The Burbank Police Department, along with the Burbank Unified School District, is committed to ensuring a drug-free environment in our local schools and community. Today, one of the most prolific and dangerous drugs leading to addiction and death in this country are Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 174 people a day are dying nationwide from this epidemic. This epidemic is gaining momentum and showing no signs of slowing down.

It is our goal to provide the following resources in an effort to educate the community on drug and alcohol addiction, to provide those suffering from addiction the methods and tools needed to seek help, as well as provide encouragement and support to the families.

Understanding the connection: "I use because I'm depressed, I'm depressed because I use."

                                                                                                                                              - An addict

Get Help - You are not alone.

L.A. County Informational Resources

• Overcoming Drug Addiction - Drug abuse treatment, recovery and help

            https://www.helpguide.org/home-pages/addictions.htm

• Help.org - An organization dedicated to empowering people with resources and the tools they need to start or continue on their journey of recovery from substance abuse.

            https://www.help.org/

• US Dept. of Health and Human Services - Substance abuse treatment facility locator

            https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

•  Narcotics Anonymous - Free addiction support group, multiple locations

            http://www.clana.org/index.html

• Teen Challenge - Free residential drug rehabilitation program for age 18 and above

            https://www.teenchallenge.org/

• Phoenix House - Residential and outpatient treatment for teens from 13 to 18 years old with substance abuse and mental health disorders

            https://www.phoenixhouse.org/

• Addiction Center - A free web information guide that connects addicts and their families with information and support on different substances, addictions, and recovery resources

            https://www.addictioncenter.com/

Get Local - Local Resources

• Family Service Agency of Burbank – A caring presence treating the mental and emotional well-being of children, adults and families suffering silently through counseling, preventing, educating and advocating since 1953.

          http://familyserviceagencyofburbank.com 

• Not One More - Working with City officials, BUSD officials and other community-based organizations aimed at preventing, dealing with and educating our community about the dangers of drug abuse, depression and bullying in our city.

           https://www.notonemore.net/

• Parent Project/Loving Solutions/Teen Project - Free parenting class, free teen personal and social responsibility class

          http://www.parentproject.com/

• Internet Safety & Cyber Bullying

          https://www.stopbullying.gov/

• Suicide Prevention & Awareness

Get Informed - Understanding Substance Abuse

• California Department of Health Care Services - Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support

               http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx

• CADCA - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Building Drug-Free Communities

               https://www.cadca.org/

• Drugs - Drug Information Online (including heroin)

               https://www.drugs.com/             

• Narcotic Educational Foundation of America - Working Together in Providing Drug Education

               https://www.cnoa.org/sitemap

• National Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction

               https://www.drugabuse.gov/     

• OTCsafety.org - Your Resource for Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety

               https://www.knowyourotcs.org/

Get Involved – Parents and Families

• DrugFree.org - Prevent.  Intervene.  Get Treatment.  Recover

               https://drugfree.org/

• Stop Medicine Abuse - Parents: Learn about teen medicine abuse

               https://stopmedicineabuse.org/

• TheAntiDrug.com - Parents: The Anti-Drug.

               https://drugfree.org/resources/

• Time to Talk - The conversation starts here.

               http://drugfreenh.org/

• United Parents - Provides support, education, and resources for families of youth struggling with drugs, mental health, emotional, or behavioral disorders and a 24-hour crisis hotline, 1-866-431-2478.

               https://www.unitedparents.org/

Get Prepared – Be Able to Save a Life

Obtaining Naloxone (Narcan - Opioid overdose reversal):

Since death by overdose can occur in only a matter of minutes, immediate action must be taken.

NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray is the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

You can purchase it from any pharmacy who stocks it without a prescription.

https://www.narcan.com/

If your participating drug store does not currently stock naloxone or you have any difficulty purchasing naloxone in your participating pharmacy, please call 1-800-SHOPCVS (1-800-746-7287) for assistance.

A Burbank CVS Store that stocks Naloxone is located at 2500 W. Victory Bl., (818) 955-8200 – it can be purchased over the counter without a prescription.

cOMMON MYTHS OF OVERDOSE

What should you do when someone overdoses?  Sometimes figuring out what NOT to do can be as important as what TO do. 

•             “It won’t happen to me.”

If you use it can happen to you. In fact, experienced long-term users are more likely to experience fatal or non-fatal overdoses than novice users.

•             “Let them sleep it off.”

If someone is really stoned, you may be leaving them to a slow drift into death.

•             “Put them in the shower or the bath.”

This can rapidly change their core body temperature, which could put them in shock – extremes of temperature tend to shut your body down. It can also result in drowning.

•             “Don’t call for an ambulance because the cops will show up.”

As of January 1, 2013, California enacted the 911 Good Samaritan Law. This law encourages witnesses at the scene of a suspected drug or alcohol overdose to seek emergency assistance right away without fear of arrest for minor drug law violations.

•              “If you’ve had Narcan you’re fine and can use again; Narcan will protect you so that you can  have a whack immediately after.”

The Narcan will wear off in an hour or two and it’s easy to drop again, even if you don’t have more.

•             “Most OD’s happen because the purity changes.”

Purity change can lead to OD, but most OD’s are a result of polydrug usage: alcohol/pills + smack = OD.

•             “Usually new users overdose.”

Some new users OD, but most people who OD have been using for years. This sometimes happens to users who are trying to stop or who have been in prison or rehab. This is because tolerance levels change over very short periods of time – even in a couple of days. One of the most common OD scenarios is when people use even small amounts of heroin when they have been taking pills and booze.

•             “Suicide is the most common reason for OD’s.”

Most OD’s are accidental.

•             “Give them stimulants (caffeine/speed).”

The only drug that will help is Narcan.

•             “If they are snoring or gurgling they are OK.”

These sounds mean they are having trouble breathing – not OK.

•             “Once they are breathing again they’ll be OK.”

Most people who OD lapse in and out of unconsciousness for some time.

•             “If I’m with friends I’ll be okay.”

Your friends may be too out of it to help, or may not know what to do. Make sure they do know what to do!

•             “ODs happen quickly – you keel over ‘Trainspotting’ style.”

Some ODs happen quickly, but most people who fatally OD take a while to die – their breathing gradually slows and then stops.

•             “Don’t run call 911.”

Source: The above information is taken from Chapter 5 MYTHS AND FACTS in the Services Directory for Drug and Alcohol Users (Australia).

Safe Disposal of Prescription Medication

The Burbank Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, hosts two Drug Take Back events each year, where citizens are afforded an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, and/or expired medications on a "no questions asked" basis. These events are normally held in April and October. Refer to our calendar section on the website for the next scheduled Drug Take Back event.

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.  Drug abuse rates in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.  By properly and safely disposing of medications, you can help in reducing the misuse of these drugs and also preventing potential safety and health hazards often associated with the improper disposal of medications, such as flushing them down the toilet.

Here are links to information regarding year-round disposal of medications and sharps:

https://www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org/NoDrugs/disposal.asp

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm

https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Medications/Household/