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ASAP, which works to prevent substance abuse, moves into new office

Posted at 11:51 pm November 4, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials. ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on Oct. 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy ASAP of Anderson)

ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials.

ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on October 24.

ASAP, which celebrated 10 years of prevention last year, started out in a small space at the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, but its operations quickly grew. The organization next occupied space within District Attorney General Dave Clark’s office in Clinton, and the ASAP staff eventually landed, in 2011, on the fourth floor of the Robert Jolley Building on Main Street in Clinton. That space was provided by the Anderson County schools director at the time, Larry Foster.

In August, ASAP moved into a building not far from their original offices. The big difference? A space all their own, a press release said. A space where they can host their own coalition meetings, community trainings such as responsible alcohol sales classes and opioid overdose trainings, and host meetings for other community agencies.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: ASAP of Anderson, building dedication, Stephanie Strutner, substance abuse

ASAP of Anderson, Oak Ridge Schools, ORPD collaborate to launch new school safety app

Posted at 11:42 am March 30, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools is collaborating with Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County and the Oak Ridge Police Department to launch a new monitoring program that will allow parents and students to anonymously report concerns about student safety 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

The program includes an anonymous tip reporting application, which is part of the P3 Campus family of apps designed specifically for use in schools as part of student safety and mental health, a press release said. The local version app will be branded AlertORS, and will be available to all students in the Oak Ridge School district on Tuesday, April 2. Reports can be made through the P3 Campus mobile app or through any web browser at P3Campus.com.

“AlertORS will help students and community members be proactive in the emotional and physical well-being of their peers by giving them a tool to make anonymous reports quickly, easily, and interactively,” the press release said. “Users can report a wide range of concerns from mental health issues to threats of violence. ORS has designated team members for two-way communication when a tip is reported so that staff members are able to respond to students directly through the P3 Campus app and keep the conversation completely anonymous.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: AlertORS, Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, anonymous tip reporting app, ASAP, ASAP of Anderson, Kaylyn Hayes, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Schools, P3 Campus, Stephanie Strutner, student safety

Rocky Top donates to Family Drug Treatment Court of Anderson County

Posted at 11:40 am October 30, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

rocky-top-donates-to-family-drug-treatment-court

Pictured left to right are Rocky Top Police Chief Jim Shetterly, Mayor Michael Lovely, Stephanie Strutner of ASAP, and City Manager Michael Foster. Rocky Top City officials presented a $500 check to ASAP of Anderson County to support the Family Drug Treatment Court. (Submitted photo)

 

At the Rocky Top City Council meeting last week, Mayor Michael Lovely, Police Chief Jim Shetterly, and City Manager Michael Foster presented a check for $500 to Stephanie Strutner, executive director of Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County Inc., to support the Family Drug Treatment Court of Anderson County.

“The Family Drug Treatment Court has been under development for a number of years based on best practices from effective programs from across the country,” Strutner said. The program is geared toward rehabilitating not only adolescents through the Juvenile Court system, but their family unit as well, a press release said.

“This program offers the possibility to break the generational cycle of substance abuse many of our juvenile offenders experience,” Juvenile Court Judge Brian Hunt said. “It also offers hope—hope that these adolescents can stay out of jail as adults and become contributing members of their community.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Health, Police and Fire, Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tagged With: ASAP, ASAP of Anderson County, Brian Hunt, Family Drug Treatment Court, Jim Shetterly, Michael Foster, Michael Lovely, Rocky Top, Stephanie Strutner

ASAP’s Strutner named 2016 Advocate of Year by anti-drug coalition

Posted at 4:26 pm February 10, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Stephanie-Strutner

Stephanie Strutner accepted CADCA’s National Advocate of the Year Award in National Harbor, Maryland on Feb. 4, 2016. (Submitted photo)

Award recognizes individuals who are exceptional advocates for drug prevention field

Stephanie Strutner has been named the 2016 Advocate of the Year by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, the nation’s leading substance abuse prevention organization.

