News

April 2014 – National Pill Take Back Initiatives are offered twice a year by local law enforcement agencies in partnership with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, in order to make prescription drugs less accessible to youth and others who may misuse them. These events provide community members with a safe place to drop off their unused, unwanted and/or expired prescription medications.

• 4.5 million American kids have reported that they’ve abused prescription drugs;
• Every day, 2,500 kids, aged 12 to 17, abuse a pain reliever for the first time;
• Prescription Drugs are the second most-abused category of drugs after marijuana;
• 70% of people abusing prescription pain relievers get them from friends or relatives.

So far, seven law enforcement agencies are signed up for April’s event in Oneida County, New York, including: Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Utica Police Department, Rome Police Department, New Hartford Police Department, Whitestown Police Department, Kirkland Police Department and the Oneida Indian Nation.

For an up-to-date list of drop off sites, please visit: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takback/index/html.

In 2012, and again in 2013, Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. received funds from the United Way of Rome and Western Oneida County, Inc. to support the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days in Oneida County, New York. Last year, in September alone, Oneida County, New York collected 550.8 pounds of unused, unwanted and/or expired prescription drugs.

For more information on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, contact Samantha Madderom, Prevention, Advocacy and Training Specialist for CFLR, Inc., at 315-768-2677 or smadderom@cflrinc.org.

April 2014 – Every year, one or more members of the Community are recognized for having made significant contributions in the fields of mental health and chemical dependency, as well as their treatment and prevention – through the message of hope and recovery – with the receipt of the Amethyst Award; given by Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR, Inc.) at their annual April Awareness Breakfast.

CFLR, Inc. would like to congratulate Cheryl L. Spina, CASAC, on being this year’s recipient of the 2014 Amethyst Award presented on Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 at the 16th annual April Awareness Breakfast. Spina, Intensive Day Treatment Director at Insight House, received this award for “improving the delivery of services to people with substance use disorders;” outstanding advocacy.

When asked what drives her passion for helping those who are dealing with a chemical dependency and/or substance use disorder, Spina responds, “it’s seeing someone, who is suffering [and/or has suffered], get over that bump in the road and [get to a] safe place.” As she points out, it’s not always a direct route, and there are many bumps and derailments along the way. “[When an individual comes back for treatment], it can sometimes be seen as a negative [quality]. However, when they do come back, I see this as a good thing. It means that they’re resilient, and that they want to better their lives [and maintain their recovery].”

Upon graduating from SUNYIT with a bachelorette degree in Sociology, Cheryl took a position at Insight House, as an Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services Residential Facilitator in 1994. From then until now, Spina has held various positions at Insight House, where she has counseled individuals suffering from various addictions, and assisted them in obtaining the necessary skills that they needed to regain control of their lives.

The best piece of advice that I can give to someone in the field is that “[as a clinician], you don’t always have to have all of the answers…being present, patient and [developing good] listening skills [are what is needed],” said Spina.