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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , May 18 , 2016
Parents get eye-opening facts on drugs
Continued from page 1
understand the kinds of drugs that are trendy among young people , and also help them recognize the signs of substance abuse .
The first presentation ’ s title told the harsh story in a nutshell : “ Medicine Cabinet to Heroin Addiction : a brief and deadly journey .” James E . Conklin , Executive Director of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County , explained that it isn ’ t just opiate painkillers that are attractive to young people and teenagers . Cold medicines as well as medications to treat attention deficit are commonly misused , Conklin said . One in five teens have abused a prescription drug ; one in three teens know someone who abuses prescription drugs .
Why are teens abusing these drugs ? They ’ re easy to get : it could be a medication prescribed for a parent , and the parent leaves it in a convenient place so he / she won ’ t forget to take it .
“ Some parents think , ’ If I leave it out by the coffeepot , I won ’ t forget it in the morning ,’” Conklin said . “ Don ’ t do that ; lock it away .”
At a young age , children and teenagers are thrillseekers ; they may misuse prescription drugs because their friends do it ; they may do it to escape problems or because they have self-esteem issues . If adults ’ medications aren ’ t locked up , children can easily access them a pill at a time , and the pills wouldn ’ t even be missed , Conklin said . Realtors have had to educate house-sellers to lock up or remove medications from their bathrooms because visitors steal opiates during open houses , he added .
The opiate problem is so widespread now , he said , that pharmaceutical companies are advertising medication on television to relieve opiate-induced constipation .
“ We are a pill-taking society ,” he added , and up until recently it was all too easy to walk out of a doctor ’ s office with a prescription for strong opiates . Conklin explained that several years ago he broke his hand . While in the doctor ’ s office , he was offered painkiller prescriptions five times , even though he kept assuring the providers he was fine with over-the-counter medication .
There are proper venues to dispose of unwanted or unused medication : the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office , New York State Police and certain pharmacies all offer depositories .
So when does pill-taking migrate to heroin use ? When the source runs out , and the reason is money , Conklin said . On the street , opiates like Oxycontin and Vicodin sell for a dollar a milligram . That translates to $ 60 to $ 80 a pill . Heroin , on the other hand , offers much more “ bang for the buck .”
All people who use drugs are at risk for two problems : impairment , such as falls , accidents , injuries , etc ., that are caused by the use of drugs and addiction .
“ I say if you shake anyone ’ s family tree hard enough , an alcoholic will fall out ,” Conklin said . But in all seriousness , biology does play a part in whether ( and when ) a person will become addicted .
“ At a certain point , it no longer becomes a choice ,” explained Tammy Rhein , Director of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Services for Orange County . Rhein explained the effects of substances on the growing brain . Parents need to keep communication lines open with their children and help guide them as their brains develop , so kids can have the tools they need to resist temptation and make good decisions .
An audience member questioned why Pine Bush did away with the popular Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( DARE ) program in the elementary schools , and what the district is doing now .
Donna Geidel , Assistant Superintendent for Instruction , explained that sixth- , eighth- and 10th-graders just completed a computer survey assessing their alcohol use , drug use and physical fitness , and that the data will be used to form a program . When pressed if anything was being done in elementary schools , which is where the DARE program was done , Geidel said the district is assessing elementary school teachers as well .
A slide during the presentation encourages parents to follow P . A . R . E . N . T .: Promote activities that capitalize on the strengths of the developing brain ; assist your child with challenges that require planning ; reinforce their seeking advice from you and other adults ; encourage lifestyle that promotes healthy brain development ; never underestimate drug effects on a developing brain ; tolerate “ oops ” behaviors common during the teens .
Another tip offered to parents during the presentation is to not glorify alcohol or drug use at home . Presenters suggested backing away from including alcohol in celebrations , and making it clear to children that drug use is not tolerated .
Rhein relayed signs of adolescent substance abuse : changes in appetite / sleep patterns ; deterioration of physical appearance ; withdrawal from social / important activities ; unexplained need for money or being secretive about spending habits ; sudden change in friends or location .
Roseanne Sullivan , an Orange County legislator and member of the Pine Bush school board , remarked that there are over-the-counter tests available for parents who want to test their children for drug use . Rhein added that parents could also bring their children to the doctor to be tested .
Robert Conflitti , Orange County Executive Assistant District Attorney , said the district attorney ’ s office ’ s role in fighting adolescent drug use is education , empowerment to seek treatment and enforcement . His office is working hard to stop the dealers at the source , not just arrest users .
“ We ’ d rather put dealers out of business than just lock people up ,” he said .
The presentations were a collaborative effort by the Orange County Mental Health Department , the District Attorney ’ s Office , the Towns of Crawford and Wallkill and the Pine Bush Central School District .
Small fire extinguished at Circleville Middle School
A small fire in the boiler room of the Circleville Middle School Monday afternoon resulted in the evactuation of the building and the cancellation of after-school and evening activities .
At approximately 4 p . m ., after regular school dismissal , smoke was detected coming from a small fire contained in the Circleville Middle School ’ s boiler room . Remaining staff and students were evacuated from the middle school as well as the Pakanasink Elementary School . The fire was extinguished by the Circleville Fire Department responding to the alarms . There have been no reported injuries to staff or students .
District administration is currently working with the Circleville Volunteer Fire Department , investigators and air quality staff from Orange-Ulster BOCES to determine the cause of the fire and to clear smoke from the middle school building .
The school was open on Tuesday .
Police Blotter
Walden Police
Matthew Torres , 36 , of Walden , was charged May 2 with criminal contempt 2nd . He was arraigned and was scheduled to appear in village court on May 12
Lawrence Samuels , 35 , of Newburgh , was arrested May 3 on a bench warrant out of Walden . He was scheduled to appear in village court on May 11 .
Samuel Fusco , 54 , of Sellersville , was charged May 5 with aggravated unlicensed operation 2nd . He is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Barbara Zinkhen , 44 , of Highland , was May 7 charged with criminal mischief 3rd . She is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
Cassie Smith , 27 , of Walden , was charged May 12 with harassment 2nd and criminal mischief 4th . She is scheduled to appear in village court on May 25 .
An 18-year-old female of Walden was charged May 13 with unlawful possession of marijuana . She is scheduled to appear in village court on June 8 .
Town of Shawangunk Police
Raheem Brickhouse , 18 , of Wallkill , was arrested on an active warrant on May 7 and was turned over to the City of Newburgh Police for further actions .
Kristen M . Casey , 35 , of Pine Bush , was charged with Driving While Abilities impaired by drugs , aggravated unlicensed operation in the 1st , unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failure to maintain lane on May 8 and was arraigned before Shawangunk Justice Court and sent to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $ 1000 cash bail and was to appear in Shawangunk Justice Court on May 17 .
Vincent E . VonHassel , 20 , of Pine Bush , was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle on May 14 and was released and is to appear in Shawangunk Justice Court on June 14 .
Douglas A . Temple-Toth , 20 , of Pine Bush , was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle on May 14 and was released and is to appear in Shawangunk Justice Court on June 14 .