Monday, December 15, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Why raise money for an incinerator?
A foundational model that you learn when you begin working in the Prevention field is the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). It is simultaneously simple and complicated--PhDs have published explanations, and I have to admit that it took more than one training for me to think "I get it."
In its simplest form, this model translates like this:
Now that I have learned it and operated from it for nearly a year, I can't unlearn it. Try as I might, I can't get it out of my head. Seriously, it is like something out of Poe.
The first part, Assessment, is the answer to the question in the title of this post. Why raise money for an incinerator? Well, our community needs one. Right here in Tyler, we have a problem with prescription drug abuse, and no one is coming to town to do anything about it. It's up to us. Knowing this is true, based on actual needs in my community, I can't get past how serious a threat unused prescription drugs can be, and I can't walk away and not try to offer a solution.
I want everyone in East Texas to know that prescription drug abuse and misuse is deadly--it is no safer than street drugs. I want every person to know that someone--police or the sheriff's office--will take up turned-in drugs at least a couple of well-publicized times each year and destroy them, free of charge. I want it to be as common and easy to get rid of old drugs as it is, today, to recycle cardboard and plastic.
I don't want to read another story of a person whose life has been shortened because of an accident with leftover pills, or from taking someone else's medications, especially not children. Listen, I have taken someone else's painkillers and been thankful for them, but it can so easily go the other way. I didn't know how commonly it goes bad, or I would have called my own doctor and gone to the trouble of getting my own, correct, prescription.
To my friends who counter that "we" don't have a problem--some "they" does--I say that some of us don't really understand what "WE" means. Also, I hope and pray that someone they love isn't victimized by prescription drug abuse; Be it a child accidentally ingesting pills, an accidental overdose, a pain-killer robbery, or some other drug-related crime, we are susceptible unless we find a way to address the problem.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Tyler Incinerator Project, please follow this link: http://www.gofundme.com/tylerincinerator
In its simplest form, this model translates like this:
- Before you decide to go do anything in a community, you first find ways to gauge the needs there.
- After you know the true needs (usually backed up with statistics), you have to build Capacity. Capacity is both who you can get involved in the effort and resources you need to achieve your goals.
- Once you have inventoried both people and materials, you can develop specific plans for the action you are going to take.
- Implementation is simply applying the plan to real life.
- Evaluation includes judging how successful the action was at addressing the community's needs, and improvements.
Now that I have learned it and operated from it for nearly a year, I can't unlearn it. Try as I might, I can't get it out of my head. Seriously, it is like something out of Poe.
The first part, Assessment, is the answer to the question in the title of this post. Why raise money for an incinerator? Well, our community needs one. Right here in Tyler, we have a problem with prescription drug abuse, and no one is coming to town to do anything about it. It's up to us. Knowing this is true, based on actual needs in my community, I can't get past how serious a threat unused prescription drugs can be, and I can't walk away and not try to offer a solution.
I want everyone in East Texas to know that prescription drug abuse and misuse is deadly--it is no safer than street drugs. I want every person to know that someone--police or the sheriff's office--will take up turned-in drugs at least a couple of well-publicized times each year and destroy them, free of charge. I want it to be as common and easy to get rid of old drugs as it is, today, to recycle cardboard and plastic.
I don't want to read another story of a person whose life has been shortened because of an accident with leftover pills, or from taking someone else's medications, especially not children. Listen, I have taken someone else's painkillers and been thankful for them, but it can so easily go the other way. I didn't know how commonly it goes bad, or I would have called my own doctor and gone to the trouble of getting my own, correct, prescription.
To my friends who counter that "we" don't have a problem--some "they" does--I say that some of us don't really understand what "WE" means. Also, I hope and pray that someone they love isn't victimized by prescription drug abuse; Be it a child accidentally ingesting pills, an accidental overdose, a pain-killer robbery, or some other drug-related crime, we are susceptible unless we find a way to address the problem.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Tyler Incinerator Project, please follow this link: http://www.gofundme.com/tylerincinerator
December ETSAC Meeting
East Texas Substance Abuse Coalitions' Decembermeeting is set for Tuesday, December 16. We will meet back at the Cotton Patch Cafe (click HERE for map link) from 11:30 until 1:00.
On the agenda for this month:
I want to again update you all about the progress on the Incinerator fundraiser, and collaborate with you on the Implementation Plan that I am developing for this year (this time for real).
Coalition members and guests are welcome to share with the group as well. In fact, if anyone has a need you'd like me to mention, or if you want something added to the agenda, please email me and we will make it happen.
Also, it is Christmastime, so...
On the agenda for this month:
I want to again update you all about the progress on the Incinerator fundraiser, and collaborate with you on the Implementation Plan that I am developing for this year (this time for real).
Coalition members and guests are welcome to share with the group as well. In fact, if anyone has a need you'd like me to mention, or if you want something added to the agenda, please email me and we will make it happen.
Also, it is Christmastime, so...
See you in two weeks!
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