Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jul 2004
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2004, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

$25K GRANT TARGETS DRUG ABUSE

Oxycontin Maker Gives L.B. Task Force Money For New Effort

LONG BEACH - A $25,000 grant to the Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force 
creates a safety net for Harrison County's children, officials at a news 
conference said Wednesday.

The grant from Purdue Pharma, a drug manufacturing company, will pay to 
launch Communities That Care, a research-based community development 
program that aims to reduce problem behaviors, including substance abuse, 
among children.

Harrison County is one of only 10 communities nationwide selected for the 
grant. The news was announced at the USM-Gulf Park campus.

The Task Force also has received $14,000 from the Partnership for a Healthy 
Mississippi for its countywide efforts.

"This process will give us a look at our problems, evaluate our resources 
and identify where the gaps exist," said Fred Walker, Task Force chairman, 
credited with spearheading the efforts.

Walker said he and several other Long Beach residents decided to seek 
solutions after several friends buried their children following drug 
overdoses. Long Beach last year had the highest per capita death rate from 
drug overdoses in the county. Five of the 37 drug-related deaths were in 
Long Beach.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has offered $5,000 to pay for a 
public forum on prescription drug abuse.

"If we can save the life on one child, it is well worth the effort," said 
George Schloegel, CEO of Hancock Bank and a founder of Coast 21, a business 
group that seeks to guide public policy.

CTC has been implemented in more than 500 communities. The one-year program 
provides training and consultation in data collection and development of 
community action plans.

"We have seen the results," said Clay Yeager, Purdue Pharma director of 
community partnerships. "It is important that we know what substances kids 
are abusing, but it is even more important that we understand why they are 
abusing them."

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has given a grant to a Long Beach group that 
will use the money to expand their efforts.

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By the numbers

The Harrison County Coroner's Office reports the following on drug-related 
deaths:

. 2004: 13 from January through June.

. 2003: 37.

. 2002: 46.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager