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

• Monday, June 3 – Carter County, East Carter Middle School, 1 Spirit Lane, Grayson

• Tuesday, June 4 – Elliott County, Elliott County High School, Main Street, Sandy Hook

• Thursday, June 6 – Bell County, Middlesboro High School, 4404 West Cumberland Ave., Middlesboro

• Monday, June 17 – Leslie County, Leslie County High School, off U.S. 421, south of Hyden

• Tuesday, June 18 – Lincoln County, Lincoln County High School, 60 Education Way, Stanford

• Thursday, June 20 – Breathitt County, Sebastian Middle School, 244 LBJ Road, Jackson

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.

For safety, participants are asked not to wear open-toe shoes or sandals.

All participants will receive a free event T-shirt, regulation event 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 Codell Construction Management, 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 synthetic drugs and how to talk to their children about drugs. Information on the signs, symptoms and dangers posed by drugs will also be provided.

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 2013 Shoot Hoops Not Drugs camps possible are: Enough (Lifeline of Carter County), Flowers Bakery of London, Inc., Laurel Grocery Company, Walmart of Louisa, Pineville Rotary Club, Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy, Chad’s Hope Teen Challenge Center, First National Bank of Grayson, WestCare Kentucky and Grayson Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation.

Since 2006, UNITE has conducted 44 regional camps with 5,668 youth participants representing 53 Kentucky counties, 13 other states and two other countries.

This is the first year for the scholarships, valued at $1,500 each.

Franks was presented the scholarship by Mikkah Rogers, UNITE’s youth programs coordinator.

A total of 19 “I Am UNITE” scholarships are being given this year by the UNITE Foundation, funded through private donations and proceeds from two National Rx Drug Abuse Summits.

To receive a scholarship and be named a UNITE Ambassador, students had to demonstrate: commitment to their school’s UNITE Club, personal contributions to his or her school and community, exemplify UNITE’s goals by living a drug-free lifestyle, and write an essay.

“Drugs are easy to come in contact with, especially in school,” noted Franks, president of this year’s UNITE Club. “Students have to be strong and stick to their morals. I want people to know they have a choice, and the best choice is to say no and stay sober.”

The scholarship also comes with a desktop award naming the recipient a “UNITE Ambassador,” a reminder to keep inspiring others each day of their lives.

This school year, Wayne County High’s 20-member UNITE Club was one of 118 clubs with more than 9,500 student members in 26 counties – the largest number of participants since the initiative began in 2005.

“Someone dies every 15 minutes of a drug-related overdose. Ensuring that every person in every community understands the dangers posed by prescription drugs, and what to do when a loved one struggles with an addiction, is one of UNITE’s top priorities,” Rogers said. “UNITE believes that prevention, particularly among our youth, is the best way to reduce drug use and its deadly consequences.”

This is the first year for the scholarships, valued at $1,500 each.

Seniors Brian Catron, Kennedy King and Avery Shrum were presented the scholarships by Paul Hays, UNITE law enforcement director.

A total of 19 “I Am UNITE” scholarships are being given this year by the UNITE Foundation, funded through private donations and proceeds from two National Rx Drug Abuse Summits.

To receive a scholarship and be named a UNITE Ambassador, students had to demonstrate: commitment to their school’s UNITE Club, personal contributions to his or her school and community, exemplify UNITE’s goals by living a drug-free lifestyle, and write an essay.

“I have seen too many of my family and friends’ lives negatively impacted by the use of drugs,” King stated in her essay. “It is one of the most difficult and saddest things to see … a life full of potential to not only be distracted but stopped by at-risk behavior.”

“Although drugs have never affected my family in a close way, I still feel as if it is a duty of mine to help make my community a better place,” Catron wrote.

Shrum stated that his family has been directly impacted from substance abuse. “These tragedies involving drugs really hit close to home … and they have only added to my desire to participate in the UNITE Club and help to raise awareness to the realities of drug misuse.”

Scholarship recipients also received a desktop award naming them a “UNITE Ambassador,” a reminder to keep inspiring others each day of their lives.

“Someone dies every 15 minutes of a drug-related overdose. Ensuring that every person in every community understands the dangers posed by prescription drugs, and what to do when a loved one struggles with an addiction, is one of UNITE’s top priorities,” Hays said. “UNITE believes that prevention, particularly among our youth, is the best way to reduce drug use and its deadly consequences.”

This is the first year for the scholarships, valued at $1,500 each.

Coldiron was presented the scholarship by Dale Morton, UNITE communications director, and Shannon Rickett, field representative for Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers. It was Rogers’ vision that inspired the creation of Operation UNITE a decade ago.

A total of 19 “I Am UNITE” scholarships are being given this year by the UNITE Foundation, funded through private donations and proceeds from two National Rx Drug Abuse Summits.

To receive a scholarship and be named a UNITE Ambassador, students had to demonstrate: commitment to their school’s UNITE Club, personal contributions to his or her school and community, exemplify UNITE’s goals by living a drug-free lifestyle, and write an essay.

“UNITE’s activities have pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” Haley wrote in her scholarship essay. “It is always difficult to tell friends what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear.”

The scholarship also comes with a desktop award naming the recipient a “UNITE Ambassador,” a reminder to keep inspiring others each day of their lives.

This school year, Somerset’s 32-member UNITE Club was one of 118 clubs with more than 9,500 student members in 26 counties – the largest number of participants since the initiative began in 2005.

“Someone dies every 15 minutes of a drug-related overdose. Ensuring that every person in every community understands the dangers posed by prescription drugs, and what to do when a loved one struggles with an addiction, is one of UNITE’s top priorities,” Morton said. “UNITE believes that prevention, particularly among our youth, is the best way to reduce drug use and its deadly consequences.”

Students, parents, civic leaders, elected officials and business leaders packed the Rockcastle County High School gymnasium for the ceremony – one of many to be conducted in the next few weeks to award scholarships to 19 graduating seniors across southern and eastern Kentucky.

“Today, we are able to announce UNITE’s new scholarship program, because community leaders across the region want to help our students succeed,” said Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers.

Funding for the scholarships, valued at $1,500 each, comes from the UNITE Foundation through private donations and proceeds from two National Rx Drug Abuse Summits.

To receive a scholarship and be named a UNITE Ambassador, students had to demonstrate: commitment to their school’s UNITE Club, personal contributions to his or her school and community, exemplify UNITE’s goals by living a drug-free lifestyle, and write an essay.

There were more than 40 applications for scholarships, said Karen Kelly, director of UNITE, noting many of these essays were so powerful they brought the scholarship selection committee to tears.

Receiving the “I Am UNITE” scholarships from Rockcastle County High were Hannah Eaton and Samantha Smoker – both of whom have had close family members impacted by prescription drugs.

“Helping with club sign-ups may not seem like much, but you never know what someone is going through,” Smoker wrote in her essay. “Being a family member of someone fighting drug addiction, I know how important it is to have a group of people stand behind you for support.”

“UNITE is more than a group of people,” she continued. “We’re a family within the community, and becoming part of UNITE makes the difference.”

Eaton, president of the school’s UNITE Club, was one of three RCHS students to attend this year’s Rx Summit.

“I was impressed by the confidence and tenacity (that Eaton, Sean Watkins and Avery Bradshaw) had to tell our national leaders that it’s time to take action and help families like (theirs), and thousands of students like you across southern and eastern Kentucky – and across the nation,” Rogers said.

“You are shining examples that one person can make a difference,” Rogers continued. “Your willingness to share your stories inspired hundreds of people across the country in a matter of days. In fact, Hannah, sean and Avery’s stories of courage and determination spurred the idea for the scholarships that we are able to deliver today.”

RCHS senior Ashton Arvin, a former Kentucky Youth Governor and “Hal Rogers wanna-be,” evoked laughter from the packed gymnasium as he introduced Congressman Rogers while wearing a white wig, glasses and the Congressman’s signature red tie.

During his presentation, Rogers lauded the Rockcastle County community as a whole for investing their time and resources toward fighting prescription drug abuse since the start of UNITE a decade ago.

“The real key to prevention is education and awarenesss, and having someone … to watch over you and look out for your future,” Rogers said.

In addition to the “I Am UNITE” scholarships, Bradshaw and Avery were awarded $5,000 scholarships through a UNITE Foundation donation by Ameritox, a company that provides physicians with drug monitoring and reporting services.

“We want to help prevent the human tragedy that can come out of drug abuse, misuse and diversion,” said Jim Sharples, senior director of marketing for Ameritox, adding the students’ stories “inspired our organization to try and do what we do even harder.”

This school year there were more than 9,500 student members of 118 UNITE Clubs in 26 counties – the largest number of participants since the initiative began in 2005.

“Ensuring that every person in every community understands the dangers posed by prescription drugs, and what to do when a loved one struggles with an addiction, is one of UNITE’s top priorities,” Kelly said. “UNITE believes that prevention, particularly among our youth, is the best way to reduce drug use and its deadly consequences.”

In addition, the Rockcastle County UNITE Coalition awarded $500 Holli Barnett Scholarships to Arvin and senior Hannah Bullock, a $1,000 anonymous scholarship and a $1,000 Rosa Foundation scholarship to Eaton.

“I have seen what education can do to prevent prescription drug abuse,” Kelly stated. “In the one hour we are here for this assembly we will have lost four people to drug-related overdoses.”

The UNITE Board of Directors voted Tuesday, April 30, to elevate Smoot to President and Chief Executive Officer. He will replace Karen Kelly, who helped create UNITE in 2003.

“The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the hiring of Dan Smoot as the new executive director of UNITE,” said Board Chair Lonnie Anderson. “Dan brings great leadership skills and experience to his new position. He has served as vice president of UNITE and has demonstrated a deep sense of commitment to the program. We are confident Dan will continue the great work of our President, Karen Kelly.”

“I’ve been here from the start and will continue what we do best – arresting drug traffickers, providing treatment assistance to those dealing with an addiction, and educating our youth about the danger of drugs,” said Smoot, who has overseen the day-to-day operations of UNITE since September 2011. “I feel my time spent as vice president will make the transition to this new role easier.”

“I offer my resignation with a heavy heart,” Kelly told board members on Tuesday. “It’s been an honor to work with the thousands of volunteers, students and families struggling with addiction. I’m a different person today because of the people I’ve met and the stories I’ve heard, but there’s much more to be accomplished.”

Kelly, who is leaving to become District Director for Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers – whose vision led to the creation UNITE – said she can think of nobody more capable of continuing the anti-drug organization’s mission.

“Dan understands Operation UNITE as well as anyone,” Kelly said. “He has a passion for our youth and compassion for families struggling with addiction. I have every confidence in his ability to take UNITE to the next level.”

Smoot is a 1982 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. After completing the Kentucky State Police Academy he was assigned to Post 13 in Hazard, where he served for 22 years – 14 years in the Narcotics Division.

That experience led him to being named Director of Law Enforcement for Operation UNITE in November 2003. Under Smoot’s leadership, UNITE’s drug task force became accredited by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police in 2005.

On Saturday, April 27, Operation UNITE partnered with local anti-drug coalitions, the Kentucky State Police, and local law enforcement agencies for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s sixth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

During the four-hour take-back event, 1,171.2 pounds of medications were collected at UNITE locations across its 32-county service region. In addition, 67.8 pounds of medicine was dropped off at the Kentucky State Police posts in London and Harlan.

Six special drop-off sites were set up at Food City pharmacy locations in five counties for Saturday’s initiative.

Anyone unable to bring their medications over the weekend may continue to safely dispose of them throughout the year. Operation UNITE, along with other agencies, have placed permanent medication drop boxes at 34 locations across southern and eastern Kentucky. A list of these drop-off sites is available on the UNITE website. View list of locations.

Since October 1, 2012, UNITE has now collected 1,673.2 pounds of medications from these drop boxes. This is in addition to more than 1 million pills destroyed as a result of community take-back days held during the previous two years.

UPDATE: In Kentucky, 7,171 pounds of medications were collected at 92 sites.

“We were extremely pleased with the response of citizens in our part of the commonwealth to this initiative, which addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said Dan Smoot, vice president of UNITE. “Word is spreading that having unsecured prescription and over-the-counter drugs around the home makes them susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.”

According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.

Medications, mostly prescription drugs, were involved in nearly 60 percent of the 38,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2010, overshadowing those from illicit narcotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another benefit of the drop-box program is protecting the environment.

For years, the generally accepted method for disposing of old or left over medications was to flush them down the toilet. This practice, however, has been strongly discouraged because of concerns about potential health and environmental effects of antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, depressants and stimulants making their way into our water system and soil.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which began in October 2010, aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. More than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of pills were collected in the first five DEA Take-Back Days. National total’s from this year’s event were not available as of Monday evening.

The free symposium provides information about new state reporting requirements, the importance of understanding addiction, and presents ideas to help providers effectively treat pain while reducing the risk for abuse.

Nearly 120 medical professionals attended the first of four free symposia held April 13 on the campus of Morehead State University. Other forums are scheduled for May 11 at the Holiday Inn University Plaza Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green and June 8 at the Eastern Kentucky University Center in Manchester.

“Addiction is a common disease (that) … carries much misunderstanding and stigma,” said Dr. Greg Jones, medical director for the Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation, one of three presenters at the forum. “As health care professionals, this is an opportunity for us to begin to be part of the solution.”

These “Kentucky Medical Communities UNITEd” forums – presented by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, and Operation UNITE – begin with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 am and conclude at 3:00 pm. Lunch is included.

Participants in the training forums are eligible to receive 4.5 continuing education credit hours for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, social workers, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Psychologists and Certified Health Education Specialists.

Much of the forum focuses on understanding the Kentucky All-Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system and new regulations enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2012 (known as House Bill 1 or “The Pill Mill Bill”) that require prescribers and dispensers to utilize the system.

“This is not a war on doctors,” said C. Lloyd Vest II, general counsel for the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, another of the symposium’s presenters. “This is about the quality of patient care … and whether you are creating a risk of drug abuse or diversion.”

These trainings have been approved by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, Kentucky Board of Nursing, and Certified Health Education Specialists as meeting statutory requirements imposed by House Bill 1.

Dave Hopkins, KASPER Program Manager within the Kentucky Office of Inspector General, noted that, with a few exceptions carved out during the 2013 General Assembly, anyone licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances to individuals must report to KASPER.

Starting July 1, these reports must be made within one business day, Hopkins said. “Our data will become much more timely.”

Dr. Jones, who said he has “lived this thing on both sides,” attempted to alleviate concern about the new regulations.

“This is a law that causes you to stop and think (before prescribing),” Jones said, noting the medical profession was in a position to self-police itself but failed to do so. “The public gave us an opportunity to straighten up this prescribing mess and we didn’t do it.”

“This law is going to be workable,” Jones added. “If you’re out there practicing in the right manner and for the right reasons it’s not going to be a problem.”

The forums are moderated by Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

While there is no charge to attend, registration is required. Complete symposia information and on-line registration is available at www.cecentral.com/live/6653 or you may call 859-257-5320 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

To view photos from the Morehead symposium click here.

Six Food City Pharmacy locations in five counties will accept medications from residents between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no charge for this service.

UNITE Coalition members, along with law enforcement officials, will staff drop-off locations at Food City stores located at:

• 330 North Mayo Trail, Paintsville (Johnson County)
• 2138 South Mayo Trail, Pikeville (Pike County)
• 28093 Thompson Plaza, South Williamson (Pike County)
• 102 North 12th Street, Middlesboro (Bell County)
• 2478 South U.S. Highway 421, Harlan (Harlan County)
• 429 University Drive, Prestonsburg (Floyd County)

In addition, all Kentucky State Police Posts will serve as drop-off locations. In this region KSP Posts are located in Ashland (Post 14), Harlan (Post 10), Hazard (Post 13), London (Post 11), Morehead (Post 8), Pikeville (Post 9) and Richmond (Post 7).

All medication turned in at Food City or other locations will be turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for disposal.

If you are unable to attend Saturday’s event, and still wish to safely dispose of your medications, Operation UNITE and other agencies have placed permanent medication drop boxes in most southern and eastern Kentucky counties. A list of locations is available on the UNITE website. View list of locations.

Since October 1, 2012, UNITE has collected 502 pounds of medications from these drop boxes. In the previous two years, UNITE collected and destroyed 1,024,932 pills through take-back days held across the region.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medications, mostly prescription drugs, were involved in nearly 60 percent of the 38,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2010, overshadowing those from illicit narcotics.

“A vast majority of teens trying prescription drugs for the first time get them from the family medicine cabinet or from a friend’s home,” said Dan Smoot, vice president of UNITE. “Having unused medications sitting around the home is an invitation to trouble.”

In 2011, more than 4,500 young people a day abused prescription drugs for the first time, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

“Teens believe that just because drugs are prescribed they are safe, but that is true only when taken according to directions and only by the person to whom the drugs were prescribed,” Smoot said. “Aside from the fact that taking or giving away medicine that is not prescribed to you is illegal, even at small doses the potential exists for serious health effects – including death.”

For years, the generally accepted method for disposing of old or left over medications was to flush it down the toilet. This practice, however, has been strongly discouraged because of concerns about potential health and environmental effects of antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, depressants and stimulants making their way into our water system and soil.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back events were initiated by the DEA two years ago to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications.

The DEA, in conjunction with state and local partners, has removed more than 2 million pounds of prescription medications from circulation in five previous take-back events.

Learn more at 1-800-882-9539 or visit the DEA Take-Back Day website.

“This announcement is bittersweet,” said Rogers. “Chris Girdler has served as an effective and capable director of my district operations, and he has shown himself to be in command of the issues and concerns of our region and a tireless advocate for our people. I wish him the best with this new opportunity, as well as his role as State Senator. I have no doubt we’ll continue to work closely to improve the lives of southern and eastern Kentuckians.”

“Fortunately, Karen Kelly has graciously agreed to step into this role and continue the great work of Bob Mitchell, Chris Girdler and the entire staff,” Rogers continued. “Karen has demonstrated tremendous leadership at the helm of the PRIDE program, Operation UNITE, and most recently in coordination of the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit. I am confident her tenacity will shine through as we face tough economic challenges and work to create more jobs, healthier communities, economic development and educational opportunities.”

A Pulaski County native, Chris Girdler has served Rogers in various capacities over the past six years in addition to acting as a board member for both the Center for Rural Development and the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce. On November 6, 2012, Girdler was elected State Senator for the 15th District of Kentucky.

“Congressman Rogers has provided unbelievable opportunities to serve and execute his vision over the years and I will always be indebted to him. Our friendship has never been stronger,” said Girdler. “For my family and me, this new opportunity in the private sector is exciting and it will allow me extend my passion for creating jobs and making critical investments in the future of southern and eastern Kentucky. Along with my new role in public service as State Senator, I am eager to work with my hometown region in a greater capacity.”

Karen Kelly returns to Rogers’ office after 14 years. During that gap, Kelly effectively led the PRIDE program, an effort to improve the environment and waterways of southern and eastern Kentucky. In 2003, Kelly helped launch, and even name, Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a regional anti-drug initiative culminating most recently in two consecutive successful, National Rx Drug Abuse Summits. Originally from Elkhorn City, Kentucky, Kelly served as a Field Representative for the 5th Congressional District in the mid 1990s.

“Congressman Rogers is an extraordinary leader and I am humbled by his faith in me to shepherd his district operation,” said Kelly. “Chris and Bob are dear friends and have done an excellent job executing Congressman Rogers’ tremendous vision for our region and I look forward to doing my part to extend that vision. In working with UNITE and PRIDE, I’ve learned the value of partnerships and working across city, county and state boundaries. As we look foward with unity, I hope to continue those friendships as we work together for a better southern and eastern Kentucky.”

Rogers has served Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District since 1981. With a focus on economic development, job creation, fighting illegal drugs and preserving Appalachia’s natural treasures, he has a reputation for listening to his constituents and fighting for the region he represents. For more information, visit http://halrogers.house.gov/