Strutner, executive director of Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, accepted the award on Thursday, February 4, during CADCA’s 26th annual National Leadership Forum. The forum was at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

CADCA represents more than 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions across the country.

The Advocate of the Year award recognizes substance abuse prevention leaders who are exceptional advocates in the field, forge relationships and educate their elected officials throughout the year about key substance abuse-related issues, and help to ensure that members of Congress understand the importance of community coalitions. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: 2013 Blockbuster Sewing Camps, Advocate of the Year, Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, Arthur T. Dean, CADCA, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, National Leadership Forum, Stephanie Strutner, substance abuse prevention

Anderson County adopts local zoning regulations for pain clinics

Posted at 11:42 am January 6, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Terry-Frank-Pain-Clinic-Zoning-Resolution

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank signs the resolution adopted by County Commission that regulates zoning for local pain clinics. (Submitted photo)

 

CLINTON—Following months of work that began in March 2015, two public hearings, and two separate reviews by County Commission, Anderson County has adopted new local zoning regulations for pain clinics in an effort to prevent or reduce prescription drug abuse in the county, a press release said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses now account for more deaths in the U.S. nationally than motor vehicle accidents, with 52 percent of those deaths attributed to prescription medication.

In Tennessee, drug overdose deaths increased 7.7 percent from 2013 to 2014 (1,187 deaths in 2013 to 1,269 deaths in 2014). This is higher than the statistically significant national average change of +6.5 percent, according to the CDC.  The Tennessee drug overdose deaths in 2014 are almost equivalent to two full Tennessee Greyhound bus crashes per month without survivors, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County, Anderson County Mayor’s Office, Anderson County Regional Planning Commission, ASAP of Anderson County, Bill Haslam, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, county commission, drug addiction, drug overdose deaths, drug overdoses, East Tennessee Development District, ETDD, Harold Edwards, opioid overdose, opioid painkillers, pain clinics, Planning Commission, prescription drug abuse, Stephanie Strutner, Tennessee General Assembly, Terry Frank, zoning regulations

ASAP Youth Coalition joins other young leaders at Teen Institute

Posted at 10:31 am August 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ASAP Youth Coalition at Tennessee Teen Institute

Front row from left to right are Olivia Kelly, Reagan Wolfe, and Courtney Sharp.
Second row from left to right are Emma Berry, Hope Hicks, Jake Wade, and Kaylee Hunley.
Third row from left to right are Mary Tuskan, Jacob Reed, Ryan Wiggins, and Gabe Merritt.
Top row from left to right are Michael Beal, Cameron Moore, and Michael Foster. (Photo courtesy ASAP)

 

Students from Anderson County joined more than 400 youth leaders from across the state at a recent Tennessee Teen Institute. The Tennessee Teen Institute is a five-day youth leadership and prevention camp sponsored by the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.

The Anderson County Health Department and ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention) sponsored two teams of six youth to participate in TTI, one from Anderson County High School and one from Clinton High School.

“This is the third year we have been able to sponsor youth to attend the Teen Institute, and it has shown an excellent return,” said Stephanie Strutner, ASAP executive director. “Students return energized to serve as peer leaders and make positive changes in their schools.”

This was the 27th year of the Teen Institute Program in Tennessee, a press release said. The program addresses teen issues such as bullying, violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, distracted driving, teen health, and substance abuse prevention through a five-day, peer-led prevention camp designed to provide teen participants with the skills and education necessary to develop and implement alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs in their own communities. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits Tagged With: alcohol abuse prevention, Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, Anderson County Health Department, Anderson County High School, ASAP, ASAP Youth Coalition, bullying, Cameron Moore, Clinton High School, Courtney Sharp, distracted driving, drug abuse prevention, Emma Berry, Gabe Merritt, Hope Hicks, Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, Jacob Reed, Jake Wade, Kaylee Hunley, leadership and prevention camp, Mary Tuskan, Michael Beal, Michael Foster, Olivia Kelly, Reagan Wolfe, Ryan Wiggins, Stephanie Strutner, substance abuse prevention, suicide, teen health, Teen Institute Program, teen pregnancy, Tennessee Teen Institute, TTI, violence

