Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant 

The purpose of the DFC Support Program grant is to “establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, as well as federal, state, local, and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth.”

In addition, the DFC Support Program grant is also intended to work to “reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, reduce substance abuse among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse.”

The DFC defines youth as those 18 years and younger for the purpose of this grant. In 2014, about 1 in 4 middle school and high school students lived in a community with a Drug-Free Community funded coalition.

Occasionally we get calls asking how to dispose of unused or expired medications. Under Ohio law, health departments cannot accept medications for disposal, only law enforcement agencies can accept items at designated drop off locations. In Knox County, the following locations accept medication pills only:

Fredericktown Police Department, 182 South Main Street, Fredericktown

Knox County Sheriff’s Office, 11540 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Police Department, 5 North Gay Street, Mount Vernon

More information on prescription drug disposal can be found at www.ksaat.org.

For small amounts of medications (45 pills or 6 oz. liquid or 6 patches), the health department has FREE drug deactivation bags that's safe, convenient and effective. Once the medication is mixed with warm water in the deactivation bags, they can then be disposed in your regular trash.

Guidelines suggest placing used needles in a household container such as a laundry detergent or bleach bottle, or a sturdy, opaque plastic container with a screw-top lid. When the container is 3/4 of the way full, seal the lid with duct tape, label "DO NOT RECYCLE" and place container in your regular trash. Instructions on how to do that are available at http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/34/document/guidance/gd_462.pdf.

 Resources

Start Talking! is a program to give parents, guardians, educators and community leaders the tools to start the conversation with Ohio's youth about the importance of living healthy, drug-free lives. www.starttalking.ohio.gov

A source of relatable, reliable information at any stage of their recovery journey.  StartYourRecovery.org provides helpful information for people who are dealing with substance use issues - and their family members, friends, and co-workers, too.  We know that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges faced by those who misuse alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs, or other substances, and we aim to break through the clutter to help people at any stage of recovery. www.startyourrecovery.org

Take Charge Ohio is an initiative to help use pain medication safely and responsibly to minimize the risk of drug misuse, dependency and addiction.  We offer prescribers and healthcare professionals resources and tools to educate patients about the scope of the problem, its impact in Ohio, and how to take action by sharing what they've learned through our free, ready-to-use resources. www.takechargeohio.org