Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, September 29

Coming To A Site Near You

The best way not to become a party to prescription drug abuse is to avoid having drugs in the house that are unused or expired. Prescription and over the counter drugs should never be flushed or put down the drain, to avoid contaminating the water supply. Instead, they must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

To make disposing of unused drugs easier, the DEA will be accepting any pills or liquids you have lying around your house, between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday, September 29. To find the nearest collection site, go to the DEA website to search by your zip code. You can also call 1-800-882-9539 for more information about the program.

September Newsletter: End the Cycle of Violence * Free Resources * Disaster Response * Support Native Business

Click here for the Lamar Associates-Indian Country Training September Newsletter. In this issue, you will find information on ending the cycle on domestic violence, news about upcoming training opportunities, CDC alerts, improving disaster response for tribes, free online training, and our featured Native business of the month.

Stay Healthy This Fall!

The seasons are changing and it's time for flu shots! Swine flu (H5N1) can now be transmitted through airborne particles, so it's critical to go in to the nearest clinic. How else is H5N1 different from flu viruses of the past? Take this quiz and be amazed at how much there is to learn about.

Check out Indian Country Today for Walter's other recommendations on how to avoid swine flu, seasonal flus and other epidemics, particularly whooping cough (pertussis) and West Nile Virus.

Preparation Is Key When Disaster Strikes

Recent wildfires throughout Indian Country recently reminded us that by the time you start smelling smoke, it's too late to make your plan, get a kit together of things you may need for a few days, and make a safe escape. Check out this recent article in Indian Country Today for some tips on what you can do to prepare for this season's hazards.

Indian Country Needs Better Crime Data

When we read stories like this one, about trying to build a successful law enforcement and crime prevention program without adequate crime data, we appreciate what a serious problem that is. Among the recommendations for effective implementation of the Tribal Law and Order Act are recommendations about collecting and using standardized data. Better record-keeping enables courts to identify offenders who would benefit from alternate sentencing, like drug courts.  Compiling and sharing the data means that offenders can't skip from reservation to reservation.

If your tribal law enforcement department wants to improve your data collection or analysis, Lamar Associates can help you conform to national standards and best practices.

Ready for the zombie apocalypse?

Have a plan, make a kit, be prepared. Even though the CDC doesn't actually think a zombie apocalypse is imminent, the same strategies that will keep you safe from zombies will keep you safe from the much more real threat of earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.