Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2006
Source: Glendale News-Press (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Times Community Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/tcn/glendale/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/167
Author: Tania Chatila
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

LOCALS TO DISCUSS SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Meeting Will Focus On Substance Abuse Among Youths In Foothills

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- Will Moffitt is not ready to turn a blind eye 
to what he says is a substance abuse problem among youth in the foothills.

"Lots of parents are not aware of what their kids are doing," said 
Moffitt, who lives in La Canada Flintridge and chairs the local 
Community Prevention Council, an advocacy group that works to solve 
issues among teens and their families.

"We want parents to be aware of the temptations that are out in front 
of their kids today."

In an effort to highlight the substance abuse problem among foothill 
community youth, the Community Prevention Council will host a forum 
at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Roger Barkley Community Center to help 
parents identify the warning signs of drug and alcohol abuse in 
children, he said.

"The problem is parents' lack of awareness," said Paul Royer, who has 
been on the Community Prevention Council for 15 years and will help 
lead Thursday's forum. "Parents try to minimize and deny there is a problem."

Royer, who lives in La Crescenta, is a licensed clinical social 
worker and works with children and adolescents.

He will lead a question-and-answer session Thursday to help parents 
identify the early warning signs of drug abuse, what drugs are 
prevalent among children and teens in the foothills and how parents 
can stay involved in their children's lives.

"Alcohol is on the rise in the whole foothill region," Moffitt said. 
"That's causing a lot of problems. [Local sheriffs deputies] are just 
convinced there is going to be an alcohol-related fatality, because 
of all the parties they are breaking up and all the alcohol being served."

But alcohol isn't the only problem, Royer said.

Foothill children and teens are also dabbling in prescription 
medication -- such as Vicodin according to Moffitt -- marijuana and 
cocaine, he said, adding that this is information he has gathered 
from the local schools and his patients.

The area of most concern for representatives with the Community 
Prevention Council is middle school-aged children, because they are 
at an increased risk for experimentation and addiction, he said.

"That seems to be when kids are experimenting most and that's when 
they're going through the medicine cabinets and that's when they're 
going though the liquor cabinet," he said.

"And at that age, if they're experimenting with drugs and alcohol, 
there is a good chance they will have a problem with drugs and 
alcohol at a later time."

Anywhere from 60 to 100 people are expected to attend Thursday's 
forum, which is endorsed by local schools, the city of La Canada 
Flintridge and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department through the 
Crescenta Valley station.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman