Alcohol Deaths

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Celebrate Recovery - Sept. 10 at 5:30 pm - Aiken Center

You are invited to the

2014 National Recovery Month Event

Wednesday, September 10, 2014    ~    5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Aiken Center  /  1105 Gregg Highway  /  Aiken, SC

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Aiken Center Celebrates 2014 Recovery Month

“Join the Voices for Recovery: Speak Up, Reach Out,”

 

 

 

As Recovery Month celebrates its 25^th anniversary, this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery:  Speak Up, Reach Out,” represents the many ways that people can prevent behavioral health issues, seek treatment, and sustain recovery.

The Aiken Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services in partnership with the 2^nd Judicial Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team, will kick-off National Recovery Month on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 from 5:30 pm – 7 pm at the Aiken Center.

 

 

The event will begin with two, 30 minute workshops. 

The workshops are:

For teens  -  Time 2 Think:  Let’s Talk About it…Alcohol and Drug Awareness  

 

For parents -   Parenting for Prevention:  Emerging Trends -The Alcohol Kit.

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At 6 pm there will be a panel discussion #6 at 6 with 6 agency representatives.

 

Door prizes will be given to participants and refreshments will be served.

 

 

Substance use/abuse affects many people.

By speaking up about this issue and reaching out to those who need help, you can help encourage public awareness and inspire others.

What:             2014 National Recovery Month Event

When:            Wednesday, September 10, 2014    ~    5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Where:           Aiken Center  /  1105 Gregg Highway  /  Aiken, SC

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If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use/abuse, call the Aiken Center at 803-649-1900 or visit our website, http://www.aikencenter.org/  to find out   about our alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs.

 

You can help yourself or someone you love take the first step toward recovery.

 

Celebrate National Recovery Month, and spread the message that Prevention Works, Treatment is Effective, and People Recover.

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CONTACT:    Jennifer Burke / Treatment Director / 803-649-1900 ext. 323   /  jburke@aikencenter.org

or

CONTACT:    Stephen Ryan / 2^nd Circuit AET / (803) 649-1900 ext. 331   /   sryan@aikencenter.org

 

Rx Drug Fact

Let’s Talk about it:  How to Reduce Underage Drinking

                               Thursday, May 29, 2014

                               5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

 

Rollover crash simulator (5 PM)            Speakers           Door prizes       

 

 

Location:    H. O’Dell Weeks Center

                       1700 Whiskey Road – Aiken, SC

 

 

Speakers:      The Insiders (SC DJJ)             

                           2^nd Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team

                           Aiken Public Safety

                           Aiken Youth Empowerment

                           Aiken Center for Alcohol and other Drugs

 

 

THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK

For More information contact: 
 
Alexis Williams 803-649-1900 ext. 326

Stephen Ryan      803-649-1900 ext. 331        

Drug addiction and the brain


Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. While each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common: repeated use can alter the way the brain looks and functions.

• Taking a recreational drug causes a surge in levels of dopamine in your brain, which trigger feelings of pleasure. Your brain remembers these feelings and wants them repeated.
• If you become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking.
• Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.
• Whether you’re addicted to inhalants, heroin, Xanax, speed, or Vicodin, the uncontrollable craving to use grows more important than anything else, including family, friends, career, and even your own health and happiness.
• The urge to use is so strong that your mind finds many ways to deny or rationalize the addiction. You may drastically underestimate the quantity of drugs you’re taking, how much it impacts your life, and the level of control you have over your drug use.

Source:  www.help.org

Prescription Drug (medicine) Disposal

 

QUESTION: What should I do with unused or unwanted medication?

ANSWER: Flushing medication down the toilet is now discouraged as it poses a threat to human health and the environment. You should dispose of unwanted medication in your household trash by following these steps.

• Keep the medicine in its original container. The labels may contain safety information and the caps are typically child proof. Leaving the content information clearly visible, cover the patient’s name with a permanent marker.

• Modify the medicines to discourage consumption. For solids, such as pills or capsules, add a small amount of water to the bottle to at least partially dissolve them. For liquid medicines, add enough table salt, flour or powdered spice (such as turmeric or mustard) to make a pungent, unsightly mixture that discourages anyone from taking it.

• Seal and conceal. Tape the container’s lid shut with packing or duct tape. Place it in a bag or container such as an empty yogurt or margarine tub to ensure that the contents cannot be seen.

• Discard the container in your garbage can. Do not place it in the recycling bin.

For more detailed instructions, see the "Proper Disposal of Unwanted Medicine" fact sheet.
More information also is available about how to dispose of needles, syringes and lancets.

Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Consequences of Underage Drinking

Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience

• School problems, such as higher absence and poor or failing grades.
• Social problems, such as fighting and lack of participation in youth activities.
• Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.
• Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses.
• Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity.
• Disruption of normal growth and sexual development.
• Physical and sexual assault.
• Higher risk for suicide and homicide.
• Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning.
• Memory problems.
• Abuse of other drugs.
• Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.
• Death from alcohol poisoning.

In general, the risk of youth experiencing these problems is greater for those who binge drink than for those who do not binge drink.⁹
Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years.

Prevention of Underage Drinking

Reducing underage drinking will require community-based efforts to monitor the activities of youth and decrease youth access to alcohol. Recent publications by the Surgeon General¹ and the Institute of Medicine⁴ outlined many prevention strategies that will require actions on the national, state, and local levels, such as enforcement of minimum legal drinking age laws, national media campaigns targeting youth and adults, increasing alcohol excise taxes, reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising, and development of comprehensive community-based programs. These efforts will require continued research and evaluation to determine their success and to improve their effectiveness.

 

 

Let’s  Talk about it:  How to Reduce Underage Drinking

                               Thursday, May 29, 2014

                               5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

 

Rollover crash simulator (5 PM)            Speakers           Door prizes       

 

 

Location:    H. O’Dell Weeks Center

                       1700 Whiskey Road – Aiken, SC

 

 

Speakers:      The Insiders (SC DJJ)             

                           2^nd Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team

                           Aiken Public Safety

                           Aiken Youth Empowerment

                           Aiken Center for Alcohol and other Drugs

 

 

For More information contact: 

Alexis Williams 803-649-1900 ext. 326

Stephen Ryan      803-649-1900 ext. 331

Let’s talk about it:  How to Reduce Underage Drinking

                               Thursday, May 29, 2014

                               5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

 

Rollover crash simulator (5 PM)            Speakers           Door prizes       

 

 

Location:    H. O’Dell Weeks Center

                       1700 Whiskey Road – Aiken, SC

 

 

Speakers:      The Insiders (SC DJJ)             

                           2^nd Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team

                           Aiken Public Safety

                           Aiken Youth Empowerment

                           Aiken Center for Alcohol and other Drugs

 

 

For More information contact:  Alexis Williams 803-649-1900 ext. 326

                                             Stephen Ryan      803-649-1900 ext. 331

Red  Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Red Ribbon Week generally takes place the last full week in October. Red Ribbon week will be celebrated in Aiken County October 21 - 31, 2012.

Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.

And, perhaps more importantly, Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffikers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.