The rate of prescription drug abuse has been on the rise not just in Lane County, but nationally said Emily Buff Bear, community health analyst for Lane County Public Health.

To help raise awareness about prescription drug abuse and to decrease the number of expired or unwanted prescription drugs in the community, the county health department scheduled a Prescription Drug Take Back event for Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The idea came from various conversations between Lane County Public Health and local law enforcement.

“I think this has been going on for the last nine years,” Bear said. “Nationally, they weren’t going to do an event this year, so we decided to do one anyways at the local level.”

There is a whole list of items being collected, such as vitamins and over the counter drugs, though Bear isn’t entirely sure what has been collected in the past, because the federal government has coordinated the event. This is the first year local law enforcement is running the program.

The county health department said prescription drugs are the third most commonly abused substance in Lane County.

On college campuses, prescription drug abuse is more common. The National Council on Patient Information and Education revealed about one in four college students has illegally used prescription drugs, which friends or fellow students offered them.

Alex Biedul, University of Oregon senior, said he received an Adderall prescription at the age of 20.

“I was prescribed 15 mg extended releases to help me focus in class and especially for tests,” Biedul said.

Adderall contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are central nervous system stimulants that affect the brain and nerves that contribute to impulse control. When used correctly, it helps treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but when used incorrectly, it can lead to addiction or serious side effects on the heart.

Biedul’s doctor, who prescribed him Adderall, retired at the end of last year, leaving him without his medication. The only way for him to continue treatment, he had to go to southern California to meet with a new doctor in a certain time frame, but since he attends school in Oregon, it was too difficult.

“I just have to wait until I go home again,” he said.

Freshman Aolani Onatah admits she had no idea what Adderall was until she came to college in the fall.

“I think it increases attention ability,” Onatah said. “I know some people use it to do homework.”

Bear said many people think prescription drugs are less harmful and that’s a problem.
“We want to make sure people know they are just as dangerous.”

Drop box locations will be at the Coburg and Springfield Police Department’s, the Junction City Fire Station, the Santa Clara Fire Department and the Oakridge Rays Food Place. Sheriff’s and volunteers will be around to answer questions and at the end of the event, local law enforcement will transfer the unwanted drugs to Covanta, outside of Salem, to incinerate them.

A survey by AT&T revealed 7 out of 10 people admit to using their smartphones while driving. Sixty-one percent say they send text messages while driving, 22 percent check emails, 17 percent snap selfies and 14 percent roam social media. AT&T conducted the survey to encourage people to put down their phones while they drive.

At the University of Oregon, the data is fairly similar. Twenty-five students were asked what they used their phones for when operating a motor vehicle. The survey revealed that 80 percent use their smartphones to text or make a phone call. Thirty-six percent check social media, 22 percent take photographs and 15 percent check emails.

“I mainly use my phone to switch through music playlists,” UO student Lindsay Gilmour said.

She admits she texts sometimes and tries to refrain from answering phone calls that require long conversations.

“I definitely don’t check Snapchat or Instagram or anything ’cause that’s too much multitasking while driving,” she said.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration designated April as national “Distracted Driving Awareness” month.

Last year, the Eugene Police Department issued 907 citations for driver use of cellphone, which is a slight drop from the previous year with 954 citations issued. On just one day last month, 42 cellphone citations were given.

The NHTSA said 10 percent of drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes and 244 Americans in this age group were killed in distraction-related crashes.

Emily Bol, UO graduating senior, said she received a citation for talking on her phone while driving last month. She was on her way home from the Valley River Center and wanted to give her mom a quick phone call before dinner.

“All of a sudden a cop was pulling me over,” Bol said.

He asked her why she didn’t get off the phone once she saw him. Bol is from Colorado and had no idea there were laws regarding cellphone use while driving in Oregon. In Colorado, it’s only against the law if you are under the age of 18.

“He gave me a $250 citation,” she said.

Bol was able to lower it slightly because of her clean driving record, but admits she was extremely frustrated, especially because she’s been in Oregon for four years and never knew there was a law.

Oregon law bans the use of “mobile communication devices” for all drivers except police and emergency responders. This is defined as a text messaging device or a wireless, two-way communication device that receives voice or text communication. There are some common options that are permissible such as speakerphone, the use of a Bluetooth wireless device or installing a car kit.

After the first of last year, Senate Bill 9 changed Oregon’s traffic offense for driving while using a cellphone from a Class D violation to a Class C. The minimum fee is $142 but it can be as high as $500.

