All school-age youth are invited to participate in the Shoot Hoops Not Drugs programs at the following dates and locations:

• Tuesday, June 5 – Rowan County, the old middle school gym, 415 West Sun Street, Morehead.

• Thursday, June 7 – Clay County, Clay County Middle School, 239 Richmond Road, Manchester.

• Monday, June 18 – Martin County, Sheldon Clark High School, 1825 Blacklog Road, Inez.

• Tuesday, June 19 – Whitley County, Boston Elementary School, 3291 Highway 1804, Williamsburg.

• Thursday, June 21 – Magoffin County, South Magoffin Elementary School, 171 Half Mountain Road, Saylersville.

Each camp begins at 4 p.m. and concludes about 7 p.m. Participants are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to complete registration.

Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps provide basketball skills instruction in conjunction with anti-drug and self-esteem messages.

Participants are asked not to wear open-toe shoes or sandals.

All participants will receive a free event T-shirt, regulation basketball, food and water, and be entered into a drawing for two portable basketball goals given away at the conclusion of each camp (must be present to win).

Presented by Phoenix Products, Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps are fun, interactive, and provide a safe, drug-free activity where children have an opportunity to interact with positive role models while learning fundamental basketball skills.

In addition, parents and guardians will have an opportunity to attend a UNITE Foundation education program on how to talk to their children about drugs. Information on the signs, symptoms and dangers posed by drugs will also be given.

As a senior at the University of Kentucky, Sheppard was named the NCAA’s Final Four Most Valuable Player in the Wildcats’ 1997-98 National Championship season. He would later go on to play one season with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and 3 years in Italy.

Helping make the 2012 Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps possible are: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kentucky, Codell Construction, Lightyear Network Solutions, Senture, Walmart of Eastern Kentucky, and WestCare.

Since 2006, UNITE has conducted 38 regional camps with 5,055 youth participants representing 53 Kentucky counties, 11 other states and one other country.

To view photos from the training click here.

Thirty-five individuals from community coalitions, treatment and recovery programs, schools and the state juvenile justice program attended the PACT360 training presented by a team from The Partnership at Drugfree.org in collaboration with Operation UNITE and the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

The community prevention education system is designed to deal with existing drug issues and rapidly respond to emerging drug threats. The goal is to help reduce illicit drug use and its accompanying criminal behavior, thereby improving the safety and quality of life of the community.

Each of the multi-media outreach programs is designed to be presented by a team of law enforcement, treatment and prevention professionals and are designed to be tailored to address local issues, said Mike Townsend, director of community education for The Partnership.

The programs are intended to supplement, not supplant, ongoing initiatives within communities, Townsend added.

“We’re excited that The Partnership launched this in Kentucky,” said Heather Wainscott, branch manager for the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. “We had a variety of organizations participate. All of our community coalitions are looking for anything new to bring people together. This is another tool that they can use.”

Begun in 2005, the PACT360 program initially focused solely on methamphetamine. It has since been expanded to include both parent (“Parents: You Matter”) and teen (wreckED) oriented presentations.

“The importance of educating parents, caregivers and youth about the substance abuse is critical. Our UNITE coalitions are taking the lead in addressing local issues, and programs such as PACT360 make it easier to reach this critical audience,” said Karen Kelly, director of UNITE.

“Not only do parents need to know about drugs and what to look for, they need to understand how to intervene and find treatment for drug and alcohol abuse,” Kelly continued. “This is why education programs are so important.”

“You’re making it a reality for people,” noted Amy Bloustine, deputy director of community education programs for The Partnership.

Those receiving the training May 3 will be available to present the various program components to other groups and organizations.

PACT360 is funded through a U.S. Department of Justice grant. To date, more than 2,300 individuals have received this training with more than 44,000 attendees at community presentations.

To learn more about PACT360 contact Amy Bloustine, deputy director, community education programs, at 212-973-3548 or amy_bloustine@drugfree.org.

Company officials presented a $17,000 check to the Operation UNITE Foundation during a ceremony at Eastern Kentucky University’s Manchester Campus on Thursday, May 3. Accepting the donation was Karen Kelly, who heads the organization.

Representing Alpha Natural Resources were Wayne Keaton, president of Maxxim Rebuild Company, and Harry Childress, community involvement coordinator for Southern Kentucky and a member of the company’s Government Relations team.

“Involvement in the community has always been a top priority for Alpha Natural Resources,” Keaton commented. “We have chosen to partner with Operation UNITE as a way to help reduce drug abuse and reach families – through prevention measures and treatment centers throughout the region.”

Alpha, whose corporate offices are located in Bristol, Virginia, is a leading global coal company and the world’s third largest metallurgical coal supplier. They produce, process and sell steam and metallurgical coal from approximately 150 active mines and 40 coal preparation plants located throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

The company’s Community Involvement Program also supports environmental partnerships, fuel assistance and weatherization programs, youth and youth programs that build character, as well as programs that promote drug resistance education.

“We are excited to have Alpha Natural Resources as a partner for Camp UNITE,” Kelly stated. “It takes many volunteers and concerned businesses to provide this experience to these youth each year. I applaud Alpha’s management and employees for having the vision and leadership to help create meaningful and lasting changes in our region.”

Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, who created UNITE in 2003, attended the ceremony and also expressed his appreciation to Alpha Natural Resources.

Camp UNITE is a free 4-day, 3-night leadership/adventure program for youth entering grades 7-9. This year’s sixth annual camp will be held July 24-27 on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg.

While at camp, students stay in the college dorms and are placed in small teams under the guidance of trained youth counselors and supervised by adult staff and volunteers.

Activities during camp are designed to develop leadership and communication skills, promote teamwork and problem solving, instill confidence and trust, and let youth know they do not have to face difficult situations on their own.

One of the most valuable components of camp is the peer mentorship and positive role models provided by high school and college students who serve as camp counselors. In 2011, UNITE utilized the leadership of 55 youth counselors, 36 adult staff/volunteers, and more than three dozen community volunteers.

Since its inception, Camp UNITE has hosted 916 youth from 29 counties.

Alpha Natural Resources joins Toyota Motor Manufacturing-Kentucky in Georgetown and the University of the Cumberlands as primary sponsors for Camp UNITE 2012.

Campership sponsors include: William and Kaye Baird of Pikeville, Stan Baker of Corbin; Misha Gover of Monticello, the Jean Kelly Memorial Fund, Mike Long’s Pic Pac/Galaxy Supermarket of Pineville, Mullins Elementary School UNITE Club, Northern Middle School parents, Phelps Elementary School UNITE Club, Red River Valley Elementary School UNITE Club, Rogers Elementary School UNITE Club, and the Somerset High School UNITE Club.

“The Dionysus Project: Addiction Takes Center Stage” is an innovative public health collaboration between The Partnership at Drugfree.org, Outside the Wire, Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and Operation UNITE.

At both locations, acclaimed film, television and Broadway actors will perform dramatic readings from the ancient Greek play, Euripides’ Bacchae, about the destructive power of intoxication.

Cast members include:

• Kathleen Chalfant, who received a Tony nomination for “Angels in America” and an OBIE Award for “Wit.”

• Adam Driver, recently seen in the feature film “J. Edgar” and the HBO series “Girls.”

• Jesse Eisenberg, who received an Oscar nomination for “The Social Network.”

• Peter Frances James, a Broadway actor most recently seen in “The Merchant of Venice.”

The theatrical presentation serves as a catalyst for a panel discussion and town hall meeting focusing on the impact substance abuse and addiction has on individuals, families and communities.

Supported by a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the readings will be translated, directed and facilitated by Bryan Doerries and produced by Phyllis Kaufman of Outside the Wire. The presentations will focus heavily on abuse of prescription medicine, an issue that prominently affects the Appalachia area.

The performance will be followed by a panel discussion featuring community experts and affected parties, and will culminate in a facilitated town hall discussion of the complex challenges posed by addiction.

Manchester panelists include: Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, Southeast Community and Technical College President Dr. Bruce Ayers, Behavior Health Coordinator Deborah Anderson of Baptist Health Systems, and Clay Countians UNITED Co-Chair Melanda Adams of Manchester.

Hazard event panelists include Perry Circuit Court Judge Bill Engle, Director of Safe and Drug Free Schools (Pike County Public Schools) Marionette Little, Pikeville Medical Center Pharmacist Cassee Jones, and Josh Huffman of Pikeville.

A town hall discussion to elicit community opinion will conclude the event.

The Manchester program begins at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Stivers Building at Eastern Kentucky University’s Manchester Regional Campus, 50 University Drive, in downtown Manchester. The Hazard program begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Perry County Public Library, 289 Black Gold Blvd.

Although these events are free, those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Friday, April 27, due to limited seating. Reservations can be made by contacting Koula Oakley at 1-606-330-1400 or by e-mail to koakley@centertech.com.

“The goal of ‘The Dionysus Project’ is to educate and engage participants so that they can examine their own attitudes, or even biases, toward young people struggling with addiction,” said Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “We are confident that this event, part of our community education efforts, will facilitate much-needed conversation around the myths and misunderstanding that surround substance abuse, particularly in Appalachia as it has been profoundly impacted by this issue.”

The reading/discussion format is designed to help break down the stigma associated with substance abuse and addiction and to promote healthy dialogue to foster compassion, cooperation and understanding.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org and Outside the Wire chose Euripides’ Bacchae, a 2,500-year-old tragedy, to engage audiences in crucial discussions about the timelessness of the human struggle with substance abuse and addiction. The play explores the allure and the destructive power of drugs and alcohol through the tragic downfall of a single family over the course of one day, revealing how family members play a critical role in modeling attitudes and behaviors for children regarding alcohol and drugs, and exposing how the introduction of a new drug can annihilate a community.

To learn more about “The Dionysus Project,” contact events@drugfree.org or call 212-973-3546 or visit the “Events” page at drugfree.org.

About The Partnership at Drugfree.org
Ninety percent of addictions start in the teenage years. The Partnership at Drugfree.org is dedicated to helping families solve the problem of teen substance abuse. Bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts and communications professionals, this public health nonprofit translates research on teen behavior, parenting, addiction and treatment into useful and effective resources at drugfree.org. Its You Are Not Alone campaign is dedicated to supporting families of the 11 million teens and young adults who need addiction treatment, while the organization’s community education programs reach families at the grassroots level. The Partnership at Drugfree.org mission to help parents prevent, intervene in and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector. We are thankful to SAG/AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org), an international philanthropic organization, makes grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and medicine, and social welfare. While prominent in its support of Greek-related initiatives, the Foundation’s activities are worldwide in scope. Since the beginning of its grant making efforts in 1996, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation has provided total grant commitments of $1,165,000,000 through more than 1,800 grants to nonprofit organizations in 90 nations around the world.

Currently the greatest needs are for supplies in Menifee and Lawrence counties. This is an immediate need.

Supplies Needed: Non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, socks, garbage bags, diapers, wipes, Germ-X, shampoo, deodorant, paper products, rubber storage containers, hammers, nails, shovels, mops, brooms, small hand tools, gloves and boxes.

Supplies for communities can be dropped off at any of the UNITE offices, or we can put donors in touch with community members from those areas that have been hit.

Calls regarding relief supplies should be directed to Koula at 606-330-1400 or koakley@centertech.com.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin will address the need for major public health initiatives across many fields during the first National Rx Drug Abuse Summit in April.

“The negative impacts of substance abuse span a broad spectrum, including health care costs, public safety, economic development and social services. As ‘America’s Doctor,’ Dr. Benjamin is on the front-line of responding to this crisis,” said Karen Kelly, president/CEO of Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a Kentucky-based organization coordinating the event.

The Summit, which will be held in Florida April 10-12, 2012, is intended to foster better understanding and cooperation between a broad range of stakeholders – state and national leaders, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, community advocates, treatment experts, educators, private industry leaders, and others – who are finding success in battling this nationwide epidemic.

The National Prevention Strategy recognizes that good health comes not just from receiving quality medical care, but also from healthy homes, safe outdoor spaces, safe worksites, proper nutrition and physical activity.

“Every American family is impacted by prescription medication misuse and diversion. Our youth are especially vulnerable,” Kelly noted. “Dr. Benjamin, who is tasked with implementing prevention strategies, brings an expertise to the Summit that will help identify data-driven policies and solutions.”

Dr. Benjamin, the 18th Surgeon General of the United States, provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation. She also oversees the operational command of 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote and protect the health of the American people.

Dr. Benjamin is founder and former CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, former associate dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, and past chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States.

She is a member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She was a Kellogg National Fellow and a Rockefeller Next Generation Leader.

Dr. Benjamin has a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Xavier University, New Orleans; attended Morehouse School of Medicine; received her M.D. from the University of Alabama, Birmingham; and has an MBA from Tulane University. She has 15 honorary doctorates.

Joining Dr. Benjamin as a keynote presenter during the Summit will be:

• Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, one of the nation’s foremost experts on the neurological effects of drug addiction.

• R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), who has identified prescription drug abuse as a top priority for public health in the United States.

• Hon. Joseph T. Rannazzisi, deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Diversion Control in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), an expert in preventing, detecting and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals.

R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), has identified prescription drug abuse as a top priority for public health in the United States.

“Mr. Kerlikowske is very aware of the devastating impacts of prescription drug abuse and diversion,” said Karen Kelly, president/CEO of Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a Kentucky-based organization coordinating the event. “The Prevention Plan unveiled last year by the ONDCP recognizes the need to take a balanced approach between education, monitoring, proper disposal and enforcement efforts.”

The Summit, which will be held in Florida April 10-12, 2012, is intended to foster better understanding and cooperation between all groups – state and national leaders, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, community advocates, treatment experts, educators, private industry leaders, and others – who are finding success in battling this nationwide epidemic.

“Diversion of prescription medications from their legitimate medical uses impacts every American, not only through the devastating personal toll exacted on individuals and their families, but on an economic level as well,” Kelly stated. “This Summit encourages proactive dialogue with national experts to identify data-driven policies and solutions.”

Prior to his confirmation, Kerlikowske served as deputy director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and was police commissioner of Buffalo, New York. Most of his law enforcement career was served in the St. Petersburg Police Department in Florida.

He was twice elected to be president of the Major Cities Chiefs, which is comprised of the largest city and county law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada, and was also elected president of the Police Executive Research Forum.

In 2011, Kerlikowske received the American Medical Association’s Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service.

Joining Kerlikowske as a keynote presenter during the Summit will be:

• Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, one of the nation’s foremost experts on the neurological effects of drug addiction.

• Hon. Joseph T. Rannazzisi, deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Diversion Control in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), an expert in preventing, detecting and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals.

The Summit will take place April 10-12 in Florida, the heart of a prescription pill pipeline responsible for bringing approximately 60 percent of diverted drugs into the Central Appalachian region. The event will convene public and private stakeholders from across the country in sessions that highlight prevention, education, treatment and law enforcement efforts in addressing the prescription drug epidemic.

“The abuse of prescription medications has a far reaching impact on Appalachia,” stated ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl F. Gohl. “It devastates families, creates burdens for communities, and undermines the employability of the workforce.”

“ARC strongly supports Operation UNITE’s initiative to build interstate partnerships at the Summit, and supports the continuing education of medical professionals and community leaders engaged in the fight against drug abuse,” Gohl added.

“Diversion of prescription medications from their legitimate medical uses has become an epidemic that requires a coordinated national effort,” said Karen Kelly, director of UNITE. “Attendees will have an opportunity to learn from state and national leaders, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, community advocates, treatment experts, educators, private industry leaders, and others who are finding success in battling this epidemic.”

“In addition,” Kelly continued, “this Summit is intended to foster better understanding and cooperation between all groups – not just the medical community – and how that cooperation can lead to successful outcomes. The Summit will include discussion targeting issues faced by private sector employers.”

Conference programming, guided by a 10-member National Advisory Board, will be responsive to the needs of educators, community advocates, private industry, civic leaders, law enforcement officials, treatment experts in addition to the broad range of health care providers who represent the entire continuum of care.

UNITE has partnered with Inquisit, a division of Amerinet, to provide continuing education credits for a variety of professionals, including attorneys, counselors, social workers, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists.

“The impact of prescription drug abuse is devastating,” Kelly said. “The economic cost of drug trafficking and abuse is $215 billion in the United States every year. Insurance companies alone lose $72.5 billion per year because of diversion. But the worst part is that more than 27,000 people lose their lives to addiction annually.”

“It is time to tackle this issue through a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach,” Kelly continued. “Many of the nation’s foremost experts will be leading conversations during the Summit.”

Forty-two percent of the ARC region’s population is rural, compared with 20 percent of the national population. Currently 22.8 percent of ARC counties are considered economically distressed.

The ARC is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state and local government. ARC’s mission is to be a strategic partner and advocate for sustainable community and economic development in a 205,000-square mile area spanning 420 counties in 13 states.

For more information about the Appalachian Regional Commission visit www.arc.gov. For more information about the Summit call 1-866-678-6483, visit www.NationalRxDrugAbuseSummit.org, or follow news about the event on Twitter using @RxSummit.

ABC Nightline National Correspondant Chris Bury and Producer Melia Patria went undercover with Operation UNITE and local law enforcement agencies in April 2011 examining the problems posed by pseudoephedrine – the only ingredient that must be used to produce methamphetamine.

In particular the special looked at “smurfing,” the process of paying individuals to get around laws restricting the amount of pseudoephedrine that can be purchased at any one time.

Their special report aired Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

• View video segment Click Here
• Read web article on ABC Click Here
• Read web article on Yahoo Click Here.
• View UNITE photos taken during Nightline visit April 12, 2011 Click Here.
• Read press release on arrests made during Nightline visit April 12, 2011 Click Here

The “Kentucky Medical Communities UNITED” program, hosted by Operation UNITE’s Medical Advisory Council at Allen Baptist Church, was the first of four state-wide forums to be offered through an Appalachian Regional Commission grant and in partnership with Pikeville Medical Center.

To view photos from the forum click here.

“Each of the forums is intended to offer a variety of viewpoints designed to get people thinking together about addiction and ways to approach treatment,” said Mike Vance, a member of the Medical Advisory Council and chair of the Floyd County UNITE Coalition. “We are not trying to promote one method over another.”

Dates and locations for the next three forums have not yet been finalized.

“Addiction is a disease,” noted Dr. William T. Fannin, a certified addiction medicine provider from Pikeville. “If we don’t treat it as such we’re not going to make any progress.”

“When I first started, we couldn’t have gotten 25 to 30 people together to talk about this issue,” Fannin added. “Your presence here today is encouraging.”

“We have a lot of doctors who simply do not know this disease,” commented Dr. Burns M. Brady, a board-certified family physician and addictionologist from Louisville. “Little by little the fingers of recovery come together.”

Those attending Saturday’s forum included physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, family therapists and certified alcohol and drug counselors.

Fannin, whose discussion centered on opiate/opioid addiction, explained that addiction is a brain disease that is characterized by two states: drug abuse (a problem caused by making bad choices) and chemical dependence (which takes away the body’s ability to be in control).

Improvements in neurobiology have greatly facilitated understanding about how addiction works, and thus the ability to provide appropriate treatments, Fannin said. But, “you can’t separate the mind, body and spirit” in treating addiction.

He likened the process to having a well-stocked toolbox. “None (of these tools) is the end all, but they all have their purpose,” so a comprehensive understanding of all options is essential.

Regardless of the method of treatment – which needs to include counseling and belief in some higher power – recovery from substance abuse dependence is a “voluntarily maintained lifestyle,” Fannin said.

Research during the past two decades, especially in human genetics, has unscrambled many of the mysteries, Brady said. “We now have an insight into this disease that we never had before.”

Brady, who struggled through his own addictions with amphetamines and alcohol, said he has never seen a successful recovery program that doesn’t include spirituality. Since then he has made it “his mission” to learn about and to share information about addiction.

“This is a multi-faceted disease and brain chemistry … is only a small part of it,” Brady said. “If (people) don’t learn a different way to live, you can give them every medicine on God’s green earth and it isn’t going to … minimize the risk.”

While today’s drug problems may have a resemblance to alcoholism of the past, it is a greatly different illness because “we are tormented with a whole lot more problems,” Brady said. Unfortunately, “sometimes the dragon wins.”

Helping put a face to the addiction problem were two recovering addicts who have successfully completed treatment at WestCare’s residential facility in Pike County. Each shared their story and reinforced the importance of having a strong support structure as they continue to stay clean.

Substance abuse disorders should be viewed as a lifestyle-related disease that is treatable, noted Vance, who presented an overview of the “PRIME For Life” program, which prepares addicts for the recovery process.

Rhonda Clark, a social worker/CADC with Van Ark Behavioral Management and Hope In The Mountains in Prestonsburg, encouraged those in attendance to involve themselves in efforts of UNITE’s Medical Advisory Council.

The Council was formally organized in April 2011 to aid in the fight against drug abuse and diversion through a process of education, accountability, monitoring and continual re-evaluation of what medical professionals do together. Members meet every fourth Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the conference training room of the Big Sandy Area Development District, 100 Resource Drive, Prestonsburg.

“If you keep on fighting something good will happen,” Vance told the participants. “I encourage you to go out and do all that you can do.”