Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port CharlotteCharlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port Charlotte A battle intensifies on Oceanside Avenue in Port Charlotte between neighbors and an endless bombardment of car noises.
Charlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures The Charlotte County Community Services has provided an update regarding the boat ramp closures brought about by hurricanes Milton and Helene.
LEE COUNTY Man found guilty of 1st-degree murder in fentanyl-overdose death of Lee County woman A man has been convicted of first-degree murder of unlawful distribution of fentanyl for the overdose death of a Lee County woman.
SANIBEL Sanibel to celebrate 50th anniversary of city’s incorporation The City of Sanibel announced its 50th-anniversary celebration of the city’s incorporation to prevent overdevelopment.
the weather authority Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
The Weather Authority Warm and breezy with a few showers for your Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm start to the workweek with breezy conditions and a chance of showers this afternoon.
Know where your voting precinct is in Southwest Florida Election Day is only one day away, so it is important to know where to go and if you qualify to vote in Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Humane Society of Naples looking to give homes to 2 dogs Two months ago, WINK News introduced you to Yogi, a pup who had been at the Humane Society of Naples for 797 days due to his shyness.
Democrats and Republicans preparing for Presidential Election The 2024 Presidential Election is on Tuesday. Now that early voting has ended, Southwest Florida political parties are making their final push to voters to vote.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: fatal shooting, criminal mischief, and a drug sting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a fatal shooting, criminal mischief and a drug sting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral firefighters rescue dog from canal, reunited with owner Firefighters with Engine 3 of the Cape Coral Fire Department rescued a dog from a canal early Sunday morning but have yet to locate its owner.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors frustrated with car noises in Port Charlotte A battle intensifies on Oceanside Avenue in Port Charlotte between neighbors and an endless bombardment of car noises.
Charlotte County provides update on boat ramp closures The Charlotte County Community Services has provided an update regarding the boat ramp closures brought about by hurricanes Milton and Helene.
LEE COUNTY Man found guilty of 1st-degree murder in fentanyl-overdose death of Lee County woman A man has been convicted of first-degree murder of unlawful distribution of fentanyl for the overdose death of a Lee County woman.
SANIBEL Sanibel to celebrate 50th anniversary of city’s incorporation The City of Sanibel announced its 50th-anniversary celebration of the city’s incorporation to prevent overdevelopment.
the weather authority Tropical Depression 18 forms; expected to become Tropical Storm Rafael The Weather Authority meteorologists are monitoring the Caribbean as Tropical Depression 18 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Rafael.
The Weather Authority Warm and breezy with a few showers for your Monday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a warm start to the workweek with breezy conditions and a chance of showers this afternoon.
Know where your voting precinct is in Southwest Florida Election Day is only one day away, so it is important to know where to go and if you qualify to vote in Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Humane Society of Naples looking to give homes to 2 dogs Two months ago, WINK News introduced you to Yogi, a pup who had been at the Humane Society of Naples for 797 days due to his shyness.
Democrats and Republicans preparing for Presidential Election The 2024 Presidential Election is on Tuesday. Now that early voting has ended, Southwest Florida political parties are making their final push to voters to vote.
southwest florida WINK Neighborhood Watch: fatal shooting, criminal mischief, and a drug sting This week’s segment of WINK Neighborhood Watch features a fatal shooting, criminal mischief and a drug sting.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral firefighters rescue dog from canal, reunited with owner Firefighters with Engine 3 of the Cape Coral Fire Department rescued a dog from a canal early Sunday morning but have yet to locate its owner.
Early voting ends Sunday in Charlotte County; here’s where to cast your ballot Sunday is the final day for early voting if you are a resident of Charlotte County, with just two days to go until the 2024 presidential election.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA The Weather Authority: First cone out for potential Tropical Storm Rafael It’s the final month of hurricane season, and while typically, we start to see things quiet down, the Weather Authority is tracking three areas in the tropics.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Warm, breezy Sunday on tap with rain chances increasing this week The Weather Authority is tracking another warm day with temperatures in the upper 80s.
ENGLEWOOD Englewood Chamber of Commerce donates $88,000 to hurricane relief fund The Englewood Chamber of Commerce announced that they are making a significant donation to the chamber’s community hurricane relief fund.
Credit: WINK News Opioid overdoses are increasing every day across the country. In Florida opioid-related deaths spiked by 35 percent for 2017. In Fort Myers a local grief support group says one in four children in their program have lost a parent to drugs. Tucked away on a small downtown Fort Myers street lies a cozy historic house with a big family, made up of boys and girls, moms and dads, all of them with one thing in common – death of a loved one. They meet at Valerie’s House to talk, to eat, to play, and to grieve. In the center of the house is the memory wall, a tribute to lives lost to cancer, car accidents, heart attacks and drugs overdoses. Jeffrey Lampila lost his wife two years ago when she overdosed on Xanax, oxycodone and cocaine which left her husband to care for their two young children, daughter Kinzlie and son Finn. Finn remembers his mother , “I miss going to the beach a lot because we used to go to the beach a whole lot. Her smile. And the fun things we used to do.” 27 of the 34 new children at Valerie’s House have lost someone to drugs since October 1. That’s 80 percent, a number alarming the non-profit dedicated to helping children who have lost a family member. Heroin related deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010 across the country according to the CDC. And right here in Southwest Florida, Lee Health saw a 103 percent increase in opioid overdoses in the past year from 470 in fiscal year 2016 to 955 in 2017. Freya Turner lost her sister to heroin, “all she wanted for me was to just be who I am and be smart,” she said. Her big sister was found dead in a car in a parking lot in Estero. Her ankle tied off and heroin in her system. Her mom found the suicide note. “Its an epidemic. What we’ve seen is we have had EMS, first responders, they say they are seeing a huge increase in the number of opioid deaths,” said Andy McNiel, an expert in children’s grief counseling, has seen the impact firsthand. “The biggest thing children need after that type of death is they need kind loving caring adults who are understanding and who are patient with them as they are coming to terms with what happened and learning to live without this person in their life.” And that’s exactly what Valerie’s House tries to do. Clinging on to his teddy bear, Finn says he feels comfortable there, “I get to talk about my mom and how she died and also how to get to be happy here.” All in a house where kids are helping kids heal. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is responsible for supporting treatment services through a block grant program, as well as disseminating findings to the field and promoting their adoption. CSAT also operates the 24-hour National Treatment Referral Hotline (1-800-662-HELP), which offers information and referral services to people seeking treatment programs and other assistance. CSAT publications are available through SAMHSA’s Store (store.samhsa.gov). Additional information about CSAT can be found on SAMHSA’s Web site at www.samhsa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/offices-centers/csat. Selected NIDA Educational Resources on Drug Addiction Treatment The following are available from the NIDA DrugPubs Research Dissemination Center, the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), or the Government Printing Office (GPO). To order, refer to the DrugPubs (877-NIDANIH [643-2644]), NTIS (1-800-553-6847), or GPO (202-512-1800) number provided with the resource description. Blending products. NIDA’s Blending Initiative—a joint venture with SAMHSA and its nationwide network of Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs)—uses “Blending Teams” of community practitioners, SAMHSA trainers, and NIDA researchers to create products and devise strategic dissemination plans for them. Completed products include those that address the value of buprenorphine therapy and onsite rapid HIV testing in community treatment programs; strategies for treating prescription opioid dependence; and the need to enhance healthcare workers’ proficiency in using tools such as the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), motivational interviewing, and motivational incentives. For more information on Blending products, please visit NIDA’s Web site at drugabuse.gov/blending-initiative. Addiction Severity Index. Provides a structured clinical interview designed to collect information about substance use and functioning in life areas from adult clients seeking drug abuse treatment. For more information on using the ASI and to obtain copies of the most recent edition, please visit triweb.tresearch.org/index.php/tools/download-asiinstruments-manuals/. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction(Reprinted 2010). This publication provides an overview of the science behind the disease of addiction. Publication #NIH 10-5605. Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction. Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What To Ask(2011). This lay-friendly publication offers guidance in seeking drug abuse treatment and lists five questions to ask when searching for a treatment program. NIDA Publication #12-7764. Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/seeking-drug-abuse-treatment. Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide (Revised 2012). Provides 13 essential treatment principles and includes resource information and answers to frequently asked questions. NIH Publication No.: 11-5316. Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations-research-based-guide. NIDA DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction (Revised 2009). This is a fact sheet covering research findings on effective treatment approaches for drug abuse and addiction. Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drugaddiction. Alcohol Alert (published by NIAAA). This is a quarterly bulletin that disseminates important research findings on alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Available online at www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/journals-and-reports/alcohol-alert. Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinicians’s guide (published by NIAAA). This booklet is written for primary care and mental health clinicians and provides guidance in screening and managing alcohol-dependent patients. Available online at pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/clinicians_guide.htm. Research Report Series: Therapeutic Community (2002). This report provides information on the role of residential drug-free settings and their role in the treatment process. NIH Publication #02-4877. Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-community.