On Tuesday, September 1, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, will celebrate NKY Hates Heroin Night at UC Health Stadium when the Freedom take on the Windy City Thunderbolts at 6:35pm.

The event is being presented by Steve Cain’s All Vacuum Center and will be used as a fundraiser and awareness builder for Northern Kentucky advocacy and heroin support groups NKY Hates Heroin andTransitions.

Activities during the night will include a Recovery Celebration call down during the 7th inning for the crowd to show their support for those choosing the path of recovery. The dugout tops will be transformed into a memorial wall to remember the families that have been impacted by heroin.

Finally, the Freedom will wear these specialty jerseys that fans can bid on and take home off the players backs.  The proceeds from the sales will benefit the two charities that night.

Fans can purchase tickets in two ways.

1) Click here and enter special offer code “recovery” (case sensative) and click submit.  $5 over each ticket purchased when this special offer code is used will go back to support NKY Hates Heroin and Transitions.

2) Click here for more information on how to purchase a special Fan Package which will include a NKY Hates Heroin T-shirt, bracelet, a $5 concession voucher and ticket to the game for just $25.  $15 of each Fan Package will go back to support NKY Hates Heroin and Transitions.

Honoring those fighting on the front lines against the heroin epidemic

Transitions, Inc. will honor members of the Greater Cincinnati Community who have been nominated by the community to receive special recognition for their work in providing hope to those individuals, families and the community affected by heroin use. Award Winners will be honored at a Gala Dinner on October 9^th held at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse.

Nominations may be submitted beginning on August 17, 2015 through September 4, 2015 and must be received by Transitions no later than 5 PM. Nominations must be submitted on the Nomination Form provided. Completed nominations may be submitted in person, via email, fax or regular mail according to contact information at the bottom of the Nomination Form.

Nominations can be submitted for the following categories:

• Elected Official – An individual working to solve issues related to the heroin epidemic such as: a Legislator who drafted or worked hard to pass and enact the new heroin bill; Judge, Jailer, Sheriff, or any other elected official who is looking for creative ways to help people who use/used heroin and/or their families who are searching for resources.

• Professional – Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, Health Department Official, Social Worker, Chemical Dependency Counselor, Police Officer, Attorney, Educator, Journalist or any other professional who is working on the front lines with people who use/used heroin and/or their families who are searching for resources.

• Volunteer – An individual who acts without being paid and is providing education, access to treatment, acting as advocates, volunteers, service providers and those who are in recovery creating help & hope for people who use/used heroin and/or their families searching for resources.

• Nonprofit – An organization (including a church) that provides funding, education, awareness, harm reduction, advocacy services and support in relation to providing solutions for the heroin epidemic.

• Corporate / Business – An entity that: supports individuals in recovery by providing internships, apprenticeships, and jobs – especially to those with felonies who find it extremely difficult to find a job; helps to raise awareness about the heroin epidemic and community resources, including harm reduction; shines a light on projects that provide help & hope to people who use/used heroin and their families searching for resources.

We are awareness advocates representing the Northern Kentucky Community – the epicenter for the current heroin epidemic that has rocked our state to its very core. For over three years local advocates have been developing resolutions and making recommendations to our state regarding the stabilization and eventual eradication of this epidemic. Each year we have received little help from the policy makers of our state and each year the epidemic spreads farther into our state and is claiming more lives.

Our time to act is running out. Today we have a heroin epidemic, tomorrow we will wake up to find that we have become the highest ranking state in the country for overdose deaths and infectious diseases – this is not something we want Kentucky to be known for. We can change our future and offset the negative ramifications that will surely come if we continue to do nothing, but our future will be determined by those who are willing to get involved. We are leading a campaign out of Northern Kentucky to support a very important piece of legislation that will be going up for vote at this coming year’s General Assembly.

While there are a variety of draft bills concerning the Heroin Epidemic, NKYHatesHeroin.Com is not specifically endorsing a particular bill but encouraging our legislators to work together to pass a final bill that best suites the needs of Kentucky. The NKY Heroin Impact Response Task Force (learn more about the task force here) has drafted a list of 20 items they have determined are priorities in our fight against the Heroin Epidemic in Kentucky.

>> See The NKY Heroin Impact Task Forces’ Legislative Priorities Here

Help Us Take Action – March on Frankfort!

Join us in Frankfort on January 6th on the capitol steps at 10:00am where we will rally together in front of the Capitol and will then march into the rotunda of the Capitol, once there a select few will be testifying in front of the General Assembly, and handing over our unified voice (petition.) >> You can read and sign the petition online here.

Follow the Bus Along with NKYHatesHeroin.Com and Friends!

We will be gathering at 7:30am (In the parking lot of Burlington Coat Factory: 4293 Winston Avenue #2, Covington, KY 41015) and leaving Northern Kentucky at 8:00am. You are welcome to follow the bus to Frankfort!

UPDATE! NOW EVERY MONDAY AND TUESDAY IN DECEMBER!

You Must Present the Flyer

Thanks to Bob Evans!

All Bob Evans locations in the tri-state are participating in a fundraiser for NKYHatesHeroi.Com!

Every Monday and Tuesday through December 2014  |  Dec.1,2,8,9,15,16,22,23,29,30, 2014  |  From Open to Close  |  Dine In or Carry Out
Bob Evans will donate 15% of sales
Flyer must be presented at time of check out. Click here to download a PDF of the flyer. Remember to print the flyer to take with you to the restaurant, and print some for your friends and family!

Join NKYHatesHeroin.Com this holiday season 
in donating much needed items to:

Women’s Residential Addiction Program (WRAP)

For people struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, Transitions Women’s Residential Addiction Program (WRAP) offers substance abuse treatment and sober living for addiction recovery.Transitions Womens Residential Addiction Program (WRAP) is a long term residential and outpatient drug rehab and alcohol treatment center located in Covington, Kentucky.If you would like more information on the Transitions Womens Residential Addiction Program (WRAP), please give them a call at (859) 491-2090.Transitions Women’s Residential Addiction Program (WRAP) offers specialized drug rehab programs for women, residential beds for clients’ children. Visit their site…

The Healthy Newborn House

The women in the Healthy Newborns Home are completing their addiction treatment at WRAP or are participating in WRAP’s Aftercare Program. While living in the home, the women are provided a facility that fosters a safe, supported, and learning environment to help them continue sobriety and give birth to a baby that is only minimally drug affected and does not have to spend time withdrawing from drugs in the NICU detox. Therefore, the baby can go home with its mother within the usual time frame. In addition, there is less chance of the newborns having developmental challenges in their future. The women can stay in the home up to 4 months after their baby is born. Residents of the Healthy Newborns Home are still held accountable as if they were at the WRAP House. They continue to be drug tested, alcohol tested, and subjected to a curfew. In addition, they are assigned a Case Manager who will help them find employment, sign up for assisted / affordable housing, and further their education. Visit their site…

Brighton Recovery Center for Women

Brighton Recovery Center for Women is a 100 bed facility located in Boone County that utilizes recovery dynamics curriculum and is a peer-driven model of recovery, a program that helps women recover from chronic substance abuse and addiction, and move toward a life of sobriety and productivity. The focus is to help the women change their behavior, skills, and attitudes related to their addictive lifestyles. Brighton Recovery Center takes a long-term, holistic approach to recovery that is comprised of four distinct modules of progression and ultimately connected to an array of Brighton Center services. Visit their site…

And to thank those willing to share their good fortunes, NKYHatesHeroin.Com will match up to $2,500 in donations!

There are 2 categories of items needed, so feel free to donate items from either list, or both!

Much Needed Items

• Twin Comforters
• Twin Blankets
• Twin Sheets
• Pillows
• Towels & Washcloths
• Women’s Toiletries

Niceties

• Scissors
• Tape & Ribbon and Wrapping Paper
• Crafts
• Books
• Toys for newborn – 12 Yrs Old (no stuffed animals please)

Drop off items on Saturday, November 29th, from 10:00am thru 2:00pm at the following locations:

Erlanger
The Grateful Life Center
Pleasure Isle Drive
Erlanger, KY 41017

Fort Thomas
First Christian Church
1031 Alexandria Pike
Fort Thomas, KY 41075

Florence
Crossroads Church
828 Heights Blvd.
Florence, KY 41042

There is Always Light After Our “Dark Truths”

Join us for an event that addresses the Heroin Epidemic in NKY

Featured: NKY Hates Heroin, Dr. Kalfus and Ashel Kruetzkamp Dark Truth Testimonies in Recovery

When: October 24, 2014
Time: 12:00- 2:00

Substance Abuse/Recovery Agencies Available at 11:00

Where: Gateway Community & Technical College Gym
525 Scott Boulevard
Covington, KY 41011

Presented by: NKYHatesHeroin.Com, Gateway’s Criminal Justice Department, Gateway’s Counseling Department

Contact Monica Yihad with any questions at (859)815-7798

Northern Kentucky has been affected in many ways by the heroin epidemic that has taken over our communities. There have been dozens of stories across all media formats describing the strain on fire and police departments, schools, doctors and hospitals, as well as the families affected with addiction. It seems anyone you ask knows of a friend, neighbor, work associate, or even someone in their own family that has been affected in some way or another.

NKYHatesHeroin.Com recently became involved with another group affected by the heroin epidemic, the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home in Ft.Mitchell, KY. DCCH provides support for children that have been removed from their homes by the court systems.  There are approximately 1,100 children in the Northern Kentucky area that have been removed from their homes, a large percentage due to heroin addiction within the family. DCCH (Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home) Center for Children and Families has answered the call to help these children. In appreciation of their continued efforts NKYHatesHeroin.Com has made a donation to DCCH in hopes it will help lighten the financial burden this influx of children has caused.

DCCH Center for Children and Families has helped Northern Kentucky children for over 160 years. Starting out as an orphanage in 1848, DCCH has evolved to meet the needs of the community and offers residential treatment, foster care, adoption, outpatient therapy and training services to area children, families and residents. DCCH is located on a 83-acre campus in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, part of the Greater Cincinnati area.

DCCH Center for Children and Families provides a continuum of care to children and families in the state of Kentucky. In addition to the services they provide to children in their residential care program, DCCH WINGS Foster Care has been providing referral, training and ongoing support services to families interested in becoming foster or adoptive families in the state of Kentucky since 1999.

DCCH Center seeks caring, qualified individuals willing to open their homes and hearts to children in need. As a licensed and accredited foster care and adoption agency, DCCH carefully screens, thoroughly trains and continuously supports foster and adoptive families.

If you have ever considered becoming a foster parent, now would be a great time to learn more about the opportunities to help out Kentucky’s most vulnerable children. Visit the DCCH website or call Gene Blair directly for more information.

DCCH Center (Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home), Website
Gene Blair, Email
Gene Blair, phone 859-331-2040, ext. 8463

NKYHatesHeroin.Com is proud to partner with The Shatterproof Challenge. They are committed to fighting the same fight we’re confronted with here in Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati region.

If you like the idea of repelling down the face of a building n downtown Cincinnati, and help a national organization address addiction, provide families with much needed support, and promote addiction related research, then this is the event for you!

AUGUST 7, 2014 | CINCINNATI, OH

Westin Cincinnati
21 E. 5th Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

For more information, download the following:

Shatterproof Cincinnati Flyer
Shatterproof Cincinnati Facts and Registration Form

Or, find out more and sign up to rappel: www.shatterproof.org/Cincinnati-2014

This letter from Gary Mendell, the founder of Shatterproof Challenge, reflects Gary’s passion for preventing addiction:

My son, Brian, was a loving child, full of smiles and light. Like so many children, he tried marijuana. Like far too many of them, his use turned to addiction. A year ago I got the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. My son had passed away. Brian was dead.

If Brian’s passing were simply about him and the rest of my family, I would find a way to endure my suffering, and my story would end there. But this was no isolated tragedy. Brian died of a disease that touches more than 100 million Americans. It’s impossible to measure the pain it causes.

In the aftermath of Brian’s death, I set out to learn what could be done to prevent others from losing their loved ones to this terrible disease. I met with leading experts in addiction and discovered programs in prevention and treatment that could have saved Brian and others like him, but for a number of reasons those programs have not been implemented. I learned that there’s no national organization devoted to the discovery and implementation of new and better treatments. I also learned that there is no national entity devoted to helping families navigate the most trying times that many will face in their lives, to educating society about the dangers of alcohol and other drug use and to changing public policy so that America will turn the tide on this health crisis.

In Brian’s memory, I have dedicated myself to building an organization that will work to conquer this disease. It’s too late for my son, but not too late for countless others.

On behalf of all of our children, and every family, I hope you will support this effort to end the plague of addiction.

With my deepest appreciation,

Gary Mendell