"Shoot Hoops, Not Drugs" summer basketball camps build self-respect in rural Kentucky, devastated by drug abuse
BALTIMORE, June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Ameritox(SM), a national leader in medication monitoring solutions, will sponsor for the second consecutive year a series of summer basketball camps organized by Kentucky-based Operation UNITE. The camps use basketball skill building as the framework for teaching youth the value of self-respect and the dangers of drug use.
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of the "Shoot Hoops, Not Drugs" basketball camps conducted by Operation UNITE, created by Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers in 2003 to join government, law enforcement and businesses in fighting Kentucky's rampant drug abuse. The camps were created to instill strong deterrents for drug abuse in school-aged children, the demographic most likely to become drug misusers and abusers. The camps' messages build confidence and a sense of the importance of teamwork.
Operation UNITE organizes the basketball clinics in rural areas of Kentucky, which in recent years have been ravaged by prescription and illegal drug abuse. Opioid abuse alone has cost thousands of Kentuckians' lives and hundreds of millions of dollars annually in lost wages and hospital bills.
"Kentucky was among the earliest states to be impacted by illegal prescription drug misuse and abuse, which unfortunately is now a national issue," said Ameritox CEO Scott Walton. "Like Ameritox, Operation UNITE is focused on providing solutions to tackle this problem, and these camps offer a proactive way to get kids involved in healthy activities and to teach them to avoid unhealthy ones."
Ameritox employees will provide support to Operation UNITE staff at the camps.
"Ameritox's mission of helping to prevent the tragedy that results from drug misuse and abuse matches Operation UNITE's mission, which is why we are proud to have them again as the lead sponsor of these camps," said Nancy Hale, CEO of Operation UNITE. "We're grateful for Ameritox's generous support."
The 2015 camps will be conducted by former University of Kentucky Final Four MVP Jeff Sheppard. The dates and locations of the camps are:
- Monday, June 8 – Magoffin County High School, Salyersville
- Tuesday, June 9 – Prestonsburg High School, Floyd County
- Thursday, June 11 – Jackson County High School, McKee
- Tuesday, June 16 – Lynn Camp High School, Corbin, Knox County
- Thursday, June 18 – McCreary County Middle School, Stearns
About Ameritox
Ameritox's prescription drug monitoring services help address the national epidemic of prescription drug misuse, abuse, and diversion. As a national leader in medication monitoring solutions, Ameritox provides medical and business professionals with health care solutions that can help improve patient care and prevent tragedy. Ameritox, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has 800 employees nationwide and laboratory facilities in Greensboro, N.C.
Visit the Ameritox website at: www.ameritox.com
Follow Ameritox on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ameritox
Watch Ameritox on YouTube: www.youtube.com/ameritox
About Operation UNITE
Operation UNITE, which stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education, seeks to fight the drug epidemic by expanding drug awareness and education programs to keep people from using drugs; coordinating drug treatment and outreach programs for those who are already addicted; and operating regional undercover law enforcement task forces for interdiction and prosecution of those dealing drugs.
Visit the UNITE website at: www.operationunite.org