KTVE/KARD | Today is National Drug Prescription Take-back day where the Drug Enforcement Administration provides an opportunity for local residents to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. The DEA says the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets.Saturday, local residents were able to make a difference in their homes and community. The Children’s Coalition was a drop off site that accepted pills, patches, liquids, and even vape pens.

This allows unused and expired medicine to be properly disposed of instead of just thrown in the trash. Officials say medications thrown in the trash can be retrieved and sold or misused. Drugs flushed down the drain can contaminate the water supply. Volunteers say they were happy to see locals being responsible with their prescription drugs.

“I think it is really good that people are aware of the fact that they need to have those out of their house, away from children away from those who may try and take expired prescriptions not knowing the strength of them,” said Karla Parker, Children’s Coalition for NELA.
​
Permanent drop-off boxes are located throughout the northeast region, click the button to see the list. 

The Farmerville Gazette - Saturday, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will address a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows the majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Locally, sites are available around Union Parish from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24, to participate in this national event. Bring your pills for disposal to one of four locations: Bernice Pharmacy at 417 East Main Street in Bernice, Union Parish Sheriff’s Office at 710 Holder Road in Farmerville, CommuniHealth Services at 335 Main Street in Marion, or the Children’s Coalition at 117 Hall Street in Monroe.

Sites will accept pills, patches, liquids, or vape pens – they cannot accept needles, sharps, or aerosols. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. This program began when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – posed potential safety and health hazards.

Medications thrown in the trash can be retrieved and sold or misused and drugs that are flushed can contaminate the water supply. Proper drug disposal not only can save lives but protect the environment.

Through incredible partnerships with the DEA, U-ACT - a program of the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana - the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy, CommuniHealth Services, Bernice Pharmacy, and the Union Parish Sheriff ’s Office, this national initiative for the safe disposal of prescription drugs is now a reality in northeast Louisiana.

S/T Michael Reichardt with Louisiana State Police says, “It is imperative that people with old medication, especially narcotics, dispose of them properly before they get into the hands of someone that doesn’t need them or improperly disposes of them. This is a free service that is offered in our community and one that is needed. I hope people take the time to come out and dispose of their prescriptions properly instead of flushing them.”

Bernice Pharmacy Manager Brandon Keaster says, “Bernice Pharmacy is proud to host the DEA National Prescription Takeback Day. We love working together with partners in our community to protect our families and make the community safer for all.”
​
Community members who are unable to attend Drug Take Back Day can use permanent drop boxes located throughout the different parishes. Visit takebackday.dea.gov/content/secure-your-meds to find a drop box near you.

KTVE/KARD​ | The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be holding their National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this weekend and there will be four locations across Northeast Louisiana where you can take your unused medications.

Partnerships with the DEA, U-ACT (a program of the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana), the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy, CommuniHealth Services, Bernice Pharmacy, and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, have made the four NELA locations available.

Those locations are:

• Bernice Pharmacy – 417 East Main Street in Bernice
• Union Parish Sheriff’s Office – 710 Holder Road in Farmerville
• CommuniHealth Services – 335 Main Street in Marion
• Children’s Coalition – 117 Hall Street in Monroe

Each location will accept the following items for disposal:

• Pills
• Patches
• Liquids
• Vape Pens

Items that will not be accepted include:

• Needles
• Sharp Objects
• Aerosols

If you are unable to take part in Drug Take-Back Day, you can always drop off your unused medications at a permanent drop-box. To find the drop-box nearest you, click the button below.

KNOE | KNOE is sharing the story of Grecia Rojas-Avila and her family and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her.

LA Tech freshman Grecia Rojas-Avila’s family spent three days immigrating from Mexico City back in 1999.

“They hitchhiked and they crossed over from Arizona and got on an orange truck and headed to Arkansas where most of our family was," Rojas-Avila.
​
As a first-generation Mexican born in America or “Chicana,” she said her parents came to America with just a few dollars and a dream.

​It’s a dream that her mother Myra says she’s proud to see her daughter living out every day.

“She’s satisfied with the fact they grew up with nothing and being able to raise such an admirable daughter, Rojas-Avila translated on behalf of Myra.

She’s also a first-generation college student studying business and economics with plans to go to Columbia for her next degree and later pursue a career as an immigration lawyer.

She said her plan to pursue immigration law and immigration reform was inspired by her parents and other people who she said fight daily to get their legal status.

The 18-year-old also spent time taking care of her father who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018. She said her father is doing much better now and she can tell that he’s also proud of her and her accomplishments.

“Through my parents' hardship coming up from nothing, it means the world to me it makes me emotional how I can get financial aid to even be able to go to college," she said.

She’s also preparing to vote for the first time on Election Day. It’s another new beginning for her family, and a right she said she doesn’t take for granted.
​
“My voice does count. It also means that I do have an impact on tomorrow, not just today but looking out for tomorrow looking out for the generations who can’t speak out right now," she said.

What asked what it means to share her story for Hispanic Heritage month, she said these communities should be celebrated every day and holds her family’s journey near and dear to her heart.

“Hey I’m just like you, it’s a big accomplishment for the Latinx community," she said. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 and recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans and people from Latin American countries.

KTBS3 ABC | Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $17,637,461 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health projects around Louisiana, particularly to combat the opioid epidemic.

“Even as we begin to rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Laura, we can’t take our eyes off the opioid epidemic. Fighting opioid addiction remains a priority for Louisiana, and these HHS grants will help prevent, treat and promote recovery from substance abuse in our communities,” said Kennedy.

Projects supported by this funding include:

• $17,262,461 to support the Louisiana State Opioid Response Program through the Louisiana State Office of Behavioral Health.
• ​$125,000 to support the Union Parish for Community Transformation program through Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, Inc.
• $125,000 to support the Bienville Community Coalition through Community Support Program of Louisiana, Inc.
• $125,000 to support youth substance abuse prevention in Latino communities through Metro Centers for Community Advocacy.

The laptops donated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation arrived at the U-ACT office to be distributed. One student received a gift card and other gifts to help him on his journey joining the military. The other eleven students received a brand new laptop, wireless mouse, Microsoft Office software, a flash drive, and a laptop bag with other gifts. The laptop bag contains several U-ACT gifts as well as gifts from Mrs. Jackie Hill with D.A.R.T., Mrs. Claudia Wade with Union General Hospital, and Stephanie Herrmann with the Union Parish Library. 

Thank you Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and Union Parish community partners!

The News Star

MONROE— The Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana is expanding its services to young people and families affected by the COVID-19 crisis with a $50,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.
The Children’s Coalition will use the funds in support of three programs:

• Mental Health: Increased suicide screenings and mental health access for junior high students in rural parishes through the SOS: Signs of Suicide prevention program, which includes education for caregivers and teachers about the signs of depression in young people and ways to seek help.
• Rural Technology Access: Providing computers for incoming college freshmen who serve as student ambassadors for the Union Parish Alliance for Community Transformation (U-ACT) program, which makes opportunities for young people to make positive choices that prevent and reduce substance abuse in Union Parish.
• Supporting Students and Families: As needs arise among student families, the Children’s Coalition has been providing support, from providing shelter and supplies such as diapers, wipes and cleaning supplies to helping families access the internet to continue remote learning for students.