You don’t need to scroll too far in your news feed to find headlines related to drug or alcohol abuse. From the staggering effects of opioid addiction to drunk driving, substance abuse affects all of us.
There’s even a more staggering effect in Manatee County—the opioid problem in Manatee County is the worst in the state, according to a number of sources.
Drug Free Manatee was founded in 2001 to develop community partnerships that use comprehensive, evidence-based environmental strategies to prevent and reduce substance abuse while promoting health and wellness in Manatee County, especially among youth, according to the organization’s website.
Drug Free Manatee uses research-based strategies to provide information, change policies, and improve access and reduce barriers to resources. The staff and board members of Drug Free Manatee help bridge connections between various people in the county who treat those affected by substance abuse and educate about prevention. Examples include an educational program for students at LECOM School of Medicine about opioid addiction and targeted education for seventh and ninth graders about the dangers of substance abuse, says Sharon Kramer, executive director of Drug Free Manatee.
Drug Free Manatee helps organize a variety of initiatives related to substance abuse. One such example is D-Fy, or Drug-Free Youth, open to 13- to 18-year-olds. The program organizes teens who are committed to a drug-free lifestyle, and recruits monthly on the first Monday of each month, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at GT Bray Park in Bradenton. Members undergo drug screening. In turn, members get discounts at popular youth-geared businesses in the area and may have preference for hiring opportunities and certain internships.
Another example is the Prescription Drug Taskforce, which focuses on safety and wellness concerns related to prescription medications. The taskforce organizes and publicizes the safe storage and disposal of prescription medications and has a Secure, Monitor, Dispose campaign, focused on the safe use and monitoring of prescription medications that could be abused.
Yet another initiative from Drug Free Manatee is the public service announcement and distribution of cards about the Good Samaritan Act. Under Florida’s Good Samaritan Act, someone calling 911 to report and help an overdose victim cannot be charged with simple possession. The card lets people know about this and gives tips on looking for overdose signs, how to use naloxone (Narcan), and what to do until medical help arrives.
Drug Free Manatee is a 501C3 and receives grant support from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration for Drug Free Communities Support Program, the Florida Department of Children and Families and through local contributions, according to its website. There is plenty more that Drug Free Manatee does in our community. For more information, go to www.drugfreemanatee.org. (Note: Reba Rogers, owner of Secure Aging, is a board member of Drug Free Manatee.)
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