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The communities within District 7170 in Upstate New York are experiencing a horrific opioid and heroin abuse problem. According to the Center for Disease Control 78 Americans die from opioid abuse everyday and deaths have risen 47% in last few years within New York State. There is a significant disparity in substance abuse knowledge and availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services within District 7170. Recognizing the enormous complexity of heroin/opiate abuse, a committee of Rotarians and professionals within the field of substance abuse have put together a proposal for a global grant that although will not completely solve the problem but will be a beginning of the solution. The plan is both doable, sustainable within the district's communities and will be a model for future attempts at bringing down substance abuse. It has five objectives:
1. Teen Institute - Six tenth graders and a chaperone from each of 15 schools within the district will sent to the Teen Institute in Penn Yan, New York. This seminar will educate our young people about the dangers of drug abuse through a program called Teen Institute whose mission is empower teens with the knowledge, skills and confidence to read an alcohol, tobacco and other drug free life and to educate and lead their peers to reduce substance abuse and other unhealthy behaviors. The teens will create an Action Plan during the conference that will address school and community needs and consequently lead their peers towards a positive change. (19,425)
2. Detox Ambulatory Center - The center located in Binghamton, New York is in need of medical equipment. It provides state of the art outpatient treatment services to over 1800 individuals, their families and significant others suffering from chemical dependency. Its diagnostic and detoxification programs are available to addicts and their families within our district and eliminates the transfer of patients outside NYS. ((48,531)
3. Drop Boxes - The grant would provide nine drop boxes and liners for the disposal of drugs which would be placed in areas around the district. Unused mediations which often lead to addiction can be dropped of any time.( $15,200)
4. Media Campaign - Mount a major media campaign throughout the district to provide information on prevention, detection and sources of assistance, treatment and recovery. All media will be targeted to key demographics using social media. (46,800)
5. Transportation - Provide a budget for transportation for those in rural areas of the district that is not covered by insurance or Medicaid. (2,000)
The timeline would begin for a year after the approval of the grant. Once the year is over - other grants may be developed to address further needs.
a. Clubs members will approach their local schools and work with the administrators to select the students and chaperones who will attend the Teen Institute. These students will present their Action Plan to these Rotary clubs.
b. The administration of the Addiction Center will be invited to present their programs at Rotary clubs throughout the district. Rotarians will be asked to volunteer at the Center.
c. The Rotarians will help the committee identify police stations, pharmacies and universities in their area where drop boxes are needed.
d. Media Campaign - Rotarians will be asked to distribute posters, flyers postcards and magnets throughout their communities under the direction of a volunteer coordinator.
e. Transportation- n/a
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