Pubdate: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 Source: Swampscott Reporter (Marblehead, MA) Copyright: 2006 Swampscott Reporter Contact: http://www2.townonline.com/swampscott/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3582 Author: Kaitlin Melanson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) SADD BRINGS ABUSE PREVENTION EXPERT TO TOWN As the generation gap between parent and child continues to stretch beyond recognition, many parents begin to view their own children as strangers and are unsure how to open up the lines of communication with out sounding like the enemy. Wednesday, March 1, the Swampscott High School chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and its adviser, guidance counselor Meredith Reardon, will hosting a presentation on "Understanding the Teenage Brain: A Discussion on Drug and Alcohol Use, Risky Behaviors and Prevention Strategies," with lead speaker Michael Nerney, former Director of the Training Institute of Narcotic and Drug Research. During the presentation, which is geared for an adult audience, Nerney will provide extensive, concrete evidence of the effects of alcohol and drug use on an adolescent brain, as well proactive steps towards building a strong line of communication between parent and teen. Nerney is also speaking in Marblehead that same week. In both March and May, Nerney will come back to speak directly to several adolescent groups,50 students at a time in both Marblehead and Swampcott middle and high schools, along with hosting a pre-prom seminar at the high school level. Nerney will also hold special professional development programs with teachers and faculty over the next few months. In Massachusetts, 28 percent of children 13 and under have had a drink, and 12 percent have used marijuana. With the percentages constantly rising, Joyce Alla, marketing chairwoman of TeamUp, which is sponsoring Nerney's appearance in Marblehead, says more needs to be done. "The 'just say no' slogan doesn't work anymore," Alla said. "As parents we really need to work on opening the lines of communication." TeamUp President Susan Hauck added. "We need to increase awareness of the effects of drugs and alcohol as well as promote the tactic of early education." Swampscott guidance counselor Reardon said seeing Nerney last year in Marblehead was the motivation for bringing him to Swampscott, thanks to a grant from the local educational support organization, SUCCESS. For many parents, the thought of talking to their elementary and middle school aged children doesn't seem necessary, but TeamUp advocates feel the sooner the better. "It's better to be talking to your children all along than when it's too late," said Elizabeth Moore, principal of Marblehead Veterans Middle School. "Parents should just cater their talks to the different age levels their children are at." Moore, who has attended presentations by Nerney in the past, thinks children relate to the research Nerney brings to the table, and that they like to have evidence that they can hold in the palm of their hands. "Children like to see concrete evidence showing them what definitively what can happen to them if they do something," Moore said. "Last year [Nerney] showed parents and teachers research he had done on the brain, showing that as they enter adolescence their forebrain is not as developed and they become impulsive." In terms of when to talk with your children, Steve McFadden, guidance counselor at the Village School, also in Marblehead, has also adopted a sooner rather than later view on the situation. "Though a lot of parents may think how does this relate to my young child, they have to realize that these issues come up quicker than you think and it is always best to be prepared," McFadden said. Local counselor Larry Robinson says the main thing most parents need to learn is how not to talk down to their children as if they know everything, yet instead create an equal playing field where the kids feel that they can talk to their parents rather than fight with them. Part of his own method in his Lynn office is making his clients feel comfortable from the moment they step over the threshold, whether it be from the soothing smell of incense of the Native American pictures and artifacts placed around the waiting room. "Children need to gain your trust, otherwise if you criticize them from A to Z they are not going to listen to anything you have to say," Robinson said. "Kids at this age are angry because they have to be. Their parents are no longer their friends and they are now responsible for making adult decisions." Robinson says a lot of the problem is that middle schoolers see what their older siblings are doing and figuring that this what is "cool," creating a tremendous amount of pressure to be just that. "We need to work toward changing what defines 'cool'," Robinson said. "If we accepted kids more for who they are then they would be better at deciding what 'cool' actually is." Currently one of the more effective programs in place is the athletic department's social contract which was brought in by director Michael Plansky. Since putting the contracts in place, Plansky says they have only had to in force the policy once this year. "We bring the responsibility to the kids by making them form their own social contracts saying here's what they want to do and if we want our team to succeed we all need to follow by these rules," Plansky says. "The students are in charge of assigning penalties unanimously so that everyone is on the same page and they can look out for each other." Plansky added, "The goal is to have the students looking out for each other and learning together how to be responsible. Our hope is that if they are out and see someone breaking the rules they will say 'hey, that's in our contract and you shouldn't be doing that'." Swampscott High School has a similar student teaching student method known as SADD, an organization of Students Against Destructive Decisions. "We are an active chapter and two of our high school students are on the board," Reardon said. "We do presentations every year that are funded through a SUCCESS, Inc. grant and this year we are going to mirror what Marblehead did last year by having 50 students at a time work with Nerney." "Many parents are trying so hard to be there child's best friend, but as parents that is not what we signed up for," said Marblehead Police Detective Sgt. Marion Keating. "Parents should create an information exchange where they have all the cell phone numbers and email addresses so that at any point in time they are able to get in touch with their child." Keating added, "Parents are now having to talk to their children about subjects they never thought they would have to before. For example, what should your child do if they are babysitting and the parents come home drunk and are going to drive them home? These are things that we don't think of but need to because they happen." Judy Luise, adjustment counselor at Marblehead High School, suggests teaching children how to act in advance, trying to advert problems rather than deal with the consequences. "We try and teach them in a non-judgmental environment how to react rather then reflect after the fact," Luise said. According to Jim Ryan, director of Northeast Center for Healthy Communities, several surrounding communities have taken the initiative to effectively attack the problem. "Hamilton-Wenham is currently collecting data to develop strategies, and Lynn has a whole study done up on risk factors along with protective factors and building strong neighborhoods," Ryan said. "Many communities are forming coalitions trying to get parents engaged in the issue and building communication so they can be mentors in the situation." "No parent can fully protect their child," said Moore. "What they can do is continue the conversation. It can be as simple as asking you kids how they feel after you both witness a character in a television show doing something wrong. As parents we should always be talking." JUST THE FACTS What: Swampscott Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) lecture on drug and alcohol awareness and prevention, featuring former Director of the Training Institute of Narcotic and Drug Research, Michael Nerney, now working with Partners in Prevention. Not recommended for student attendance. When: Wednesday, March 1, 7-8:30 p.m. Where: Swampscott High School Little Theater - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom