together who have lost a loved one to drug overdose. Candles were lit in memory of the Lost Promise in each family. This hopes to be an annual event.