While some people were busy studying for upcoming finals, others were caught stealing from the Knight Library. There were two reports of theft on May 27 and one report of bicycle theft on the 28.

Two reports of harassment occurred at Hayward Field on the 23 and at Matt Knight Arena on the 28.

LLCS received three citations for a liquor violation, reckless burn and allowing minors to consume alcohol.

Here is an exact breakdown:

Liquor Violation: 2
Theft: 5
Harassment: 2

A face on a milk carton.
Amber alerts.
Missing persons posters.

President Ronald Reagan declared May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day in 1983 after a child from New York City went missing and was never found. His disappearance sparked the missing children’s movement and his face was the first to be on a milk carton. The day is marked to raise awareness on those missing and to reflect on past disappearances.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System shows that currently there are 340 missing persons cases in Oregon, with more males missing than females.

The Eugene Police Department reported on May 13 a suspicious male attempted to make contact with two children at Emerald Park. The suspect tried to direct the children into his vehicle; they refused and immediately ran off. EPD said abductions are extremely rare by strangers, but it’s important to teach people about personal safety.

A missing person case could range from child abductions, which is when amber alerts are sent out, runaways, or someone who ends up being found shortly after reported missing.

“We have numerous cases throughout the year [in Eugene], it’s difficult to place a number on the amount of reports we get because a missing person isn’t always in danger,” John Hankemeier from the EPD said. “Often when the media hears about people who are missing-it’s when the safety of the person is threatened.”

In February this year, University of Oregon alumnus Noah Michael DeWitt went missing. He was last seen at The Heart and Spoon Community House. He was shoeless, phoneless and without money. KVAL reported a sighting of DeWitt, near Winston, Oregon, attempting to hitchhike southbound. Posters were placed around Eugene all the way to Coos Bay, but there was no official trace of DeWitt.

Three months later, he is still missing.

When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Nepal in April, UO student Amber Brazil was reported missing. She and her friend had to hike five hours until they could be rescued, according to the Register-Guard.

Kelly McIver, communications officer for the University of Oregon Police Department said in October 2011, a student was reported missing from Barnhart Hall, but was found the following day.

Four Ethiopian track and field athletes were reported missing on July 25, 2014 from the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene. The UOPD investigated the missing persons case and, after a four-day search, successfully made contact with the athletes, who were safe.

The family members of these missing people were able to hear from their loved ones, but in a lot of cases, such as DeWitt’s, these family members and friends may never get the chance to speak to them again.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children site says, “Knowledge and awareness are key in keeping your loved ones safer.” May 25 is a commitment to help locate missing children and people can do so by playing close attention to missing persons’ posters, help distribute missing person’s posters or donate to help assist victims and prevent child abduction.

There were three reported crimes at Hamilton Complex over the weekend leading into Week 8 — one bicycle theft and two drug violations.

Hayward Field and the Jacqua Center had one reported case of graffiti and a warrant arrest on May 18.

Crime on campus during the week stayed relatively low with only two liquor and drug violations.

When Eugene comes to mind people typically think; the University of Oregon, hippies and bike culture. One of the main forms of transportation for college students is biking because it’s cheaper and, supposedly, safer.

May is National Bike Month and it’s important to raise awareness about bike safety and theft.

Statistics from the Eugene Police Department shows that bike thefts occur more often at a person’s residence on the weekends. This increases over the summer. Lee Shoemaker, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Eugene Public Works, said the best way to keep your bike safe is by registering it online through the EPD and UO Police Department.

UO Police Department data showed 183 bikes reportedly stolen on campus and nine accidents involving bikes.

So far this year, only 20 bike thefts have occurred and there have been no reports of bicycle accidents on campus. The reports show that bike theft increases each year.

Erik Bennett, UO sophomore, said his bike was stolen last term.

“I went out to dinner with my family and left my bike at the library,” he said. “When I came back it was gone.”

Bennett hadn’t registered his bike, so finding it was difficult. He contacted the non-emergency line at the UOPD and described the bike thoroughly. Luckily the police had his bike and were able to return it back to him. An officer on duty found a man trying to bend his U-lock far enough to break it.

“My lock was wrecked, but I still got my bike back,” he said.

The city of Eugene Public works actively works on creating safer roads for bicyclists to travel on. Ruby Betten, UO sharrows project information coordinator, said many people don’t know what the shared lane markings, “sharrows,” are on the streets.

