When you are expecting a child, you dream of all the things they will experience as they grow. All the milestones, first steps, first words, first birthday. You think about what their personality will be like, their first day of school. You know as a parent there will be ups and downs, laughter and
More than 25 police departments and pharmacies countywide are set to take part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local police officers will staff the 29 collection sites to receive expired, unused and unwanted prescription medication from the community. The event,
The Cambria County Drug Coalition has been awarded a grant through the University of Colorado’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV). This investment allows for the continued implementation of the Botvin LifeSkills Training Program (LST). LST is an evidence-based substance use and violence prevention program designed to be implemented in Middle/Junior High
As mentioned in last month’s Coalition Corner column, the Johnstown Police Department has begun using police reporting systems in a more extensive fashion. Statistical analysis of the raw data has become possible. This step has led to data-informed decisions and positive impacts. The Cambria County Drug Coalition, during strategic planning sessions, identified critical success factors
I have been employed by the Johnstown Police Department since December 1998. I have held the roles of patrol officer, patrol sergeant, JPD/RPD SERT entry team member, patrol and narcotics detection K9 officer, Crisis Intervention Team officer and patrol sergeant. I graduated from Greater Johnstown High School and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Prior to
The scene of brokenness caused by the strong hold of drugs and active addiction on families across America in every state, county, city, town and sprawling farmland is something that cannot go unnoticed. As a pastor, I have seen the devastation far too many times and at alarming rates – lives cut short and families broken down
Current data suggest that one in five individuals will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder in their lifetime, and of those living with a mental health disorder, as many as 50 percent will also experience a co-occurring substance use disorder. Click here to read more.
When the Cambria County Drug Coalition was formed just a short 30 months ago, three key areas of focus were emphasized: law enforcement, treatment and prevention. In short, the law enforcement focus is to make it very difficult on those who deal in the illegal drug trade. The treatment focus is to help those battling
Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sponsors National Recovery Month to increase awareness of behavioral health conditions and substance-use disorders, and to celebrate the individuals living in recovery. This observance promotes the belief that behavioral health is essential to overall
There are days as district attorney and coroner that are emotionally tough to process. On Dec. 23, 2016, we encountered the death of three family members in an apartment in Johnstown – a young mother and father along with their 5-month-old little girl. The parents died of drug overdoses. The dad was found dead in the
