May 2022
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Event added Vape Take Back 

This month we are highlighting for the first time, the Gateway ImpACT Coalition. The Camanche-Dewitt Coalition also conducted this event with a new twist at the same time and same day. Both Coalitions are in Clinton County. On April 30, the DEA's National Rx Take Back Day, the Coalitions held Medication and Vape Take Back Events in Clinton and Camanche. Law Enforcement agents along with coalition volunteers collected 197 pounds of medication from the 77 vehicles that drove through the take back event. These participants were disposing of medication from 90 households. 98% of participants were from Clinton County. We estimate that 20% of the participants were under 60 years old.

In addition to the Medication and Vape Take Back Day, local law enforcement collected medication from 3 assisted living facilities in Clinton for a total of 7 pounds. Local law enforcement had been collecting medication in their permanent drop boxes located in the lobbies of their departments. Camanche Police Department collected 129.4 pounds, from their drop box, and DeWitt Police Department collected another 30 pounds. Clinton County disposed of a total of 363.4 pounds of medication through the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Take Back Initiative. That is 363.4 pounds of medication that was safely removed to reduce the potential for abuse, mismedication, and poisoning. The DEA incinerates the medication at an EPA approved medical waste incinerator.

This year they added vapes/electronic cigarettes to their take back list. They did not have any vapes turned in at the actual Medication Take Back Event, but the coalition and law enforcement collected over 95 vape devices, 6 pounds of vapes, prior to the event. The batteries were removed for proper disposal and the vape devices/cartridges were also sent to the DEA for safe disposal.

This Take Back Event placed an emphasis on encouraging homes to lock up medicine or safely dispose of medication to prevent misuse of medication. Of the participants that went through only a few reported that they keep their medication secure in their home, and the remainder of participants report not securing medication, stating the most popular place to keep medication is in their bathroom/medicine cabinet. They also asked participants “Do you have children under age 18 live in/visit your household” and about 50% reported yes, meaning children would have access to their medication. All participants were encouraged to secure medication in a room where children and/or visitors would not have access to get into it accidentally or intentionally.

Thanks to Kristin Huisenga for sharing with us about their events in Clinton County!

(Clinton County Sheriff Deputy McClimon and Clinton Police Dept. Officer Mahoney pictured above and below.)
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Retreats and Events: 
 
  • June 28 & 29, 2022 (See retreat agenda below.)
  • Sept. 7 & 8, 2022 (Notice change of date.)
(Registration is open for both retreats at MCTC's Course Calendar HERE.)

  • AC4C PREVENTION Conference- November 2, 2022! More details coming soon!
  • Next Year's AC4C Day on the Hill- February 23, 2023.

Resources to Share and Links to check out... 

Members, keep up with the latest in the news


Looking for a training

 
 
 

Do you know about RALI Iowa?
Check out this organization and information about their virtual trailer HERE
 
More resources...

 
 
 

Mid-America Prevention Training Transfer Center (PTTC) featured AC4C on their Podcast. Check it out and their website for training opportunities and other resources to support prevention here in Iowa. 

Medication collected at Take Back Day in Camanche, Clinton County.
AC4C Work Retreat
June 28-29

The next quarterly work retreat will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 28 and 29. Both days will be at Camp Dodge Midwest Counterdrug Training Center (MCTC) in Johnston. The theme of the two days will be mostly about assessment.

We are going to take a "field trip" during the afternoon of Day 1, June 28. We will do some environmental scans in the area. For those who cannot come to MCTC in person, but are joining us virtually, you can block out that time to do the field trip (scans) at home. 

We'll report back the next morning what we all saw. It should be interesting! We'll talk about how to do this at the retreat before we go out, and we will provide the forms/format.

It will also be the kick-off of the Alcohol Observational Tool that you can use with your coalition this summer. This is aimed at getting data about what is happening around alcohol sales and home delivery, third party delivery, curbside pickup, and to-go cocktails.

Here is the agenda for the retreat:

Tuesday, June 28, Hybrid at
Camp Dodge/MCTC
DAY 1: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
8:30-9:00 – Registration, coffee, and networking at MCTC or Zoom
9:00-9:30 – Orientation
9:30-10:00 Introductions – Approval of minutes
10:00-10:45 – Yajaira/Paul – observational tool kick off
10:45-11:00 – Break – Networking
11:00-11:30 – Katya – SPF Coalition building- Adult Alcohol Misuse Reduction training needs assessment
11:30-12:00 – How to do Environmental Scans; plan to divide up and where to go
12:00-1:00 - Lunch Break (head out for environmental scans from there)
1:00-4:00 – Environmental scans in Des Moines area and at home for the hybrid attendees

Wednesday, June 29, Hybrid at
Camp Dodge/MCTC
DAY 2: 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
 8:00-8:30 Registration, coffee, networking at MCTC or Zoom
 8:30-8:45 – Introductions for those who didn’t attend yesterday
 8:45-9:45 – Environmental scan results sharing
 9:45-10:30 State Partner sharing
·      What are the current threats to the work that AC4C and our affiliated coalitions do?
·      What are the opportunities that you see for your agency to work with AC4C and support our efforts?
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-Noon State Partner sharing cont.
Noon-1:30 Lunch off campus
1:30-2:15 Coalition members bring things to share they are doing and tell about them – what’s new in Your Coalition
2:15-3:00 – Action Team and Workgroup report out
3:00-3:15 – Highlights of the retreat, Upcoming Events

Please register HERE whether you are attending in person or virtually. If you need assistance with lodging the night before and between the two-day retreat, please contact Jennifer at jhusmann@asac.us.

VISION:

Connected Communities.
Effective Coalitions. 
Healthy Iowans. 

 MISSION:

Unifying Iowans to reduce youth substance misuse
on a state
and community level.
Join an Action Team or Work Group session every month!

Access the action team meetings on Mondays. Login information here
 
Other Substances Action Team
Next meeting- June 6 @ 9:30

Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- June 13 @ 9:30

Nicotine Action Team 
Next meeting- June 20 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meetings- May 23 and June 27 @ 9:30
_______________________________

Policy Work Group
 
Chair:  
Co-Chair: 
4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm

Meeting information can be found here
Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: To collaborate with the community and statewide entities to advocate and educate on substance abuse legislation, policies, and related issues.
_________________________________

Marketing and Communications Work Group (currently meeting with Capacity Work group)

Seeking a new Chair. Let Jennifer or an AC4C Board Member know if you are interested.

Purpose: To build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C 
_________________________________

Capacity Work Group (currently meeting with Marketing & Communications Group)

Chair:
3rd Monday at 2:00 pm

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: Create a network of professionals that have a diverse knowledge, experience and interest

2022 AC4C Board