Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jan 2004
Source: Iowa State Daily (IA Edu)
Copyright: 2004, Iowa State Daily
Contact:  http://www.iowastatedaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1227
Author: Emily Klein

STUDENTS DISCUSS DRUGS WITH WASHINGTON LEADERS

Local high school students and adults concerned about substance abuse in 
Iowa communities packed their bags and took their concerns to Washington to 
voice their opinions to Iowa politicians.

A group of five high school students and four adults representing the Youth 
and Shelter Services and its Story County Teen Task Force flew to 
Washington for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Conference, 
where they joined 2,000 other youth and adults Jan. 20-22.

Students suggested bringing drug dogs into schools and banning smoking at 
football games.

The group from Story County met with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Rep. Tom 
Latham, R-Iowa, and the staff of Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, to discuss issues 
the students felt were important to young Iowans.

The group focused on substance abuse, particularly of tobacco, and feeling 
safe in their schools.

"We'd tell them what we wanted to speak with them about, and then they'd 
ask questions and we'd fill them in as best we could," said Evan Rickels, 
sophomore at Gilbert High School.

Denise Denton, a Youth and Shelter Services prevention specialist and 
lecturer in health and human performance, specializes in drug education, 
she said she went on the trip to answer technical questions about drug and 
alcohol trends and effects.

Julie Hibben, community youth development specialist for Youth and Shelter 
Services, coordinated most of the trip. She said she likes working with the 
Teen Task Force because she believes young people can make a difference.

"They're the ones facing peer pressure and living it day to day in the 
schools," Hibben said.

The Teen Task Force meets twice monthly and is involved in the Just 
Eliminate Lies project to raise awareness of the effects of tobacco use.

Christina Running, a junior at Roland-Story High School, said the 
conference was the first opportunity she has had to interact with people 
from across the country.

"You see the points of view of the people who live in your state and then 
talk to people who live in larger cities and you see a whole different 
view," Running said.

Rickels said some photographs of a marijuana user's brain made a large 
impact on him. He said a speaker told the Iowa group that doctors said the 
damage was equal to that of someone who experienced multiple strokes.

The trip was funded through grants, donations and the youth development 
budget of Youth and Shelter Services.

Denton said the students will also report to the Prevention Policy Board on 
their experiences.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom