Mother Teresa said, “I alone can’t change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” My name is Reanna Liversage, and I am blessed to be the director of community coalitions for Drug Prevention Resources. I firmly believe that, like Mother Teresa, we can come together to cast stones across the waters of our communities, creating many ripples to achieve long-lasting change.
From a prevention perspective—which is DPR’s history—anything that helps a child or young person build esteem and social skills will also reduce the chances for making poor decisions about alcohol and other drugs.
We were thrilled to be named Nonprofit of the Game and receive a $500 donation from the Dallas Wings during their Recovery Night 2022. We're grateful to have behavioral and mental health recognized as a part of recovery from substance misuse. See more fun photos at the title link.
September is National Recovery Month and I’m reminded of how much my life has changed since starting my recovery from addiction in 1988. Recovery has given me a life that I could never have imagined! I have a dream job helping kids avoid the path I chose at age thirteen.
Drug Prevention Resources (DPR) has gone virtual but that doesn't keep us from coming to your school, upon request. We will take all appropriate COVID precautions when providing services to your students.
Drug Prevention Resources (DPR) received a grant from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, a not-for-profit charitable organization focused on supporting health-related causes that enrich the global community. The grant will enable DPR to offer the digital course Prescription Drug Safety to high schools in communities across North Texas, including those in Dallas, Ellis, Navarro and Rockwall counties. The funding is provided as part of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation’s Opioid Resource Grant Program.
“We’ve dreamed of a centralized collection of resources for rural residents in North Texas who desperately need the answers to substance use disorder, and specifically opioid use disorder," says Becky Vance, DPR CEO. "We are thrilled and grateful to lead this collaborative effort with our incredible founding partners.”
More than 900 Ennis Junior High School students took the drug and alcohol IQ test recently during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW), an annual event sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
DPR is a New Facing Addiction with NCADD Affiliate! Late last year, DPR applied for local affiliate status with the national change-maker organization Facing Addiction with NCADD and we were accepted!
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the 10,874 people killed in drunk-driving crashes last year amounted to one every 48 minutes. Drugged driving—being impaired by any substance other than alcohol—is an increasing problem on Texas roadways, according to law enforcement.
Overdoses are on the rise in North Texas; Officer Clark’s daughter Catherine was one of 115 nationwide who died on November 19 of last year. Do you believe all families need to understand the signs to look for and the questions to ask? If you do, please help fund this important work. Go to NorthTexasGivingDay.org/drug-prevention-resources to schedule your gift today.
This month finds us focused on a cause that’s extremely personal to me. August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day and DPR will host a special event to remember those we have lost. I lost my only nephew, Scott, in 2005. Thanks to Greater St. James Temple A.M.E. Church for hosting our event and to our DEA colleagues for their support.
Our IMPACT Coalitions love to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to reduce teen access to prescription drugs. FYI, in prevention language, this is what we refer to as an “environmental strategy.” All our coalitions work to implement these strategies to create and sustain positive change in their communities.
The spring National Drug Take Back is Saturday, April 28. Our IMPACT Communities Coalitions will participate by collecting, along with local enforcement, unused and expired medications at the following locations
Ennis Mayor Angie Juenemann declared April as Alcohol Awareness Month during the City of Ennis Commissioner's Meeting this week.
Director Sumpter reported that his High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office is seeing drug cartels in the Dallas-area that are putting meth as high as 90-percent pure on the streets (in years past the purity level was 40- to 50-percent).
IMPACT Communities and the Ellis County Sheriff's Department will host a law enforcement training with Lance Sumpter, Director, Texoma High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) on March 20 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM); a time designated to raise awareness of dating violence among teens and 20-somethings.
It’s true: with a lack of Vitamin D and little time spent outdoors, the winter months can literally make you sad.
Hanukkah 2017 is here, so, Hanukkah Sameach! As you enjoy the festivities of the holiday season, we wanted to give you a glimpse into the Jewish holiday which is steeped in tradition, not unlike Christmas. Both Hanukkah and Christmas give us reason to pause, reflect, practice gratitude and let our lights shine!
Here at home in North Texas, Giving Tuesday is the kick-off for DPR’s charitable and year-end giving campaigns. We are on a mission to create a drug-free generation through collaboration, innovation, education and advocacy. Your mission . . .
DPR supports the national marijuana policy group, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action's (SAM Action) recent placement of a digital billboard along U.S. 75/North Central Expressway in Congressman Pete Sessions' 32nd district. The billboard acknowledges Rep. Sessions who, in his role as chair of the U.S. House Rules Committee, blocked multiple amendments related to marijuana. His efforts helped reduce the exposure of Texas children and teens to marijuana by putting additional protective measures in place.
