Pubdate: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 Source: Denton Record-Chronicle, The (TX) Copyright: 2006 Denton Record-Chronicle Contact: http://www.dentonrc.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1472 Author: Sarah Chacko Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PARENTS STUDY HOW TO KEEP KIDS DRUG-FREE A small group of adults huddled away in the corner of a library talked about marijuana, ecstasy, alcohol and an assortment of other drugs. But they weren't planning on causing any trouble. In fact, they were hoping to prevent trouble from happening to any of their children. "I was really looking for current information," said Randee Farquhar of Shady Shores, noting that a lot has changed in terms of drug awareness since her high school days. Farquhar was one of about a dozen parents who met Friday night in the Crown-over Middle School library for Drug Awareness Parent's Night, in honor of Drug Awareness month and the upcoming Red Ribbon Week. Farquhar said she needed the education and was surprised more parents did not show up for the same reason. "Do all these parents not think their kids are going to do drugs?" she asked. "That we're immune to it because we're in Denton?" Farquhar said she certainly hopes her middle-school-aged son steers clear of drugs, but the only way for her to be sure is if she is equally knowledgeable about the subject. Aside from learning the various types of drugs available to youth these days, drug slang, and different ways to identify drug users, parents also heard some startling statistics -- like that the average age for first use of marijuana is 13, according to some figures. Jimm Harper, a special education counselor in the Birdville school district, was among three presenters, all of whom were at some time involved in Sante Fe Adolescent Services, a drug counseling service based in Fort Worth. The counselors talked to parents not only about the "harder" drugs, like cocaine, but also touched the three main "gateway" drugs -- marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes. Youth often turn to drugs, both legal and illicit substances, not only for peer acceptance but also to deal with problems in their lives, Harper said. "Kids at this age have so much going on physiologically," he said. "One part of that is learning how to cope." But developmentally, they are too young to realize their growing dependence on drugs and are not learning proper ways to manage their feelings, he said. Several schools in the district are taking advantage of Red Ribbon Week as a way to remind students of why it is important to be drug free, as well as inform them about potential risks they are likely to face. "They [middle school students] have a lot to deal with," said Crownover Principal Dianne Blair. "It's a tough time in their life." The drug problem is spreading in towns and schools everywhere, she said. "We all have to deal with that," she said. "It's in our communities. And if it's in our communities, it's in our schools." Prevention starts with education, said Angie Breuer, a student assistance counselor at Crownover. "Kids don't think about long-term consequences. It's our job as educators and parents to see what's going to happen in the next five minutes, what's going to happen long-term, if they don't change this behavior," she told parents Friday. "We can't make choices for the kids, but if you give them the right education and tools, they'll have a better chance to make the right decision." - ---------------------------- Red Ribbon Week Events Several schools around Denton are planning events in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, a national drug-free celebration starting today through Oct. 31. Schools in the Denton area will be hosting events until early November. They include: - - Borman Elementary School: The Drug Enforcement Admin-is-tration is landing its helicopter on the Borman campus, 1201 Parvin St., at 10 a.m. today. - - Evers Park Elementary School: The Student Council and Renaissance officers from Denton High School will give a smokeless tobacco presentation to the fifth-grade classes at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday [Oct. 25] at the Evers Park campus, 3300 Evers Parkway. - - Navo Middle School: The school, at 1701 Navo Road, is planning a variety of activities from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. The activities include Red Ribbon wristbands on Oct. 30, "Reach for the Stars, Not Drugs" day on Oct. 31, "Living Drug Free Is No Sweat" day on Nov. 1, and "Team Up Against Drugs" on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. Students who wear their wristbands all week will be eligible for a variety of door prizes. For other specific events, parents are asked to contact their children's schools. Source: Denton School District Drug Awareness Resources Online In addition to school counselors and health officials, some of the following Web sites can offer parents more information about various drugs, their effects and how to talk about drugs to children: - - www.theantidrug.com : sponsored by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign - - www.drugfree.org : sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America - - www.dea.gov : U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - - www.freevibe.com : sponsored by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign - - www.samhsa.gov : Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) - - http://www.mass.gov/dph/bsas/publications/familyguide/talkguideknow.htm : a guide to talking with preteens about alcohol, tobacco and drugs, from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health - - www.erowid.org: not an anti-drug Web site, but a member-supported organization with the stated mission of "Documenting the Complex Relationship Be-tween Humans & Psycho-actives" SOURCE: Crownover Middle School counselors - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman