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Highlights & Annoucements
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Alexandria Unveils Newest Permanent Medication Drop Box
A ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday, October 30 for the
second and
newest permanent medication drop box in Alexandria,
housed at Inova Alexandria Hospital (4320 Seminary Road).
This drop box is located in the visitor's lobby next to the cashier's window. Medication can be dropped off here between
5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Another permanent drop box is located at the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray (2204 Mt Vernon Ave). Medication can be dropped off at this location during the following hours:
- Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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Save the Date: SAPCA Community Meeting and Celebration!
The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria will be hosting a community meeting and celebration
Th
ursday, December 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
at the Minnie Howard Library Media Center (3801 W. Braddock Road). Please join us to celebrate
the coalition's accomplishments over the past 10 years and discuss action items for the group's next steps. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP by
Tuesday, December 4 to Emma Beall
Phone: 703-746-3670
Looking forward to seeing you!
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October 2018 Drug Take Back Day Reca
p
On Saturday, October 27, 195 lbs of unused and expired medication were collected during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
! Thank you to everyone who volunteered for this event and came out to drop off medication. Stay tuned for information about Alexandria's next take back day!
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#FactOfTheMonth: Narcan Saves Lives
Each month, SAPCA highlights one key fact about substance
use. This month we discuss Narcan.
What is Narcan?
Narcan can save the life of someone who is overdosing if given in time. It is a nasal spray used to counteract the deadly effects of an opioid overdose.
How does Narcan work?
When administered during an overdose, Narcan blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and may restore breathing within two to eight minutes. However, because Narcan can wear off and cause an individual to overdose again, it is important to call 9-1-1 if Narcan is given.
When should Narcan be used?
Narcan should be used if you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose. In
Virginia, anyone who assists a person in need by using Narcan is protected from liability by the Good Samaritan law.
Signs of an overdose include:
- Not responding to pinching, shaking, or calling their name loudly.
- Breathing slowly or not at all, making gurgling noises.
- Turning very pale.
Where can I get Narcan?
Narcan is available for free from the Alexandria Health Department's main office at 4480 King Street the following hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.; Thursday, 12:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Narcan producer Emergent BioSolutions also recently announced that it "will provide a free kit including two doses of the nasal spray, as well as educational materials, to each of the 16,568 public libraries and 2,700 YMCAs in the U.S."
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Join the Youth Empowerment Work Group!
The Youth Empowerment Work Group is recruiting more members! Please consider joining this new Work Group and helping with recruitment by sharing this information with your networks!
Who: We are looking for youth (any age is welcome) and young adults who are interested in developing their leadership skills and effecting positive change in their community, as well as caring adults who are interested in building developmental assets and supporting a young person's ability to exercise their power.
What: The Youth Empowerment Work Group is an initiative of the Children and Youth Master Plan. It aims to increase the proportion of young people in Alexandria who:
- feel heard and valued by their community,
- have useful roles and opportunities to volunteer and lead projects of their interests,
- have power in all aspects of decision-making which affects their lives, and
- feel like they can make a difference in the world.
Where: T.C. Williams High School, Room C214 (2nd Floor, Art Wing)
When: Every third Wednesday of the month at 3:30. Our next meeting is January 16th, 2019
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SAPCA Presents wreckED to T.C. Titans
On November 7th and 8th, SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall, Volunteer and Former SAPCA Vice Chair Shelly Morgan and Youth Development Team Lead Noraine Buttar presented wreckED to over 200 students at T.C. Williams and Minnie Howard. wreckED is a substance abuse prevention program developed by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. wreckED engages students in dialogue about the consequences of underage drinking, marijuana use, e-cigarette use and abuse of prescription and over the counter medication. wreckED also discusses peer pressure and provides students with examples of how to refuse in stressful situations. A big thanks to the JROTC program at T.C. Williams for inviting us to present wreckED to their students -- we greatly appreciate your commitment to a substance-abuse free Alexandria!
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KeepIt360 Youth Leadership Council Participates in Leadership Retreat
The KeepIt360 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) participated in a leadership retreat on Monday, November 19th to get to know each other and start planning for the year ahead. KeepIt360 is a youth-led club at T.C. Williams High School that empowers teens to engage their peers and have real, open and honest conversations about issues that impact the Alexandria community. The club is sponsored by SAPCA and the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP). The YLC is a group of students that plan and host KeepIt360 club meetings and events.During this event, YLC members received an overview of ACAP and SAPCA's missions and messages, discussed the role of the club and brainstormed topics and activities to hold this year.
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Alexandria Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
This past October, SAPCA collaborated with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN),
and Inova Alexandria Hospital to hold activities throughout the month in celebration of Red Ribbon Week. This year's theme was "Life is your journey. Travel Drug Free." To celebrate Red Ribbon Week, many students across ACPS participated in community circles where they discussed how they can make a difference in their
community and pledged to grow up safe, healthy and drug free. Teachers also helped promote the Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest and distributed a newsletter to their students with information about substance use and abuse. During the last week of October, SAPCA and Inova Alexandria tabled at T.C. Williams and Minnie Howard to promote Red Ribbon Week. Thanks to everyone who helped make these events possible!
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Alexandria Domestic Violence Program Hosts Children's Holiday Party Seeks Donations
Every year, the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program (DVP) invites more than 60 families to attend a Children's Holiday Party. Dinner is provided and families participate in activities such as arts and crafts, face painting, Frosty Follies and singing holiday songs. Children also get a special visit from Santa Claus! DVP provides gift cards and presents for attending children and parents. Many times these are the only gifts the children receive and your continued generosity ensures its success.
We hope that you will participate in this year's event by contributing gift cards or new toys. For mroe information or to donate, email Magdalia Martinez at magdalia.martinez@alexandriava.gov. The DVP is also available to pick up donations if you are unable to drop them off.
All donations must be received by December 11, 2018. Anyone interested in dropping off donations should call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 703.746.4911.
For more information, visit Alexandriava.gov/DomesticViolence
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Upcoming Community Events
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Alexandria Teen Writing Contest
Are you in grades 6 through 12 and love to write?
Alexandria Library is hosting a "free write" or open-ended contest, which means there are no writing guidelines. Entries must be in middle school or high school (grades 6-12) to be eligible to win. It can be about any topic and written in any format. Deadline to enter contest is January 31, 2019. For questions about the contest, please email iwest@alexlibraryva.org.
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Upcoming Titan Takeover December 14
The next Titan Takeover will be on Friday, December 14 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at William Ramsey Recreation Center (5650 Sanger Avenue). This free event is open to all Alexandria high school students and will feature food, raffles and giveaways, a DJ, dancing, and a photo booth.
To RSVP, text "TITAN" to 30644 by December 12 or email Emma.Beall
@Alexandriava.gov
Help us spread the word about this awesome event!
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Operation Prevention Video Challenge Now Accepting Entries!
Prescription opioid misuse and heroin use have reached epidemic levels. But you can change that. High school students have the power to send a message to their peers about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse by creating a 30-60 second original Public Service Announcement. Grab your camera, recruit your friends, and submit your video for a chance to win $10,000 and other great prizes. Help lead the change in schools! Enter by March 6, 2019 for your chance to win $10,000! For more information, click here. |
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Interested in getting involved with SAPCA?
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Contact Us:
Emma Beall, SAPCA Coordinator
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
www.PreventItAlexandria.org
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