Once again, our IMPACT Coalitions will have nine coordinated sites for this Saturday's (10/28) bi-annual prescription drug take-back event. Those locations are (please note that the Italy, Milford and Palmer sites have updated drop-off times):
News flash for parents: your kids really do care about your thoughts and opinions around alcohol and drug use. You're the ones they want to please the most--even when their actions speak otherwise!
We are proud to announce that, not only has our board member, Jimmy Capra, written a new book with his wife Shelly, they'll sign copies on Sunday at the Half Price Books Flagship store in Dallas from 1-3 pm. The book is called Raising Courageous Children in a Cowardly Culture: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Our Children. From Jimmy's website: "Utilizing humor, passion and the heartache and joy of parenting,..
Like many, I am infuriated over the recent news stories from 60 Minutes and The Washington Post about how leading pharmaceutical companies, makers of the opioids killing nearly 150 Americans a day, many still in their youth, are bedding down with members of Congress.
Drug Prevention Resources will once again participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration's 14th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This biannual event occurs in the spring and fall; the October event is set for the 28th nationwide. Locations will accept unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Earlier this year at the April take-back event, Texas had 239 law enforcement agencies participating, second only . . .
Earlier this month, KBEC Radio 1390 host Ann Lee brought Shari Phillips, Rev. Samuel Baker, Shelley Miller and Jen Heggland in-studio for her Hour of Hope show. These IMPACT Waxahachie, Ennis and Smoke-Free Ellis County coalition coordinators make us proud. We're grateful for their servant hearts!
Today memorializes all the lives lost to drug overdoses. International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event that aims to raise awareness of overdose while reducing the stigma felt by families and friends when a loved one dies from an overdose.
Today is also about doing our part to alleviate the pain and suffering overdoses cause. From this day forward, we need to ...
Did you know that it’s relatively easy for your schools and communities to get involved in the nationwide efforts to eradicate the opioid crisis?
Prevention is the name of the game and you can help us lead the charge here in North Texas.
Prevention works! Substance use disorders are 100 percent preventable! Learn how you can participate in this year's National Recovery Month activities beginning on September 1 and running through the end of the month.
Anna de Haro of iHeart Radio Dallas is a long-time friend of DPR and the cause of prevention! This was the first time working with Counselor Amanda who is a volunteer with our IMPACT Garland/Sachse/Rowlette coalition. She and Becky make an awesome team!
Anna's interview originally aired on all six iHeart stations Sunday morning, July 30, 2017.
(Garland, Texas) — More than 30 states have banned “Palcohol” or powdered alcohol as a prevention measure under the advisement of public health experts. Texas remains one of three states in which Palcohol will be available for purchase if the state legislature does not take measures to prohibit its sale.
(Irving, Texas) — Bobby Barker, a long-time financial analyst and senior business manager for Lehigh Hanson, Inc., Irving, has joined the Drug Prevention Resources board, Texas’ oldest non-profit agency focused on preventing substance use disorders among children and teens.
(Irving, Texas) - The IMPACT Coalition in Waxahachie is one of only two grant recipients in Texas to receive $625,000 in Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant funds to involve and engage Waxahachie and Ellis County in preventing youth substance use, including alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and synthetic drug use.
(Irving, Texas) — Drug Prevention Resources’ newest initiative, Partnership for a Drug-Free Texas, is also the newest statewide alliance partner for The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, a national nonprofit working reduce substance abuse among adolescents.
(Irving, Texas) — Board certified psychiatrist, author and speaker Dr. David Henderson has been named to the board of directors for Drug Prevention Resources, Texas’ oldest drug prevention agency.
(Irving, Texas)—James L. (Jimmy) Capra, author, speaker and CEO of Front Line Leadership Group, has joined the Drug Prevention Resources board of directors. Drug Prevention Resources is Texas’ oldest drug prevention non-profit.
(Irving, Texas) — Sylvia E. Fuentes, the first recipient of the Dallas Association of Counselors’ Principal of the Year award and recognized as Principal of the Year by the Association of Hispanic School Administrators of Dallas, has been named to the board of Drug Prevention Resources.
(Irving, Texas)—Drug Prevention Resources’ President and CEO Becky Vance announces that Carol Dodson, managing partner of Sly Fox, an out-of-home and experiential agency/holding company of Moroch Holdings Inc., Dallas, has joined its board.
(Irving, Texas) – Drug Prevention Resources, the oldest non-profit prevention organization in Texas, has appointed Stuart H. Bright chairman of its board of directors.
