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| SAFE Coalition P2P emojis to be aware of |
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| Safe Medication Disposal Day - Saturday, Oct 23, 2021 |
"The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet."
https://t.co/62Cmpg0GLr
"This Sunday, April 25th, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Franklin Police Department you can bring in your old or unneeded prescriptions to have them safely destroyed. Officers will be on hand during those hours to collect them.
If you are unable to come during that time, we do have a drop box located in the lobby to securely deposit them. Coming Sunday between 10am and 2pm means that you will not have to be turned away if the box is full.
Please bring them to Police Headquarters at 911 Panther Way, Franklin, MA. Thank you for helping dispose of these medications safely."
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| National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - Apr 25 @FranklinPolice |
"US customs agents made a surprise discovery when a sniffer dog investigated what looked to be a perfectly innocent shipment of frosted cereal, only to discover that the sugar coating was in fact a large amount of cocaine.The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Bico, a narcotic detector dog with US Customs and Border Protection, uncovered the haul of drugs in a shipment of breakfast cereal from South America that was headed to Hong Kong.“Officers found white powder and the flakes were coated in a grayish substance after the dog alerted on the shipment,” the paper reported.The value of the drug was estimated at $2.8m."
"Revealed: chemicals giant sold Louisiana plant amid fears over cost of offsetting toxic emissions"
"Chemicals giant DuPont decided to sell a plant in south Louisiana that emits a likely cancer causing pollutant, citing “major concerns” that government agencies would regulate its emissions to protect the community living nearby, internal documents seen by the Guardian reveal.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
The documents show the multibillion-dollar company worried in 2011 about the potential cost of offsetting its emissions of the “likely human carcinogen”, chloroprene, and so moved to sell the plant, the Pontchartrain Works facility.
The company codenamed the sale “Project Elm” in an apparent bid to keep the deal, completed in 2015, secretive. It is also alleged the company withheld details of its own research to offset emissions from the plant’s new owners."
"If the cover-up was to work, the high jumper Danil Lysenko realized far too late, he had better familiarize himself with the Moscow hospital where Russian track and field officials had insisted he had undergone a battery of medical tests.
The details mattered. The tests were the centerpiece of Russia’s explanation for why antidoping officials had been unable to locate Lysenko in the spring of 2018.
The punishment mattered, too: Athletes found guilty of so-called whereabouts failures — effectively failing to make themselves available for random drug tests — can face suspensions of up to two years. Those caught lying, falsifying documents or obstructing investigators risked even worse. Either sanction, though, would most likely keep Lysenko, a talented high jumper who has just turned 21, from representing Russia at the Tokyo Olympics."
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| Shane CLINTON |
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| approximately $100,000 in cash, and other items were seized |
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| Alan PENNINGTON |
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| Franklin Police Dept, 911 Panther Way |
"The summer before Cassidy Latham entered Brockton High School in 2013, her sister, who worked at High Point Treatment Center, approached her with a question: Would she be interested in joining a new drug use prevention program there?
Latham did not have personal or familial experience with drug use, but her sister wanted to have a variety of teenagers participate in the program. Latham had received some drug education in health classes when she attended South Middle School, where she learned about the dangers of drug use and heard from guest speakers who had struggled with addiction. But she and her peers agreed that it wasn’t entirely effective.
The program Latham joined at High Point took a remarkably different approach: The teens were given cameras and a basic question: “to what extent are drugs an issue in your community?” The camera was the device to help them answer that question."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| Addiction is like “having your life locked up. The drugs just take over, it’s not even you,” wrote the photographer, Cassidy Latham of Brockton, in 2013. |
"A local man was arraigned in Wrentham District Court Wednesday on several drug charges - including one that he made methamphetamine - resulting from a March hazmat response to his house.
Paul Therieau, 52, of 84 Stewart St., pleaded not guilty to manufacture of a class B substance, possession of a class B substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to manufacture a class B substance, possession of a class B substance and four counts of attempting to commit a crime.
There was much discussion over Therieau’s conditions of release, as prosecutors wished to prohibit him from possessing any chemical that could be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. When it was pointed out that common household chemicals like alcohol fell under that category, the defense and prosecution were given until May 4 to compile a list. In the meantime, Therieau remains free on personal recognizance."
"The drug take-back kiosk in the lobby of the police station has taken in thousands of pounds of drugs in its four-year existence, and local law enforcement officers are hoping to continue that success.
