Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2006 The Huntsville Times
Contact:  http://www.htimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Author: Wendy Reeves, Times Staff Writer

TEEN DRUG USE IS FOCUS OF TOWN FORUM

Event Aims To Alert Parents To Dangers In Other Homes

A teen study completed this year revealed one-third of  teens and 
nearly half of all 17-year-olds attend house  parties in which 
parents are present and teens are  drinking, smoking marijuana or 
using cocaine, ecstasy  or prescription drugs.

The nationwide school survey by the National Center of  Addiction and 
Substance Abuse at Columbia University  and its results were the 
catalyst for the Partnership  for a Drug Free Community to host a 
town forum next  week, said Deborah Soule, executive director for the 
partnership.

"What is really frightening is that local surveys  indicate that even 
sixth- and seventh-graders have  already tried some of these drugs," 
Soule said.

Partnership's Law Enforcement Coalition meets several  times 
throughout the year to discuss the latest drug  trends and evaluate 
how they are affecting our  community.

"We have laws in place to protect our children from  consuming 
alcohol within public places, but when it  comes to the privacy of a 
neighbor's home, we drop our  safeguards," said Huntsville Police 
Chief Rex Reynolds.  "And, even worse, often times prescription 
medications  within our medicine cabinet contribute to the 
delinquency of those minors attending house parties."

Soule said the coalition strongly recommended the  program to alert 
parents about the dangers of  prescription drug and alcohol abuse.

Speakers will include teens, parents, police,  ministers, attorneys, 
pharmacists, doctors and nurses.

"This meeting is intended to serve as a wake-up call  for all parents 
by letting them know what really goes  on at open house parties," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine