Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2003
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Melissa M. Scallan

DRUG MEETING SET THURSDAY

Long Beach Tackles Youths' Problem

LONG BEACH -Community leaders and parents will gather Thursday night to 
talk about the drug problem among the city's youths and what can be done 
about it.

This is the second such meeting in a year, and organizers hope to develop 
programs in city schools and the community to keep young people away from 
drugs.

"I think it's a mixed bag," said Fred Walker, a member of the drug task 
force and an organizer of both meetings. "I think we've brought awareness 
to the problem. Unfortunately, we've had several young people die from 
drugs since last year, so we still have some work to do."

At the meeting Thursday, parents will be asked to sign a pledge that they 
won't allow alcohol or other illicit drugs to be served to minors in their 
home or on their property.

"Research shows that the younger a person drinks, the more likely they are 
to develop a substance-abuse problem," Walker said.

Victoria Magers, a member of the task force and a guidance counselor at 
Long Beach Middle School, helped develop the pledge.

"It's committee members and parents taking a stand on protecting youth 
against drugs," she said.

The task force received the results of a confidential Internet drug survey 
taken recently by Long Beach students. Those results will be released at 
Thursday's meeting.

"The good news there is that the results look better," Walker said. "The 
bad news is that we still have a problem."

Last year's results showed that marijuana use increased among 
eighth-graders and 10th-graders and that alcohol use increased among 
sixth-graders.

Walker said that task force members have met with city leaders in the past 
year to talk about the problem and possible solutions.

"I think what our leaders need to hear from the community is that we want 
them to take the problem seriously," Walker said.

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Drug Task Force

What: Long Beach community members will hold a meeting to discuss the drug 
problem among young people in the city. Speakers include School 
Superintendent Charles Lyle and Police Chief Harley Schinker.

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Where: Adult Education Center at the University of Southern 
Mississippi-Gulf Coast
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens