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There is snow on the ground and the nights are still long and cold. Summer sun, warm breezes and outdoor fun and vacations seem a long way off. But right now is actually the perfect time to start planning a fun, rich and rewarding summer for your children at the Bethlehem YMCA.

This will be the second year of hosting Y summer camp in our new outdoor pavilion, a terrifi c new facility with a kitchen, bathrooms and lots of space for campers to relax in the shade. This year we are introducing several new programs to make our camp experience even more fun for kids and more convenient for parents.

The Y’s summer camp is now open to non-members as well as Y members. In addition, we have created a new “travel camp” experience for older kids, grades 6 through 9. They will go on fi eld trips three days a week to attractions throughout the region. There are also opportunities for older kids to become Counselors in Training so they can work with the younger kids later on.

Younger campers will go on a fi eld trip to a state park or amusement park once a week and enjoy learning a wide variety of outdoor living skills such as knot tying, building campfi res and shelters, and learning how to cook over a fi re. The fi eld area surrounding our pavilion is a great place for kickball, softball, archery and volley ball. There are even drama activities for kids who want to put on plays for the other campers as well as music and art programs.

For parents, the Bethlehem Y summer camp offers free before and after camp care to accommodate your work hours. You can easily register online by going to cdymca.org and clicking on “summer camp.” We also offer a sibling discount of 10 percent if you register more than one child.

Glossy brochures or newspaper columns provide the information you need to make an informed choice. We know your mailbox and inbox are fi lled with offers for summer camps. But our best salespeople are the kids who have made great friends and wonderful memories spending their summers at the Bethlehem Y...and their parents.

Angela Nixon sent her son Akye to the Bethlehem Y summer camp last year. It was an excellent decision, she said, because when she came to pick up her son, he did not want to leave.

“Akye enjoyed the games, athe learning and the daily activities,” she said. “Akye always had fun, he made friends and was excited to be around the counselors. I felt the genuine caring of all the counselors, they showed a great deal of responsibility and respect to the kids and the parents. The weekly fi eld trips was always something Akye looked forward to, that was time of learning & experiencing new things.”

Akye said, “I always had fun at Y camp. My favorite things were swimming, games, archery,and hiking. I also learned how to make a campfi re. I had the best time ever. I loved the Bethlehem Y summer camp.”

Your child’s most memorable summer camp experience is just a few clicks away atcdymca.org. Just click on summer camps or stop by the front desk at the Bethlehem Y for more information.

Mark HansenMembership and Marketing ChairBoard MemberCapital District YMCABethlehem Area Branch. 518-439-4394

Powered by CommunityFrom The Bethlehem Y Board of Managers

and Bethlehem Y Leadership Staff

Your child’s most memorable summer camp experience is just a few clicks away...

36

Counterfeit Drugs:Questions & Answers from the FDA

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm169898.htm

Question: What is the defi nition of a counterfeit drug?A. U.S. law defi nes counterfeit drugs as those sold under a product name without proper authorization. Counterfeiting can apply to both brand name and generic products, where the identity of the source is mislabeled in a way that suggests that it is the authentic approved product. Counterfeit products may include products without the active ingredient, with an insuffi cient or excessive quantity of the active ingredient, with the wrong active ingredient, or with fake packaging. Question: What risks are involved with taking counterfeit drugs?A. An individual who receives a counterfeit drug may be at risk for a number of dangerous health consequences. Patients may experience unexpected side effects, allergic reactions, or a worsening of their medical condition. A number of counterfeit products do not contain any active ingredients, and instead contain inert substances, which do not provide the patient any treatment benefi t. Counterfeit drugs may also contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages of the correct ingredients, or they may contain hazardous ingredients. Question: What is the prevalence of counterfeit drugs in the U.S.?A. Drug counterfeiting occurs less frequently in the U.S. than in other countries due to the strict regulatory framework that governs the production of drug products and the distribution chain, and enforcement against violators. However, the U.S. has recently experienced three highly publicized examples of counterfeit drugs within the U.S. distribution system: (1) Lipitor tablets, a cholesterol-lowering medication, (2) Procrit, an injectable drug used to stimulate red blood cell growth, and (3) Alli, an over-the-counter weight-loss drug. FDA continues to believe, and works to ensure, that the overall quality of drug products that consumers purchase from U.S. pharmacies remains high. The American public can be confi dent that these medications are safe and effective. Question: Should consumers who currently purchase drugs over the Internet or import medications from other countries be concerned about counterfeits?A. Consumers can be confi dent in the quality, safety, and effi cacy of drugs purchased from a state-licensed pharmacy in the U.S. Websites that sell drugs over the internet are not necessarily legitimate licensed pharmacies and may be located anywhere around the world. Consumers need to be cautious when they buy drugs over the internet, because they may not receive the FDA-approved drug, which has been reviewed for safety and effectiveness. For those consumers who purchase drugs over the Internet, look for websites that have the Verifi ed Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) seal. These are licensed pharmacies where FDA-approved medications can be purchased. These sites are identifi ed by the VIPPS hyperlink seal displayed on their Website. Unless medications have been purchased from a state-licensed pharmacy website in the U.S., the safety and effi cacy of these medications cannot be guaranteed. For more information visit the VIPPS Web site.

Question: Why is FDA focusing on counterfeit drugs?A. Although FDA does not believe that the number of counterfeits entering the U.S. drug supply has signifi cantly escalated in recent years, the agency believes that it needs to be proactive to prevent counterfeit drugs from reaching consumers. Growth in counterfeiting may be spurred by the economic incentives provided by an increasing volume of high cost drugs, the development of technologies that make it easier to counterfeit drugs, and the ability to sell drugs directly to consumers without face-to-face contact through purchases over the internet. Question: What can consumers do to protect themselves from counterfeit drugs?A. Consumers can protect themselves from the risks associated with counterfeit drugs by purchasing prescription medications from state-licensed pharmacies in the U.S. Consumers must be vigilant when examining their personal medications, paying attention to the presence of altered or unsealed containers or changes in the packaging of the product. Differences in the physical appearance of the product, taste, and unexpected side effects experienced should alert the patient to contact their physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional who is providing treatment. Question: What should consumers do if they suspect that they have a counterfeit drug?A, If a consumer believes that they may have received a counterfeit drug, they should check with their pharmacist fi rst. The pharmacist will know if the manufacturer recently changed the appearance, fl avor, or packaging of a drug product. Also,

if a pharmacy changes from one generic manufacturer to another generic manufacturer for dispensing the

same drug, the color or shape of the drug product may be different. In this event, your pharmacist

can verify that it is not a counterfeit and can explain the change. Question: How does FDA work with the public and industry to combat counterfeits?A. FDA works with pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale distributors, retailers, and other dispensers to identify and prevent counterfeit drugs. FDA’s Action

Plan outlined in the 2004 Counterfeit Drug Task Force Report is based on the efforts of the

public and private sector to implement solutions to further secure our nation’s drug supply. FDA

continues to work with these entities on the solutions and measures outlined in this Report.

Question: Is expressing a concern for counterfeit drugs an excuse to crack down on cheap drugs that Americans import from Canada?A. No, the FDA is concerned about unsafe counterfeit drugs from any country. Counterfeits are not equivalent in quality, safety, and effi cacy to the authentic drug. Counterfeits may enter the U.S. distribution system from within the U.S. or from other countries, including Canada. FDA is not attempting to single out any individual country in its efforts to protect Americans from counterfeit drugs. FDA can only ensure that FDA-approved products that have undergone the extensive review process are safe and effective; many products from other countries have not undergone this process and therefore present potential safety risks.

To submit a topic for this publication please email your ideas to: Pagnotta@FourCornersRx.com

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