Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jan 2003
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2003 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Author: Mark Heinz

OFFICIALS LOOK FORWARD TO VISIT FROM DRUG ABUSE EXPERT

TWIN FALLS -- Local officials hope a substance abuse expert's visit next 
week will help raise the alarm about the area's potential next drug wave -- 
and also serve as a springboard for forming a comprehensive group to fight 
drug abuse.

Efforts began last summer to recruit former Los Angeles Police Department 
narcotics detective Trinka Porrata for a series of presentations in 
southern Idaho, said Marlene Yardley, who works with the Idaho Department 
of Health and Welfare in Twin Falls.

"She's a dynamic speaker, and her message is that you need to educate your 
community and let them know what is going on with the 'club-drug' scene," 
Yardley said.

Club drugs in recent years began to emerge as part of the "rave" scene in 
large urban areas. "Raves" -- clandestine dance parties centered around 
thudding techno music and cutting-edge fashion -- gave rise to widespread 
use of new drugs such as Ecstasy and brought new popularity to LSD and 
similar substances.

While it's unlikely that huge, spur-of-the-moment raves will pop up in 
Idaho's towns and small cities, there's evidence that some smaller raves 
have been organized here and drugs have been pushed at them, said John 
Hathaway, the Region V Health and Welfare director.

Indeed, some of the rave-scene drugs -- such as one called "Special K" -- 
are still legal, Hathaway said. But that doesn't make them any less 
dangerous, especially to the 15- to 18-year-old crowd that tends to 
frequent most raves, he said.

There's evidence that some at raves use "date rape" drugs -- which can be 
slipped to unsuspecting girls and women in hopes of breaking down their 
sexual inhibitions, Yardley said. Much of Porrata's material will focus on 
those drugs.

Studies have also shown that club drugs often are a "gateway" to the abuse 
of other drugs, such as methamphetamine, Hathaway said. In fact, some of 
the "designer" club drugs are made by combining meth with a hallucinogen.

Yardley, Hathaway and Twin Falls County Commissioner Bill Brockman -- who 
also helped organize Porrata's visit -- said they hope the events draw big 
crowds.

But they also hope it will serve as a jumping-off point to organize a 
permanent group charged with studying the area's drug problem and taking 
proactive steps to curb it. The group would probably take the form of a 
committee and could serve as a comprehensive source of information for 
public officials, law enforcement, private companies and the public, 
Hathaway said.

Yardley, Hathaway and Brockman said that if such a committee forms, they 
plan to be on it. The group also hopes to recruit at least one doctor. And 
school officials, church leaders and others would also be needed, Yardley said.

"If we could get our youth pastors involved, that would be vital," she said.

Parents would probably have a place at the table, Brockman said.

"Parents who have had kids on drugs understand the problem 10 times better 
than I ever will," he said.

The long-term goal is to provide a truly "big picture" look at the local 
drug problem and find some realistic answers, Hathaway said.

That might call for some basic changes in philosophy, Brockman said.

"Right now, if we find out a kid's been using drugs once, we kick him off 
the football team -- and there goes that positive influence," Brockman 
said. "If we catch him again, we kick him out of school. And that just 
gives him all day to stand around in the street with the wrong people and 
talk about drugs. If we catch him a third time, we throw him in jail. And 
that gives him 180 days to sit with these people talking about drugs even 
more."

Expert Presentations

Drug abuse expert Trinka Porrata -- a retired Los Angeles Police Department 
narcotics detective -- will give several presentations next week in 
southern Idaho. Porrata's program will center on the growing "rave," "club 
drug" and "date rape drug" problem. The schedule of her appearances includes:

# Burley, Feb. 4

* Conference for law enforcement officials, medical personnel and other 
professionals, 3-5 p.m., little theater in Burley High School, 2130 Park Ave.

* Presentation for the general public, 7-9 p.m., in the King Fine Arts 
Center at Burley High School.

# Twin Falls, Feb. 5

* Conference for professionals, 10 a.m. to noon, Nazarene Church, 1231 
Washington St. N.

* Presentation for public, 4:30-6:30 p.m., College of Southern Idaho Fine 
Arts Auditorium, 315 Falls Ave. W.

# Hailey, Feb. 6

* Conference for professionals, 3-5 p.m., band room at Wood River High School.

* Presentation for public, 7-9 p.m., Wood River High School Auditorium.

About The Events

* Parents are encouraged to bring their children. Age-appropriate drug 
education for children ages 6 to 16 will be provided by the Boys and Girls 
Club.

* Admission is free.

* Porrata's visits are sponsored by the Idaho Department of Health and 
Welfare, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services; Canyon View 
Psychiatric and Addiction Services; the Walker Center; the Idaho Department 
of Corrections, Probation and Parole and the District 5 Juvenile Justice 
Council.

* For more information, call Marlene Yardley at Health and Welfare, 736-2177.
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MAP posted-by: Beth