Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Cameras help ease Wilmington traffic


trafficsignal300.jpgWILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- Waiting for a traffic light to turn green can be frustrating. The City of Wilmington is out to make your commute much easier.
In a joint project with the state Department of Transportation, the city has installed 30 cameras at major intersections in Wilmington. Engineers can operate the cameras in a control room to manage traffic flow on overcrowded roads. The new system will allow better timing and coordination of traffic signals.
"For example, during the construction of Independence Blvd., we've used the cameras to notice that lanes were shut down in real time, made adjustments to the traffic signals to try to reallocate that green and reduce delay for the motorists," city traffic engineer Don Bennett said. "We've seen motor vehicle accidents where multiple lanes are blocked, and we will either retime that individual signal, or if we notice people are detouring around the incident to other signals, we can make adjustments to those."
The project has been in the works for the past seven years and cost $8 million. 
To view a map of the available cameras, please go to the following link:
http://www.ci.wilmington.nc.us/quick_links/residents/traffic_cameras.aspx

This link as also been added under this pages LINK as "Live Wilmington Traffic Cameras" and on the Leland PD Website page.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

LPD's "Prescription Drug Drop Box" Holds Pounds of Discarded Drugs


Over 18 months ago, the Leland Police Department initiated a program to collect prescription drugs that had either expired or were no longer being taken. The genesis behind this program was to remove unwanted prescription drugs from general circulation, drugs that have begun, over the past years, to be abused and used by individuals who were not intended to have them.  This includes children in schools that take them from medicine cabinets to trade or sell, a problem that has grown over the past few years and has now become a greater problem then other traditionally abused and sold drugs, such as marijuana.  Use of prescription drugs has also increased in severity with older drug users who have moved from selling cocaine and heroin to also include prescription drugs, such as hydrocodone and Zanex.  Their desire to obtain these drugs have led to increases in break-ins into houses to steal them, as well as stealing them from pharmacies by prescription fraud or strong arm robberies.  Voluntary turn-in of unwanted prescription drugs can help prevent these abuses and crimes. 


On Wednesday, April 28th, the Leland Police Department held a press conference to display the contents of the it's “Prescription Drug Drop Box” that has collected pounds and pounds of narcotics.  Dropping them off at the police department is safer and more environmentally responsible then flushing them down the toilet or pouring them down the drain.  These drugs will be destroyed with the assistance of federal agencies so that they can not return to circulation and potentially be abused.


If you have prescription drugs that have expired or you no longer wish to have in your house, please bring them to the Leland Police Department and place them in the Prescription Drug Drop Box for destruction.


For further information concerning prescription drug abuse, go to http://www.theantidrug.com.

Commonly abused drugs:

Painkillers
Painkillers are drugs commonly prescribed for pain and are only legally available by prescription.
Painkiller abuse can be dangerous, even deadly, with too high a dose or when taken with other drugs, like alcohol. Short-term effects of painkiller abuse may include lack of energy, inability to concentrate, nausea and vomiting, and apathy. Significant doses of painkillers can cause breathing problems. When abused, painkillers can be addictive.
Brand names include: Vicodin, Tylenol with Codeine, OxyContin, and Percocet.

Depressants
Depressants, or downers, are prescribed to treat a variety of health conditions including anxiety and panic attacks, tension, severe stress reactions, and sleep disorders. Also referred to as sedatives and tranquilizers, depressants can slow normal brain function.
Health risks related to depressant abuse include loss of coordination, respiratory depression, dizziness due to lowered blood pressure, slurred speech, poor concentration, feelings of confusion, and in extreme cases, coma and possible death.
Brand names include: Klonopin, Nembutal, Soma, Ambien, Valium, and Xanax.

Stimulants
Stimulants, or uppers, are most commonly prescribed for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but they are also used to treat a variety of conditions such as asthma, respiratory problems, obesity, and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. When taken in higher doses, these drugs can produce euphoric effects and counteract sluggish feelings.
Health risks related to stimulant abuse include increased heart and respiratory rates, excessive sweating, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, hostility and aggression, and in severe abuse, suicidal/homicidal tendencies, convulsions, and cardiovascular collapse.
Brand names include: Concerta, Dexedrine, and Ritalin.