Blue Cross to limit opioid scripts to 30-day supply

Jay Greene's latest article in Crain's Detroit Business discusses the recent move by Blue Cross to limit opioid prescriptions to a 30-day supply.   Here are few excerpts from the article that explain the decision:

• In Michigan, 1,365 people died of opioid overdoses in 2016, compared to 884 in 2015 and 426 in 2012, meaning Michigan's overdose rate has tripled since 2012, said the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
• Doctors, pharmaceutical companies and health insurers have been criticized over the past two years for their roles in enabling the opioid addiction crisis.
• Physicians have taken steps to limit prescriptions after surgeries and ensure patients have true pain and are not doctor shopping. Many providers and first-responders have also been trained to use naloxone opioid overdose kits.

Read the entire article

Gifts Were Plentiful at Example's Christmas Party

Example's Christmas event featured a great speaker, great games, great gifts, great pizza and great students giving and receiving encouragement to each other.

Mr. Steve Fox, Macomb County assistant prosecuting attorney, spoke to the students and explained the legal and criminal ramifications of using and possessing drugs and alcohol. He also applauded the students for being a part of Example and their willingness to make a difference.  Below are some excerpts from his presentation.

Lindsey and Jordan won the Most Creative and the Ugliest Christmas sweater awards. The raucous white elephant gift exchange included a potpourri of gifts: a 2001 country Christmas cd, Twilight and popcorn to boost the viewing experience, Justin Bieber wrapping paper, and an actual white elephant!

Thank you to everyone who attended.

SHOCKtober 2017

In Macbeth, Shakespeare offers a recipe for a gruesome concoction as the three witches add some interesting ingredients to the cauldron:

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake, 
In the cauldron boil and bake; 
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, 
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, 
Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing, 
For a charm of powerful trouble...

At Saturday's SHOCKtober event, there were no newt eyes, dog tongue, or bat wool.
There was, however, a dash of laughter, a heaping of creativity, a pinch of competition and more than generous amounts of a desire to make a difference.
Once again, high school students demonstrated that alcohol and drugs aren't needed to have fun.




"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." 
                                                        - I Timothy 4:12

Homecoming Advice for Parents

Example is reposting this article from 2012. 

Parents,
Homecoming isn't too far away and it's a great opportunity to be an Example to your son and/or daughter.  Here are some tips for parents taken from another web site. 

q  Know where your teenager will be.  Obtain the phone number and address of the party giver.  Agree that your teenager will call if he goes to another location.

q  Personally contact the parents of the party-giver.  When you call: verify the occasion, offer support or assistance, make sure an adult will be present, and be certain that alcohol and other drugs will not be permitted.

q  Know how your teenager will get to and from the party.  Let your teen know that you, or a specified friend or neighbor, can be called if a ride home is needed for any reason.  Discuss with your teenager the situations which might make such a call necessary.  Reinforce that under no circumstances should your teenager allow someone who has been taking drugs or drinking alcohol to drive them anywhere.

q  Determine with your teenager a reasonable curfew.  Be awake or have your teen awaken you upon arrival home.  Being up and available when your teen comes home encourages communication and could alert you to a potential problem.

q  If your teenager stays overnight with a friend after the party, personally check with the parents.  Be sure they will be home and want your teen to stay over.  Spontaneous “sleep-over” arrangements should always be confirmed with the host parents.

Last May Example reminded parents about the legal responsibilities of hosting parties.  Look it over as you plan Homecoming activities this year.

The Lord has blessed us with children and with those blessing also come responsibilities.  

"Train up a child in the way he should go; 

even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6 

Launching Example for 2017 - 2018

Our first event of the year was great fun and great encouragement. Not only did we laugh and eat more pizza than humanely possible, we also heard from two seniors who gave great advice about making God-pleasing decisions, taking care of yourself and your friends.  Thank you to everyone who helped make our first event a great time.

Thank you Jordan and Michael for leading by Example.

