Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition

Arlington Police Provide Update on Medication Disposal Drop Box

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Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Arlington Police Provide Update on Medication Disposal Drop Box

Thousands of Pounds of Unused Prescription Drugs Disposed of Since 2012

ARLINGTON — Acting Chief Julie Flaherty and Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition (AYHSC) Director Karen Koretsky wish to share an update on the success of the community’s Medication Disposal Drop Box.

In June 2012, the Arlington Police Department, in partnership with the AYHSC, installed a Medication Disposal Drop Box in the lobby of the Arlington Police Headquarters. The drop box allows Arlington residents to dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications. The secure collection box is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Every six weeks APD’s Property Officer/Inspector takes the unwanted drugs that have been collected to a local incinerator for destruction, which helps to keep substances out of landfills or from being flushed down the drain. On average, the Inspector delivers approximately 220 pounds of medications to the incinerator every six weeks.

The department estimates that 1,900 pounds of unwanted medications are disposed of each year. Since the installation of the disposal box in 2012, an estimated 14,000 pounds of unwanted medications have been collected and destroyed.

“The collection site has fulfilled the need for an environmentally sound medication disposal option which helps to ensure that excess medications are kept out of the hands of people not meant to have them,” Acting Chief Flaherty said.

The collection box is part of Arlington’s continued efforts to reduce the supply of unwanted medications, especially those with a high potential for misuse, within the community.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2017, an estimated 18 million people misused prescription medications at least once during the previous year. Among youth, prescription drugs are the most widely abused illicit drugs after alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. Furthermore, studies show that the majority of youth obtain prescription drugs from friends and relatives, often without their knowledge.

Along with the 24/7 drop box, Arlington Police have participated in each of the DEA Drug Take Back events since September 2010. Since their first year participating, the department has taken in and disposed of approximately 2,500 pounds of medication.

APD and AYHSC also take steps to educate the community on the importance of properly disposing of medications.

“This multi-faceted approach to medication disposal is a fantastic initiative where several local partners work together to help improve the safety of the community and the environment,” Director Koretsky said. “September is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as National Recovery Month, so this is a great time to raise awareness for proper medication disposal and its impact on preventing and reducing prescription drug abuse.”

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Arlington High School Students Receive Grant to Research Peer Vaping

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Retained by the Town of Arlington Health and Human Services Department

Arlington Board of Health
Christine Bongiorno, Public Health Director
27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Arlington High School Students Receive Grant to Research Peer Vaping

ARLINGTON — Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director Karen Koretsky is pleased to announce that the Arlington High School’s 84 Club received a grant to study vaping in their community and school.

The 84 Club works to educate their peers about the tactics used by big tobacco companies to target youth. The $4,000 grant was awarded by Health Resource in Action, which manages the 84 movement for the Boston Public Health Department. The grant was twofold: it allowed the club’s students to map tobacco retailers in Arlington and survey their peers to understand vaping use and perceptions within Arlington’s schools.

As part of their research, students used the addresses of Arlington vape retailers to create a map of the locations on the BatchGeo.com. Students were able to see which locations were closest to schools, public parks and playgrounds. They also visited these retailers to create a “photovoice” project that combines photographs and narratives to document their perceptions.

The group also put on an Arlington High School vaping study, which included responses from 834 students and 45 teachers across all grade levels. The study indicated that while there is a higher percentage of students who have tried vaping than reported in a 2016 survey, only 17 percent of recent respondents reported using a vape regularly. (Eighty-three percent of respondents reported that they have not vaped in the last 30 days.)

The vaping use rate among the Arlington High School community is less than the national average. According to the 2018 Monitoring the Future survey, America’s teens report a dramatic increase in their use of vaping devices in just a single year, with 37.3 percent of 12th graders reporting “any vaping” in the past 12 months, compared to just 27.8 percent in 2017. Reports of past year marijuana vaping also increased, with a 13.1 percent rate of use for 12th-graders, up from 9.5 percent last year.

“Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices; however, it is urgent that teens understand the possible effects of vaping on overall health; the development of the teen brain and the potential for addiction,” said Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Research tells us that teens who vape may be at risk for transitioning to regular cigarettes, so while we have celebrated our success in lowering their rates of tobacco use in recent years, we must continue aggressive educational efforts on all products containing nicotine.”

During their work, students gained new skills in survey construction, data collection and data analysis, and received public speaking consultation from a trainer from The 84, a statewide movement of students fighting tobacco use based out of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

“Public health recognizes the importance of involving stakeholders in a collaborative effort, and students were able to experience this,” Koretsky said. “They participated in a fair and inclusive process in order to inform and share ownership of the problem and project and amplified the voice of Arlington students.”

Koretsky and Sagar Desai from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health mentored the students on their research. Club members presented their findings to the Arlington Board of Health and members of the Arlington High School administration in June. They also made suggestions for potential new regulations or restrictions that can help keep their peers safe. The 84 Club will also use what they have learned to strategize for future prevention and outreach activities.

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Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director Completes Harvard’s Leaders In Health Program

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Retained by the Town of Arlington Health and Human Services Department

Arlington Board of Health
Christine Bongiorno, Public Health Director
27 Maple Street
Arlington, MA 02476

For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 19, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director Completes Harvard’s Leaders In Health Program

Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director Karen Koretsky (front row center) with fellow participants in Harvard’s Leaders in Health Program. (Courtesy Photo)

ARLINGTON — Health and Human Services Director, Christine Bongiorno is pleased to announce that Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Director, Karen Koretsky recently completed the Leaders in Health program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The Leaders in Health (LIH) program strengthens community health initiatives through introductory training in public health research and science. The LIH program aims to build the capacity of community partners by providing participants with an introduction to the fundamentals of community-based participatory research (CBPR), program planning and evaluation.

By earning her certification on Thursday, Nov. 8, Koretsky joined the ranks of more than 60 public health professionals certified by Leaders in Health since 2011.

Participants attended interactive training sessions, completed assignments and received support to create an action plan to enhance their work.

During the eight-week class, Koretsky learned about Community Based participatory Research (CBPR), project planning and evaluating methods to apply toward advancing the Arlington Youth health and Safety Coalition’s mission.

CBPR is a joint effort that involves researchers and community representatives in all phases of the research process. The program engages community members, uses local knowledge to understand health problems and design interventions tailored to specific communities. A critical element of the approach is the level of investment and engagement it elicits from community members in the research process.

Koretsky, developed an action plan and set goals toward improving the work of the Coalition, which focuses on preventing substance use and building resliency skills among Arlington youth ages 12-18. In her final presentation she described her plan for the Coalition’s Community Outreach and Engagement.

“Community investment in youth substance use prevention requires a multi-tiered approach,” Koretsky said. “Leaders in health taught me that in order to continue reducing youth use rates, we need to directly involve Arlington’s youth in the data collection, analysis and advocacy of our work. They must be active and engaged partners in our efforts.”

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A Holiday Risk Prevention Message from Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition

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Retained by the Town of Arlington Health and Human Services Department

Town of Arlington
Department of Health and Human Services
Christine Bongiorno, Director
27 Maple St.
Arlington, MA 02476

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Contact: Christine Bongiorno
Phone: 781-316-3170
Email:  [email protected]

A Holiday Risk Prevention Message from Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition

ARLINGTON – As the holidays and winter weather approach, the Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition (AYHSC) is sharing a risk prevention message with parents about underage drinking.

In a letter to residents, Arlington School Resource Officer Inspector Stephen Porciello reminds parents and guardians that colder temperatures and snowy conditions can drive youth inside, where teenagers may seek opportunities to consume alcohol and use drugs.

In Massachusetts, the Social Host Law prohibits anyone (adult or minor) who is in control of a premises, to supply or allow alcohol to be consumed by anyone under 21 years of age on that premises. This law also applies to any hotel room or facility that you control.

The penalty for breaking this law is up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.

Inspector Porciello recommends that parents set specific ground rules with their children regarding alcohol consumption and drug use. He also suggests that residents talk to other parents in advance about planned events or gatherings, as they may have different rules.

For the full letter from Inspector Porciello, click here.

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