Get to know James Bemel

James writes: I was born in Alaska and raised in Spokane, Washington and Layton, Utah. I've been married for nine years and I have a two-year-old daughter who is the light of my life. I received my Bachelor's degree in Health Promotion from Weber State University, my Masters of Public Health & Health Services Administration from the University of Utah, and my PhD in Health Promotion & Education from the University of Utah. I've worked for the Huntsman Cancer Institute as the Outreach Coordinator, Weber State University as an Instructor, and I currently work for Utah Valley University where I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Public Health. I also currently teach adjunct for both the University of Utah and Weber State University. I'm a member of the Health Education Association of Utah (HEAU); Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE); Utah Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (UAHPERD); and I'm the 2011-2012 Executive Chair of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Utah.

I joined SMART because I have an interest in helping to decrease and prevent substance abuse. My primary professional focus is substance abuse, with a special emphasis on tobacco. I'm also very interested in working to prevent alcohol abuse as well as prescription drug abuse since it is the fastest growing area of substance abuse.

So far, I've been very impressed with the SMART meetings I've attended. I like to see people from all different areas coming together to accomplish common goals.

In my free time I enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, and fishing with my wife and daughter. The nice thing about the position I'm in is that I get eight weeks off in the summer to pursue these interests. This year, we've already visited several sites in Utah and plan to visit Bear Lake and Jackson Hole before school begins again.

I think my sense of humor makes me unique. I'm the type of person who will say something I think is funny and then laugh at it, even if no one else is laughing!

Meet Andy Bayless!

Andy grew up in Lindon being the 6th of 7 children. He graduated from BYU with a BS in Microbiology. He is now at the University of Utah in Pharmacy School. Andy became involved with SMART during April’s Take Back Events where he used his pharmaceutical knowledge to help sort pills. He stayed on to increase his understanding of the community perception of medication use. Andy has already been a great asset to our coalition by recruiting other pharmacy students to help out with October’s Take Back Events and by helping create SMART Pharmacy Guidelines.

When Andy isn’t busy with school or work, he spends time with his new bride, or they head to shooting range.

Thank you Andy for your work with SMART!

Thank You Darrell!

SMART would like to recognize and thank Darrell Bingham for his dedicated service to SMART. He has been volunteering with SMART since July 2008, and has consistently served since then. He dedicates time each and every month, outside of coalition meetings, to furthering the mission of SMART. This year he has served as the Alcohol Task Force Chair and has volunteered over 80 hours of his time, totaling $1500 worth of in-kind donation.

Darrell has been key in organizing three Prescription Take Back Events in the city of Lindon where 69.4 pounds of leftover pills have been collected and 405 families have been educated. He’s helped SMART better understand upcoming drug problems like Spice, and he personally helped educate local and state elected officials about the need to prevent abuse of these substances. One of his crowning achievements is proposing the idea, personally testifying before legislators on Capitol Hill, and helping Rep Brad Baw pass legislation requiring ER rooms and the court system to send information to prescribers about the consequences of their patient abusing Rx pain pills.

Darrell has worked as a police office for Lindon City and has always been willing to use his connections to help out SMART. He joined SMART because he wanted to be able to help prevent people from getting trapped in substance abuse addictions.

When Darrell isn’t out saving the world, he enjoys motorcycles, shooting, spending time with his family, attending rock concerts, watching movies and making a fool of himself.

Darrell has enjoyed the past 3 years of serving with SMART, and he cherished the relationships he has developed. He says it has been amazing to see all of the successes that SMART has had and being able to make an impact on people’s lives.

Darrell is a great friend to SMART, we will miss his passion, dedication, and willingness to express his opinion and wish him the very best of his future endeavors!

Thank You!