Deputy Chief James Mill said, as of Aug. 8, the box has aided in the disposal of 3,900 pounds of drugs.
"The program started in 2012, when District Attorney Michael Morrissey got grants and was able to secure drug take-back containers at several Norfolk County departments," Mill said. "When it started, we were just seeing the onset of the opioid crisis."
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| Franklin Police Dept photo |
"For many families, the summer heat means backyard barbecues with plates filled to the brim with grilled burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and, of course, some fresh farm-picked corn-on-the-cob. But if you're enjoying a side of corn with your dinner this month, make sure to savor it because it's one ear that survived the brutal drought savaging local farmers.
Jim Geoghegan, owner of Sunshine Farm in Sherborn, estimates he lost between 30 and 40 percent of all the crops he planted this year. While some crops came in fine, like strawberries and summer squash, others such as raspberries and corn have been hit hard by the lack of water. As many as four acres of corn have been left dried out, he said.
While the farm has enough supplies for its on-site store, wholesale shipments "were the first to go" and pick-your-own fruit days have been limited. Geoghegan said his produce revenue for July was down between 10 and 15 percent."
"Axe, the Franklin Police Department's K9 dog, is a boundless fount of energy - he runs, jumps and plays with evident enthusiasm.
Though the Belgian Malinois dog can be - as K9 Officer Michael Gilboy put it - "a super hyperactive 2-year-old," he is also a well-trained and disciplined member of the force. Axe completed in late June the Boston Police K9 Academy's narcotics detection course, a six-week program.
"He was trained to find narcotics hidden in vehicles, in rooms and outside," Gilboy said."
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| Michael Gilboy and Axe, Franklin Police Department's newest K9 officer. Daily News and Wicked Local Staff Photo/ Allan Jung |
A local group devoted to fighting substance abuse will hold a forum next week on the signs of drug use.
The Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment (SAFE) coalition will hold the session - intended to help family members identify signs that loved ones are abusing drugs or alcohol - on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at Franklin High School.
James Derick, the president of the coalition's board of directors, said the interactive forum will discuss signs, symptoms and solutions.
"We will have packages available, so parents can handle items commonly identified as signs a loved one might be using," he said. "These are things like Q-tips, bent spoons and burnt tinfoil. They're things parents might walk by."
The Massachusetts Fire Marshal's office is still in the midst of investigating the explosion that took the lives of two Franklin residents in October.
Nancy and Richard Brown, both 66, apparently died as the result of the Tuscany Drive blast, which took place shortly before 7 a.m. on Oct. 10.
Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman with the fire marshal's office, said the investigation has two components: determining the origin and cause of the explosion and looking into whether there was a violation of state codes.
"We're waiting to have scheduled a forensic investigation of the building's burner and gas log fireplace," she said. "Because the testing could be destructive, we need all the parties to agree and come together."
The Franklin Youth Baseball Board of Directors elections will be held 8 p.m. Nov. 18, at the East Coast Driving School, 25 E. Central St.
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| Franklin Youth Baseball |
Election to the Board of Directors is determined by a vote of the general membership. All positions are open and newcomers are welcomed.
In addition to the usual positions, there are three new additional roles that need to be filled: Barnstormer representative, CORI Officer and social media manager.
The state House of Representatives, with the help of a local politician, passed a bill Thursday making it illegal for illicit drug dealers to traffic fentanyl, a common and deadly cutting agent typically mixed with heroin.
The combination of heroin and fentanyl, a powerful opioid used with anesthesia to help prevent pain after surgery, creates a lethal mix and is 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin, according to the DEA.
Under current law, drug traffickers can only be charged with manufacturing, dispensing or possessing fentanyl.
According to state Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford, the number of drugs tested by the state police crime lab tested positive has grown from five to more than 475.
The Town Council voted this week to establish a means to sustainably fund the Council on Aging's caregiver respite program.
The council voted Wednesday to establish a revolving account for the program, which helps give regular breaks to those caring for elders. Senior Center Director Karen Alves said caregivers are often in need of a break, and are more susceptible to get sick because of the strain the role takes on them.
"The Council on Aging is committed to helping caregivers," said Alves. "This program provides a trained companion so a companion can get out and have some respite."
As part of our #StopAddiction effort, tomorrow is our state-wide Drug Take-Back Day http://t.co/nFUhj2ybop pic.twitter.com/buq8IRiqnB
— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) September 25, 2015
THIS IS AWESOME! #ConcussionAwarenessWeek #ttpledge #orange #20ForTwellman #THANKYOU @BPSportsNewss https://t.co/VWDyC8JSib
— ThinkTaylor.org (@ThinkTaylorORG) September 25, 2015
Congrats to the Freshmen who won today's Franklin Friday!! pic.twitter.com/HJf3EXdTs4
— FHS Student Gov't (@FhsGov) September 25, 2015
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| Dan Gilmartin placed purple flags in the Mashpee rotary. His son Cory, 32, died of a heroin overdose in January 2014. (DEBEE TLUMACKI FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE) |
Gail Mahoney, 77, measures the toll of the heroin crisis here and across the country by counting the number of grandchildren she and her friends have lost to the deadly drug.
One friend lost two grandchildren. Another friend buried one grandchild and has a grandson who is “fighting for his life.” Mahoney said her son’s stepdaughter died of a heroin overdose four years ago.
“I’m just a little nobody, and I know seven people that have kids that have lost their lives,” Mahoney said Friday. “It’s everywhere. It’s not just on Cape Cod. It’s throughout our whole country. My question is: Why do we have so much heroin in this country?”
Mahoney, a Mashpee resident, visited the Mashpee rotary Friday night to speak with volunteers who placed 330 purple flags to represent people who died from overdoses of heroin and other opioids on Cape Cod and the Islands between 2000 and 2014.Continue reading the article here: (subscription may be required)
The response to Stop the Silence has been staggering. The speed at which it was shared speaks to the size of the Epidemic of Addiction slithering through our neighborhoods and stealing our loved ones.
Many have asked how they can help, others have asked how to get help. Much needs to change for the tide of Addiction to turn. Gloucester MA is at the front of the charge. They have created an Angel Program to help addicts instead of jailing them.
We must admit this Epidemic is hiding in our communities. We need to recognize that families from all walks of life are re-enacting the same play behind different doors in cities, suburbs and small towns alike. We plead, sob, and scream to our addicts and to each other from a battle-worn script as we live our shared nightmare. Addiction is stealing the future of so many and decimating the lives of everyone who loves them. We need to step out from behind the doors and come together to help one another.Continue reading Patricia here
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| The Addict's Mom |
In light of the recent opioid epidemic that has been plaguing Massachusetts Representative Roy of Franklin will be hosting a Community Coalition on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the Franklin High School Auditorium. This meeting will be open to the public with the goal of establishing a direction for the coalition to take, to hear from experts, and to hear from coalition members in other towns on their progress.
Representative Roy has been working with a group since February to develop a Community Coalition to combat this epidemic. "While I was pleased to be a part of the discussion, it was unsettling to see the damage that is wreaking havoc on people and their families," said Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) "We need to do more to help those who struggle daily with the disease of addiction and I think a coalition is the first step."
Community entrance at Franklin High School
The Massachusetts Legislature has taken a number of legislative and budgetary steps to get in front of the problem and it has been supportive of efforts to establish community coalitions to confront opioid abuse. Franklin is not alone in discussing and facing the opioid problem—Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and his colleagues have been spearheading coalitions to fight the epidemic and they have recently included Franklin.
On June 3, in preparation for the first coalition meeting, Rep. Roy and his team met with D.A. Michael Morrissey and his coalition leaders in Canton for a briefing and discussion on the ways they can combat the opioid epidemic in our community. "Franklin is doing the right things in dealing with the effects of drugs in our region, and particularly the Commonwealth's deadly opiate epidemic," District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said, "we see prevention coalitions successfully changing attitudes about substance use in other towns. Enforcement and supply interdiction remain important. But groups like this one are key to addressing the demand for drugs in our communities. I applaud the elected officials, police, educators and other community members who are making this happen. I'm glad to support it and offer the help and assistance of my office."
Franklin Town Councilor Robert Dellorco added his vote of confidence to the coalition by saying, "When I found out about the overwhelming response to the coalition meeting, it reinforced the pride that I have in the Franklin community, and the confidence that together we can make a difference."
Finally, Rep. Roy and the coalition urge the people of Franklin to watch Dr. Anne Bergen's show, "It Takes a Village," on the Franklin community channel Saturday June 20th at 8:30pm. Rep. Roy and other coalition members appeared on the show to discuss the epidemic and it serves as good background on the issue going into the first coalition meeting.
For more information on the Franklin Community Coalition please do not hesitate to reach out to Representative Roy or his office at 617-722-2020.
