Keep prescription medication away from children
BY COUNCILMAN TERRY ROE
The Chandler Police Department and ICAN’s Chandler Coalition on Youth Substance Abuse (CCYSA) are ramping up their efforts to eliminate the misuse and abuse of prescription medication.
Narcotics, also referred to as opioids or pain relievers, can be harmful to adults and children because they are highly addictive. In a few weeks, CCYSA is launching a campaign to reach out to schools, businesses, health care professionals and law enforcement agencies about the dangers of narcotics in the homes. The public is invited to attend a Town Hall at the Chandler City Council Chambers, 88 E. Chicago Street, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, to learn more about this initiative on drug prevention.
Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Almost all prescription drugs can be disposed of in the containers. Exceptions include inhalers, liquids, aerosol cans, hydrogen peroxide, thermometers and sharp needles (unless they are unused or sealed).
The Chandler Police Department reminds everyone that it is extremely important to properly dispose of unused or expired medication. In the past, the department partnered with organizations to schedule prescription drug collection events on specific dates. Now, it is possible to dispose of medication anonymously, all-year-around. MedReturn drop-boxes are available in the lobby of each Chandler Police station. The Main Station, located downtown, is open every day, 24 hours a day, including holidays. The drop-boxes at the Desert Breeze Substation, in West Chandler, and Chandler Heights Substation, in Southeast Chandler, are accessible Monday through
Every parent needs to be educated about the risks of prescription drug misuse. It is critical to recognize the signs of abuse and communicate regularly with children. One way to keep medications away from children is to store them in lockbox devices that fit in medicine cabinets. As a former police officer, I have personally seen the positive impact of crime prevention initiatives and encourage parents and educators to get involved.
Our community must continue to pull together to remain informed and safe. Contact the Chandler Police Department at (480) 782-4000 or www. chandlerpd.com for more information. Hopefully, you can attend the Town Hall on Monday, Aug. 31, to learn more about the upcoming initiatives and volunteer opportunities. We all have an interest in having a drug-free community.
Terry Roe is a city councilman whose term expires in January 2019. He can be reached at terry.roe@chandleraz.gov.
Share your opinion with SanTan Sun News!
We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Please keep your Letters to the Editor around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community or development
name in Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred submission method, to Letters@
Help us change this picture
BY JENNIFER CREWS, DESERT SOUNDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Every year, students join their school’s band and orchestra. These students have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, be a part of a “team,” enjoy performing and begin a lifelong journey filled with the gift of music and its intrinsic and educational values. Unfortunately, many children are not able to benefit from this opportunity. Why? Their parents cannot afford to rent an instrument and their school does not have access to the number of instruments needed to meet the demand. Some children are told they must share an instrument. Still other children are told they cannot be in band or orchestra because there is no instrument for them to use.
The Jeremy Project was inspired by the actions of a teenager who worked and helped a friend continue his music education. “When one of my friends wanted to be in band but could not, I just had to help him out. His family couldn’t afford to rent a trumpet and our school didn’t have one for him to use. Very quietly working with the band director, we came up with a solution but also another problem—he would have to change his instrument to one that required reeds which he and his family could not afford. To solve the problem, I decided to use the money I earned working in the school cafeteria and buy the reeds myself.”
Jeremy’s unselfish act gave birth to Desert Sounds, a nonprofit organization that helps children access music education.
SanTanSun.com.
All submitted Letters to the Editor and Community Commentaries become the property of the SanTan Sun News and may be reprinted in part, quoting the letters’ authors, or in their entirety. Your submission to the SanTan Sun News is
The Jeremy Project lends instruments and provides ancillary supplies to children in fourth through 12th grades who otherwise would not be able to participate in their school’s band or orchestra program. During the 2014/2015 school year, Desert Sounds through the Jeremy Project lent 465 instruments for low-income students from eight school districts and 72 schools.
For the upcoming school year, band and orchestra directors have already requested a record number of instruments exceeding our current inventory. Like Jeremy...will you help us change this picture?
Desert Sounds is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit supported through the generosity of individuals, business/corporate contributors, in-kind services and donations of gently used instruments and grants from private and public foundations. More information is available at www.desertsounds.org or on facebook.
Jennifer Crews can be reached at (480) 304-4762.
considered your permission to print your written opinion. Opinions expressed in Community Commentaries, Letters to the Editor or cartoons are those of the author, and not that of the SanTan Sun News.
Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you. Email us at News@SanTanSun.com.
Deadline
For News Tips, Editorial Articles, Opinion or Classifieds, email is preferred.
news email address: news@santansun.com
ads email address: ads@santansun.com
website address: www.santansun.com
Editorial and Advertising
12 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, for the Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, issue 35,000
Total Circulation 27,250+ Driveways
Fifty square mile coverage area from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway.
Proud member of the
publisher Steve T. Strickbine
publisher emeritus
Laurie Fagen
account executives
Tracy Walsh
Tracey Wilson
website
executive
associate editors Ken Abramczyk
Kenneth LaFave
writers
Tamara Juarez
Meghan McCoy
Tim Randall
Alison Stanton
n-ergizing
Councilman Terry Roe. Submitted photo