We are beyond excited to share all of the upcoming events, recent activities and news from Waunakee Community Cares Coalition. Our work is focused on keeping Waunakee healthy and resilient. We do this by engaging, empowering, and educating our community in the spaces of alcohol, drug, & nicotine prevention, as well as mental health. In our monthly update, we will offer content, ideas and action steps to engage in this impactful work. Each month will bring strategies and ideas on how to keep Waunakee healthy and resilient. We hope to grow a community of like-minded members to create a better place for us all to live healthy, love abundantly and leave healthy legacies. Much gratitude, WCCC Team |
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In the month of October, the WCCC highlights Red Ribbon Week and the Anti- Drug Campaign. Red Ribbon awareness is meant to demonstrate the importance of making healthy choices and smart decisions throughout life – showing children and teens everywhere that they can achieve their goals by remaining drug-free. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. This year's National Red Ribbon Week Theme is: Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.™ - created by three 7th grade middle school students out of New York. The theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free! The WCCC does important work around drug prevention throughout the year, however, the month of October has allowed for more opportunities to engage and educate our community and youth. We have worked collaboratively with our schools to educate parents and students of the dangers of substances in our community. Our Above the Influence student organization has created a robust plan for education and engagement at the high school for the last week of October including signs, announcements, and a fund raiser. October is also National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. As part of our efforts to spread awareness, the WCCC, in collaboration with the Waunakee Police Department will also be hosting another Drug Take Back Day in our community on October 29th at the Police Department from 10 - 2PM. Wishing you health, resiliency, and the magic found in connection. Thanks for ENGAGING in our work! |
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Each month the WCCC plans to showcase one of our amazing partners that are doing impactful work and serving our community in our theme for the month. This month we showcase Jessica Moehn- AODA Director. | | |
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I am from Monroe, WI (Go Cheesemakers!) and went to undergrad and graduate school at UW Madison. I have both my Bachelor's and Master's in social work and work as a School Social Worker in the Waunakee Community School District. I still live in Madison with my fiancé and our two labs. I love going on walks, drinking coffee, and reading on the couch surrounded by dogs. For four years I was the school district ATODA Prevention Coordinator and got involved with the Waunakee Community Cares Coalition. I’ve been able to go to many trainings, meetings, and the CADCA conference with the coalition to learn tools and strategies to help keep Waunakee Resilient and Healthy. I am currently one of the high school social workers and am still connected to the coalition as a representative of the district. I love working in Waunakee because the community is always there to lend a hand and our students are eager to be leaders.
Red Ribbon week is coming up at the end of October and is a national effort to bring awareness to drug-use prevention work in communities like Waunakee. What started as a small symbol to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs, has grown into a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. -Jessica Moehn, Waunakee Community Hight School Social Worker & AODA Director | | |
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Check out our website to find out a plethora of resources focused on alcohol and drug prevention. | | |
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Cade's Story Shared By Michelle Kullmann |
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My entire life changed in an instant when I heard the words of every parent's worst nightmare. "Cade OD'd last night." Incredulous: "What do you mean OD'd, like dead OD'?!!" - me "Yes, he's gone" Screaming in anguish, "No, no, no, that's not possible, he wouldn't do that!!" - me Never would I have ever imagined that I would be standing in these shoes grieving the loss of my youngest of two children from what was deemed a "drug overdose" at the age of 18 in his freshman dorm room after taking ONE Percocet pill that turned out to be a fake and was 100% fentanyl. Cade knew better...I didn't even know he was using drugs...we had all the talks about not using drugs...he experimented in high school, but I believed he was clean.....he was street smart.....he had his entire life ahead of him....he wanted to travel the world....he just told me he was switching his major to psychology so he could become a counselor...we had just been on a weekend vacation 4 weeks prior and everything was great, there were no signs of drug usage. How could this happen??? Here's what I've learned since that horrific day 11/4/21. Cade did not die from a drug overdose. He didn't take too much of something. He died from fentanyl poisoning, which is a homicide. Should he have taken that drug? Absolutely not. But, he should have had the opportunity to learn from his mistake, not die from it. Never Say: Not My Child. Fentanyl Changes Everything. It is stealing tens of thousands of teens and young people from every single demographic and socioeconomic status. Learn more about how ONE PILL CAN KILL. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among 18-45 year olds with teenage deaths skyrocketing at unprecedented numbers. In the last year, there have been over 107,000 drug related deaths in our country with over 70,000 of them due to fentanyl! That is like a plane crash of over 200 people dying EVERY SINGLE DAY! A lethal dose of fentanyl is a mere 2 mg, as much as a couple of grains of salt. It is 50X stronger than heroin, so if someone unknowingly consumes it in a recreational drug, they can die from first time use, or become instantly addicted. The Mexican Drug Cartels are putting fentanyl, a synthetic opioid cheaply made in underground labs, in all illicit drugs to drive addiction and profits. Learn more from DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. Fentanyl is being found in fake pills that look just like prescription pills such as: Adderall, Xanax, and Percocet and in recreational drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and even vape cartridges. If it is not from a pharmacy or a dispensary, you have to assume the drug will have fentanyl in it. Drug dealers target teens on Snapchat and there is even an entire drug emoji code being used. Snapchat now has parental controls so you can see who your child is communicating with. The dialogue with our youth is no longer "Don't do drugs, drugs are bad and will wreck your life", it is now, "Don't do drugs, as you can die from first time use or become highly addicted". 1 in 3 drug related deaths have a bystander nearby. Narcan (Naloxone nasal spray) can save lives as well as being educated on the signs of a drug overdose/fentanyl poisoning. Please equip your kids with this knowledge. They might not be the one to use a drug, but they can help save a life. As a prevention measure, I strongly recommend watching this 20 minute documentary with your adolescent to learn more about the fentanyl poisoning crisis plaguing our nation, called Dead on Arrival. It is gripping and should be mandatory viewing for all high school and middle school students. So many kids are suffering from anxiety and depression and using drugs or alcohol is a way for them to self medicate without having to get others involved. I believe that teaching kids about resilience and healthy coping mechanisms from a very early age is at the core of a shift that we need to make as a society.
How I wish I could turn back the calendar to one year ago today knowing what I now know and have a conversation about all of the above with Cade. I would like to believe that the outcome would be that he is still here, working on his Psychology degree, taking family vacations with us, telling me stories about his adventures with friends, flashing his amazing smile, giving me his huge hugs, and making big plans for his life. But, I can't turn back the calendar, so all I can do is everything in my power to equip others with this knowledge to help spare other families from this horrific tragedy. And, someday when I get to see him again, I believe that Cade will excitedly get to tell me the story of every life saved and what they went on to do with their lives because they heard his story and made a decision that saved their life or another's life. To learn more about Cade Reddington and the work being done in his name, please visit: www.cadeslight.org Michelle Kullmann Cade's Mom | Forever 18 Dead on Arrival (fentanyl documentary): https://youtu.be/iJgPmrLjkuo CBS Evening News exclusive interview with DEA administrator Anne Milgram: https://youtu.be/IXaAIIJGlbE | | |
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What's next for the WCCC? October 7 WCCC Membership Recognition Tailgate October 13 ATI Student Leadership Meeting October 16 Mental Fitness for Teens Retreat October 24 Alliance for Wisconsin Youth Meeting October 26 WCCC Membership Meeting - WNC October 29 National Drug Take Back Day |
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