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Home | Prevention Tools

Deterra Drug Deactivation System

A new cost-effective, easy to use method of disposing of prescription drugs will soon be available in Missouri. ACT Missouri and the Substance Abuse Prevention Network are providing the Deterra Drug Deactivation System to ten Regional Support Centers across Missouri.

In 2014, Missouri collected over 33,000 pounds of prescription medications through take-back events and permanent drop boxes. Each year this amount increases, and there is a concern that if these events do not continue, there will be a significant increase in medications available in homes that could lead to abuse. There is also the concern that people will return to disposing of these medications in ways that are unsafe. According to the 2014 Missouri Student Survey, 28.6% of students though it was very easy or sort of easy to obtain prescription drugs.
Source

“Prescription drug abuse is a real problem in Missouri,” said Natalie Newville, Public Information Officer for ACT Missouri.  “One way to help curb that issue is offering free, easy, safe disposable to local communities. It is our hope that the Deterra Drug Deactivation System is one tool that local communities can use to assist in lowering the percentage of people abusing prescription drugs.”

 

 

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For 23 years, ACT Missouri has been serving as the statewide prevention catalyst, empowering individuals and fostering partnership to promote safe, healthy, and drug-free communities. We believe in healthy individuals, healthy communities, and a healthy Missouri. Resources are available to communities by contacting us at info@actmissouri.org.

 

Contact Information:

 

Natalie Newville

Public Information Officer

ACT Missouri

428 E. Capitol Avenue

Jefferson City, MO  65101

(573) 635-6669

nnewville@actmissouri.org

Annual Training Survey

ACT Missouri, your statewide training and resource center, values your opinions.  Please take a few minutes to complete this survey so we can continue to offer the latest behavioral health information and resources available.  Please have as many coalition leaders answer as possible.  Thank you!

Take the survey.

2014 Rocky Mountain HIDTA Report-Volume 2

The newest Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Report was released today.  Volume 2 further examines the impact of legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in Colorado.

View the report here.

Visit here for more information.

 

Video Game and Internet Addiction

Has anyone ever told you that you are addicted to video games or spend too much time on Facebook? What do they mean? Is Video Game Addiction real?

Internet Addiction Disorder, although new in the field of psychiatry, is defined as an impulse-control condition. Internet use becomes problematic if it absorbs too much time causing a person to neglect relationships, work, school, or other important things in life, or if a person keeps repeating compulsive internet behavior, despite negative consequences.

Geeks With Wives (GWW), a popular website and podcast, shares tips on how to balance your video game hobby with other responsibilities. Joe Barhoum, President of GWW, uses “a simple hierarchy of needs: family, health, work, fun. Before I sit down to play games, I ensure that these needs are met, and in that order. And I’m always willing to walk away from gaming to satisfy one of these more important needs. My cell phone is always by my side and my wife always knows when I’m gaming.” Andrew Barton, Editor-Games, gives similar advice. “I have several hobbies (mostly all geek related) and I tend to rotate through them, almost in phases. I may play video games a lot over two or three weeks, and then rotate into comic books, and then into television and movies. It makes things all the sweeter for when I return to a hobby after a couple weeks.”

Source

The most common forms of this addiction are: online gaming, gambling, pornography, and social media. Online gaming ad­diction affects approximately 5,000,000 children, and children and adolescents are the most susceptible of developing an internet addiction disorder.Additional at risk populations include those that struggle with mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and other addictions. Individuals who lack social support, feel unhappy or stressed, or are less mobile or socially active as they once were are also vulnerable to IAD.

Behavioral signs and symptoms are:

  • Losing track of time spent online
  • Neglecting tasks at work or home to be online
  • Isolating from family, friends and activities that were once enjoyable
  • Feeling guilty or defensive about internet use
  • Experiencing euphoria while involved in internet activities

Physical symptoms may include:

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Dry eyes or strained vision
  • Headaches, neck or back pain,
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Weight loss or gain

Should parents stop their children playing any video games because of what they hear on the news? Kenney Newville, Vice-President of GWW, doesn’t think so.  He says that “parents know their children better than anyone else, and know what kind of entertainment they can handle.  There are many different genres of video games out there.  They are not all shooting games, and many have no violence at all.”

So what can parents do to help their children keep a balance? Joe suggests that parents “focus strongly on a hierarchy of needs. Make sure the boxes are checked, literally, before allowing it. Always limit the time spent gaming. It should never be more than 1 hour at a time. Be willing to invest the time to learn what they’re doing with video games. Help them learn from what they’re doing. Games can teach you to have sympathy, to work as a team, and much more. Furthermore, if they enjoy gaming, maybe they’d enjoy programming or hardware design. Introduce them to the other side of the screen. They may find a brilliant career ahead of them.” Kenney also emphasizes “knowing what your child is playing.  Don’t just go buy a game because it is popular.  Know the rating on the games your child plays and know if your child can handle it.”

Do you think you have an internet addiction?  Seeking help from a professional is the only way to be diagnosed; however, Dr. Kimberly Young developed the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ). Meeting five symptoms are necessary to be diagnosed, and there are several versions online you can take to register your online usage.

Want to cut down your internet use? Ask yourself why you use the internet so much, noting any underlying problems that may be contributing to the overuse. You can also strengthen your coping skills with life’s stressors, and surround yourself with a supportive network of people.

If you think you have a problem with any addiction in your life, please seek professional help.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in Missouri

A recent article in the New York Times has brought national attention to Missouri, but not necessarily for a good reason.  Missouri is the only state in the United States that does not have a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).  According to the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws (NAMSDL), a PDMP is a statewide electronic database which collects designated data on substances dispensed in the state. The PDMP is housed by a specified statewide regulatory, administrative or law enforcement agency. The housing agency distributes data from the database to individuals who are authorized under state law to receive the information for purposes of their profession.

Prescription drug abuse is not something to take lightly.  The Medicine Abuse Project shows that 1 in 4 teens report having misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime.  Studies have shown that when PDMPs are created and used the correct way, prescription drug abuse decreases. Opponents to a PDMP point to privacy concerns, while proponents argue that 49 other states have found a way to make it safe.

 
Source

ACT Missouri recently hosted a webinar from Coach Jim Marshall on the importance of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs.  Coach Marshall uses his son’s story to teach on the importance of drug education in schools and prevention in communities. In his webinar, he talks about the importance of establishing a PDMP in Missouri, as well as what Missouri citizens can do. This webinar is archived, and available for viewing.

One of the points Coach Marshall stressed is the importance of participation in a PDMP being mandatory.  Before Maine made their PDMP mandatory in early 2014, only 40% of prescribers participated.  A recent article in the Bangor Daily News highlights Maine’s experience and shows the importance of PDMP’s. “The biggest impact of Maine’s and other [monitoring] programs has been to slow down and to prevent the most rapid escalation of overdose and death and abuse involving the opioids,” says John Eadie, director of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Center of Excellence at Brandeis University.

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ACT Missouri Blog

Dec 06

Prevention Happened Here!

Dec 03

National Drug Take Back Totals

May 26

Prevention Wins Were Lean in 2019

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