The Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol boat made an unexpected arrival and gave a demonstration for the students and Explorers.

Students from various Orange County high schools attended the event not only for a worthy cause, but to enjoy a little sun, fun and relaxation. Students also earned community service hours for their efforts.

Photo: Darrell Lum

Drug Use Is Life Abuse and the Sheriff’s Advisory Council partnered with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for the 2010 Orange County Fair Display Booth. This year’s fair theme was “The Beat Goes On.” The Orange County Sheriff’s Department shared a booth with other agencies from the County of Orange;  each county agency having a specific time slot for their display.  The OC Sheriff’s Department display was featured at the County of Orange booth location from July 16 through July 18. The OC Sheriff’s Department’s booth highlighted their booth their “Mission Statement and Core Values” (Integrity, Service, Professionalism and Vigilance).

Orange County Fair boasted low prices and expected Southern Californians to take advantage of the close-to-home entertainment.

Photo: Darrell Lum

Next Step students from Santa Margarita Catholic High School mentor students from Marina Christian School in Costa Mesa, CA. This 6-week program uses small group sessions to facilitate drug education efforts.  Students who participate in small groups are more likely to ask intimate questions about drug use and are less intimated.

Photo: Darrell Lum

The 2010 Project 999 Memorial Bike Ride, a 630 mile journey from Sacramento to Santa Ana took place May 25. The group raised over $100,000 to benefit Project 999  which provides assistance to Peace Officers injured in the line of duty and the families of Peace Officers killed in the line of duty.

Link to video: 2010 Project 999 Memorial Bike Ride
Photo and Video: Darrell Lum

Deputy Scott Yuen provides training to the high school students regarding current drug trends, symptomology, identification and the drug’s physiological effects. The students work as a team to develop a 45 minute presentation to address drug abuse and its dangers. Various forms of teaching techniques are used to engage the 8th grade students. Creativeness and variety is encouraged to develop unique ways of getting younger students to deter drug abuse. This proved to be an effective and fun way to get the younger students to remember information from the drug presentation.

Photo: Darrell Lum

Photo: Darrell Lum

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department continues its longstanding tradition of supporting Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa & Friends – the county’s partnership programs that provide Christmas gifts to the county’s “neediest of the needy.”

This year, charitable donations down across the nation, but OCSD employees responded beyond expectations.  Sheriff’s Department employee donations alone brightened Christmas morning for more than 5,000 infants, toddlers, children, teens, and seniors.

Sheriff’s Department employees have led the way in donating to this countywide campaign for many years.  Their determination to share holiday joy has earned them gratitude and respect.  As always, the need is not just for children’s gifts.  This year, gifts were particularly needed for teens, seniors, and toddlers.

Photo: Darrell Lum 

However, starting with early-morning setup, and concluding with late-afternoon teardown and clean up, 140+ members of DUILA’s high school group, IMPACT, conduct the actual event. By volunteering their time to create, lead, and staff youth activities that promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, IMPACT members help eliminate youth substance abuse and violence.

After helping unload truckloads of supplies and equipment, these dedicated young people transform a gymnasium into an effective holiday environment with original handmade wall murals, centerpieces, cut-paper decorations, a helium balloon arch, flowers, and several decorated Christmas trees. When the children and parents arrive, IMPACT youth switch gears, and begin serving food and conducting children’s activities, including games, face painting, coloring, making balloon animals, and overseeing the bounce house. Several work in Santa’s Visiting area, as photographers, gift assistants, and even taking a turn in the red suit.

While providing this important community service each year, IMPACT youth learn valuable lessons in teamwork and leadership. Their youthful advocacy effectively reaches the children attending the event, providing a tangible example of smart, attractive, active, and drug-free youth having a great time in Life. At the end of the event, these future leaders leave the event site well-satisfied with the important mission they have accomplished, and re-energized about continuing their personal commitment to preventing youth substance abuse and violence among their peers.

Photo: Darrell Lum

Photo: Darrell Lum

The meeting, sponsored by Drug Use Is Life Abuse (DUILA), Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) was at the Capistrano Unified School District Office in San Juan Capistrano. The goal was to raise awareness about the problems of prescription drug and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse among teens.

Recent studies have spotlighted medicine abuse, including the abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines, as an alarming trend among young people. When used correctly, these drugs are safe and effective. But when abused, these drugs can produce dangerous side effects, including death.

“Through collaborative efforts and united resources, CHPA and CADCA are helping us to educate our community about this dangerous trend,” said Marilyn MacDougall, Executive Director of DUILA. “From parents and educators to law enforcement officials, it is imperative that we come together to learn about medicine abuse so that we can raise awareness about its dangers among our teens.”