If you couldn't make it, plan now for our next event on Saturday, October 28 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Finis Origine Pendet

Finis Origine Pendet

The end depends on the beginning.

Begin this year by giving and receiving encouragement, strength and hope.

 

Important Questions and Answers

These questions and answers are more important than any Final Jeopardy round.  This article, "Short Answers to Hard Questions About the Opioid Crisis" by Josh Katz  presents eleven questions and answers that everyone needs to read.
The following excerpt is question 7. The others are just as important.
Read all the questions and answers.

What is fentanyl and why is it killing people?

It’s a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin.

Heroin is derived from opium, a plant. That means its growers need fields and labor to harvest the crop. They are tied to land, weather and time.

Fentanyl is purely synthetic. Think chemistry, not agriculture. It’s commonly used for surgical anesthesia and is prescribed to treat pain, but almost all of the fentanyl on the streets is illicitly manufactured. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the majority of illicit fentanyl in the United States is manufactured either in China or in Mexico using precursors bought from China. And at least some portion of it comes to the United States in the mail, ordered from dark web sources like the recently shuttered AlphaBay. But we don’t know how much.

Run Drugs Out of Town

Summer is just around the corner.
While you are enjoying the sun, the beaches, and the absence of homework, plan on participating in Families Against Narcotics' event, Run Drugs Out of Town on Saturday, July 15.

Register online before June 15 and the cost if $25.00.  If you register online, sign up with Team LHN Example. Registration on the day of the event opens at 8:00 a.m.  Festivities begin at 9:00 a.m.
Run, race or walk your way to supporting a great cause.

Example has been a part of this event for the past four years. Families Against Narcotics has been a great resource for Example.  Show your support for a great event and a great organization.

Contact Mr. Brandt if you have any questions.

Keeping the Streak Alive

Thank you, faculty and friends for being a part of Example's kickball tournament.  We are very grateful for your willingness to encourage the young men and women of Lutheran North to make smart, healthy, God-pleasing decisions. Thanks for being part of this great event.

Your non-championship streak is still alive. Perhaps this video explains why...

Prom: A Great Week of Leadership and Encouragement

Thank you to everyone who signed an Example Promise, spoke to the student body, encouraged one another, listened to Dr. McHugh's presentation, clapped for the student speakers and make healthy, intelligent and God-pleasing decisions this Prom weekend.
Here is a recap of the week's events.

Monday:

• Emily and Charles encouraged the student body to make God-pleasing decisions because there are so many great events in life to experience. 
• Student began signing Example PROMise sheets as a way to show North's student body that many people do not drink or use drugs at Prom.

Tuesday: 

• Jack addressed the student body and referenced Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Later that day Jack was awarded the Macomb County Prevention Coalition's Student Leader Award by Macomb County Prosecutor, Eric Smith.
• Example hosted a school assembly featuring Dr. Charlene McHugh.  Dr. McHugh, an ER doctor at St. John Providence Hospital in Detroit, gave a candid and compassionate presentation on the consequences of making poor decisions and how to make healthy decisions.

Wednesday:  

• Example released this video reminding students that Prom can be so much fun and never has to include drugs or alcohol. 

Thursday:

• Therese and Logan encouraged students to enjoy the excitement of Prom and life by not using drugs and alcohol.  Therese's genuine excitement for life and Logan's third reason for not drinking are why you need to watch these presentations.

Friday: 

• While all the seniors enjoyed a day off school, Blaire addressed the remaining student body and combined compassion and common sense to deliver a powerful message about why refraining from drugs and alcohol is a good idea during Prom and every day.

By the week's end tmore than 150 students signed the Example PROMise.  Example also encouraged students to use #LHNExampleProm to tweet the fun they were having during all the festivities. 

It was so good to see students use their leadership skills and their compassion to make a difference. Students, parents, families, teachers, and administrators, thank you for encouraging these young men and women to make healthy, intelligent and God-pleasing decisions during Prom and every day of their lives.