“It’s a bicycle symbol with two chevrons in the front,” she said.

The sharrows were designed to inform bicyclists to ride through the center to help avoid getting hit by doors of parked cars because it makes them more visible. For motorists, these are a reminder to be cautious of bicyclists. Sharrows are located on Alder St., University Ave., 13th Ave. and are coming this summer to 15th Ave.

We Bike Eugene is an organization that raises awareness on bike culture. On May 20, they will have their annual Ride of Silence. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a reading of names of members who lost their lives while cycling on public streets. At 6:30 p.m., bicyclists will ride 5 miles from the Educational Memorial Plaza to the David Minor Theater.

On May 29, Shoemaker said EPD crime prevention specialists register bikes at their Breakfast at the Bike Bridges event. The event is designed for commuters to learn about transportation in Eugene and get their bikes registered and checked for any safety hazards.

On-campus bike registration must be done in person at the Department of Parking and Transportation. To find out more information about the Ride of Silence or Breakfast at the Bike Bridges, click on the links provided.

During a span of two days, East 13th and Kincaid had two liquor violations, two reports of criminal trespassing, one incident of assault and theft and a citation given for urinating in public.

A sexual assault was reported on campus on May 13 and was received from Title IX.

An arrest was made in Oregon Hall for possession of meth and two drug violations were reported at Hamilton Complex and the North Soccer Field.

Below is a list of how many crimes were reported at a variety of locations throughout week 8.

E. 13th & Kincaid: 7
Living Learning Center South: 3
Earl Complex: 1
North Soccer Field: 1
McKenzie Hall: 1
Global Scholars Hall: 2
Autzen Stadium: 1
Student Rec Center: 1
Oregon Hall: 2

One in four adults experience mental illness a year.

Jason Davis, Public Information Officer for Lane County Health & Human Services, said Lane County has one of the highest provider-patient ratios in the state of Oregon.

Oregon used to have a reputation of being one of the worst states in caring for people with mental illness. It wasn’t until a few years ago that the state finally developed a plan to establish better treatment facilities.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Davis said, “It’s important to shine the light on the fact that people are suffering from this.”

When it comes to mental illness, prevention is key. Davis said the best way to prevent it is by changing the stigmas that surround it and promoting mental wellness.

Davis said when you’re looking at the development of mental illness, it’s genetic and environmental. He said a leading cause of some mental illnesses can be stress related, which college students suffer from more than others.

“People don’t feel it’s appropriate to seek help when confronted with stress,” Davis said. “Taking care of yourself should happen everyday and if you feel that stress, it needs to be dealt with.”

Suzie Stadelman, University Counseling and Testing Center Outreach Coordinator, said at the University of Oregon there are numerous mental health resources for students. The HEDCO Clinic offers couples and family therapy and provides six free sessions to students. Student Support Services is a college retention program for students who want academic advising and mental health counseling. On campus, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) partners with the Student Mental Health Advocates (SMHA) to give peer support group meetings.

Juan Rivera is the SMHA director. He said NAMI is an important organization because all services are free and people can still continue to go to peer support groups in their hometowns.

“Individuals who don’t seek help because of money or time, are embarrassed and perform more poorly in school,” he said. “Some people don’t notice specific signs and we work on that.”

Not only does NAMI offer peer support groups, but also they provide classes and training about mental illness. NAMI on campus works directly with NAMI of Lane County to insure they’re actively supporting each other and giving people access to these services citywide.

Since it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI will be participating in a 5K mental health care walk, NAMIWalks, on May 17 in Portland. All of the NAMIs in Oregon will come together to help raise awareness and funds to help keep NAMI programs free of charge for those in need.

There will be a total of six other events throughout the month. A workshop on body image will be on May 13 and with a panel about how mental health affects student lives.

It’s important to raise awareness this month about mental illness because any number of things can happen when it goes untreated.

“It’s based on the individual,” Davis said. “Life is not perfect, it’s unfortunate to have to deal with a mental illness while at college but you have to feel comfortable to seek help and manage it.”

May began with two cases of false reporting and one case of bicycle theft at the Knight Library. Earl Complex had 10 reported cases of liquor violations, one report of bicycle theft and two reports of allowing alcohol consumption on May 3.

Several cases of crime were reported on Cinco De Mayo. Two reports included sexual assault and stalking on campus.

There were three reports of theft at the Knight Library, Autzen Stadium and Lawrence Hall.

Total crime related incidents this week:

Liquor violations: 10
Drug violations: 1
Allowing alcohol consumption: 2
Disorderly conduct: 1
Theft: 6
Criminal mischief: 1

At the beginning of winter term 2013,  a student from the University of Portland transferred to the University of Oregon. Juan Rivera was excited to make the move, but trouble back in his hometown of San Diego, California left him feeling lonely.

“My parents were going through a divorce (at the time),” Rivera said.

He was searching for someone to talk to because he felt he couldn’t handle the back and forth phone calls from his family on his own.

Rivera first sought help at the University Counseling and Testing Center, but he decided not to pursue treatment when he was referred off-campus for help.

“People saw I was going further into depression,” Rivera said. “My grades were slipping.”

Soon, Rivera found UO Active Minds — a group of students who have dedicated their time to providing mental health services to those in the UO community. He attended one of their events, called an “awkward social” and immediately felt like he had found a place where he was supported.

“It showed me that I’m not really the only one,” Rivera said. “There are other students that go through this.”

Rivera became president of the group in spring of 2013. In July 2014, the group was renamed Student Mental Health Advocates. Rivera says it’s a place where mental health advocates, supporters and people struggling with hardship can come together and support one another. The goal of this team is to help remove the stigma of mental health illness in the community.

“You don’t have to have a diagnosis — you can be an ally, you can be a supporter,” Rivera said.

The SMHA partnered with the National Alliance of Mental Health of Lane County to have a student subgroup on campus. These services are entirely free for students and they can go to peer support groups, attend classes and get professional help. They also focus on outreach campaigns to raise awareness about mental health and help bring speakers to campus.

“This is a great opportunity for students,” Rivera said. “The first priority is to get the student help.”

The counseling center offers a variety of resources, primarily individual and group counseling and up to 10 free consultations, where students can get advice about a friend in need of services. To make an appointment with the counseling center, a student must first do a phone assessment.

Suzie Stadelman, outreach coordinator for the counseling center, said that the 20 minute phone assessment is designed to see what the student is looking for.

“From there, we see if they’re interested in off-campus or an in-person assessment,” Stadelman said.

At the counseling center, Stadelman said students’ insurance is not currently accepted.

“Currently, services are being covered by student fees,” Stadelman said. “But that will likely change in fall 2015.”

Included in tuition is a mandatory student health fee that all registered students must pay. The fee allows these students to use services offered — but it’s not health insurance and it doesn’t cover charges for medical services received.

The counseling center looks at it from a social justice perspective and wants to ensure that all students have access to its services.

“We consider what would be the best options for them in regards to their circumstances,” Stadelman said. “If they don’t have insurance, that’s someone who is prioritized.”

The counseling center is limited to the amount of sessions provided.

“We operate on a brief therapy model because we have so many students,” Stadelman said. “We try to keep it to six to 12, but it varies with each student.”

On staff, the counseling center has 20 full-time and seven part time counselors. When Stadelman started working here two years ago, there was a waitlist for students seeking services. This fluctuates depending on the term but currently it does not have a waitlist. Students could either be on the waitlist or work with the center’s case manager to get referred out.

Dillon Vibes, freshman art major, said he walked into the counseling center to ask for resources to help a friend in need.

“They had a counselor available to speak with right away,” Vibes said.

The counseling center typically refers people to the university’s psychology clinic, which is supported by the department, not student fees. This clinic is a training site for people in the doctoral program, so clients are seen by student therapists under supervision of a licensed psychologist.

“We’re able to offer services at a much lower rate, we don’t bill insurance at all,” said Crystal Dehle, psychology clinic director.

Dehle said the clinic doesn’t limit the amount of sessions per student, typically students are seen 20-25 times and they try to provide a course of treatment within an academic timeframe.

At the psychology clinic department, each student therapist has a caseload of four individual clients. They currently are providing services for 60-70 clients. The clinic still has room for couples looking for therapy. However, according to Dehle, the clinic is fairly full otherwise.

Eugene Therapy is an off-campus referral option. Marc Zola, licensed professional counselor and founder of Eugene Therapy, said most clients are referrals from UO. They take all commercial insurance, the process isn’t as lengthy and students can seek services at around $10-20 per session.

Eugene Therapy is also where Rivera ended up going for one-on-one support. He credits SMHA with helping him get there.

“We provide an opportunity for (mental health organizations) to reach students that they would not usually reach,” Rivera says about the ongoing role of SMHA. “Students are more open to students…you’re just their peers.”