Guest column: D.A.R.E. graduates 395 students

Posted at 6:52 pm June 18, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

DARE Logo

By Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Mark Whaley

The 2013/2014 Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program finished its instruction at the end of the school year. A total of 395 students successfully completed the curriculum. Each student earned a certificate of completion and was awarded a special D.A.R.E. T-shirt as an award.

For the first time, we were asked to start D.A.R.E. classes at the Clinch River Community School, where we introduced the program to the fifth and sixth grade students. The primary focus of this year’s D.A.R.E. classes was peer pressure and how important it is to make good choices. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, K-12, Police and Fire Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse of Anderson County, Anderson County Coordinated School Health, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Briceville, Clinch River Community School, DARE, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, Dutch Valley, Jim Shetterly, Kim Guinn, Lake City, Lake City Police Department, Mark Whaley, Michael David Hernandez, peer pressure, Stephanie Strutner

Anderson County receives $64,600 in funding to reduce tobacco use

Posted at 1:46 pm April 16, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tennessee Commissioner and Anti-Tobacco at Anderson County Health Department

Anderson County has received almost $65,000 in funds to support initiatives that reduce tobacco use. Local officials recently received the check from Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner. (Photo Courtesy of Anderson County Health Department)

CLINTON—Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner visited the Anderson County Health Department on Friday to present $64,600 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.

Dreyzehner was in East Tennessee last week to present tobacco settlement checks to the Roane County Health Department ($38,860) and the Loudon County Health Department ($38,103) as well as the check to Anderson County.

Each county in Tennessee will receive funding annually during the three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state.

Locally, the Anderson County Health Department is using the funds to support a new “Baby and Me—Tobacco Free” program as well as a partnership with Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County and the Coordinated School Health programs in each of the three school systems in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Health, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, Anderson County Health Department, Art Miller, ASAP, Baby and Me—Tobacco Free, Bill Haslam, Coordinated School Health, funding, I Choose Not to Use, Janet Ridley, John Dreyzehner, John Ragan, Loudon County Health Department, Roane County Health Department, Stephanie Strutner, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program, Terry Frank, tobacco, tobacco use, Youth Coalition, youth tobacco use

Anderson County D.A.R.E. program graduates 387 students

Posted at 5:10 pm May 27, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted

The 2012-2013 Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program finished its instruction at the end of the school year, and a total of 387 fifth-graders successfully completed the curriculum, a press release said. Each student earned a certificate of completion and was awarded a special D.A.R.E. T-shirt as an award.

This was the first year the new, updated D.A.R.E. program was taught in Anderson County Schools, the release said. D.A.R.E. “keepin’ It… REAL” continues to discuss issues such as drugs and peer pressure, but emphasis is placed on the students decision-making process, the choices students make, and the consequences of bad choices. Anderson County was one of the first in the state to be trained and certified to teach the new curriculum. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, K-12, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, Anderson County Coordinated School Health, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, DARE, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, Jim Shetterly, Kim Guinn, Lake City Police Department, Stephanie Strutner

More than 300 pounds of unused medicine collected

Posted at 1:32 pm May 1, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Local law enforcement agencies teamed up to host Operation Medicine Cabinet at four locations across the county on Saturday, and more than 300 pounds of medicine were collected.

That amount far surpassed the weight from any previous event held in the county since law enforcement agencies began collecting and disposing medicine in 2010. In all, 314.6 pounds of medicine were collected at sites in Clinton, Oak Ridge, and Oliver Springs, said Stephanie Strutner, executive director for Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention. The medications were disposed by DEA. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, ASAP, Clinton Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Mark Lucas, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, Operation Medicine Cabinet, Stephanie Strutner, unused medicine

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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