Pubdate: Sat, 22 Oct 2005
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA)
Copyright: 2005 Yakima Herald-Republic
Contact:  http://www.yakima-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/511
Author: Jessica Wambach
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ANTI-DRUG SUMMIT COMES TO YAKIMA

The state's drug abuse prevention leaders are in Yakima this weekend 
learning new strategies for keeping Washington healthy and drug-free.

More than 600 teachers, students, law enforcement officers, clergy 
and health professionals are at the Yakima Convention Center for the 
Washington State Prevention Summit, which ends Saturday.

In his opening remarks, Mike Lowther, director of state and community 
assistance at the national Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 
called on attendees to work together to lower substance abuse rates.

"You can succeed; in fact, you have been succeeding in this state for 
some time," he said.

According to the 2004 Healthy Youth Survey by the state Division of 
Alcohol and Substance Abuse, marijuana and cigarette smoking rates 
among young people were significantly lower than in 2002. Alcohol 
use, however, increased 3.3 percent.

That means the Prevention Summit leaders have more work ahead of them.

What they need to do, Lowther said, is attack substance abuse at the 
community level and not rely on state or national agencies like his.

"Local people solve local problems the best," he said. "Every 
community needs to reinvent their own wheel. Our job is to make sure 
you don't reinvent the flat tire."

Throughout the summit, attendees will hear from speakers and 
participate in personalized workshops where they'll learn new 
techniques that could help them lower drug-use rates, create 
community solutions to delinquency, get their messages in the media 
and accomplish other goals.

Susan Martin, parent involvement coordinator for Educational Service 
District 105, said students from many of Yakima's schools are 
attending the annual convention. She said many of Yakima's youths are 
involved in prevention activities and seem to grasp the idea behind 
her organization.

"Healthy, safe and drug-free kids are most likely to succeed in 
school," Martin said.

If You Go

The Washington State Prevention Summit continues through Saturday at 
the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St.

Registration is $150 for adults, $35 for youths.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman