Pubdate: Sun, 19 Feb 2006
Source: Portland Press Herald (ME)
Copyright: 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/744
Author: David Hench, Portland Press Herald Writer

GROUPS WANT INPUT ON RISKS FACING YOUTHS

Groups that are working to keep kids from abusing drugs  and alcohol 
want to know what Portland residents and  workers feel are the 
biggest threats to the city's  youths.

They also want to know what's working to keep kids safe  and substance free.

"It's part of the mission we came together for . . . to  bring down 
abuse of substances among youth and help  them find positive 
alternatives and help them restore  their faith in positive values," 
said Ronnie Katz,  coordinator of substance abuse prevention programs 
for  Portland's Health and Human Services Department.

The survey, which is going on now and can be filled out  online, is 
the work of One Maine One Portland and  Portland Communities 
Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol.  The groups are umbrella 
organizations for agencies that  are working against teen substance 
abuse. Members  include direct treatment providers, law enforcement 
and  social service agencies.

People who live and work in the city can participate in  the survey 
by going online or by contacting organizers.  The results will be 
used to develop a substance-abuse  prevention plan that the community 
can support.

Organizers plan a public forum April 26 to discuss  survey results 
and how the city and various prevention  groups should respond. At 
the meeting, participants  will be asked to vote on what initiatives 
they want to  pursue.

"We want to have a coordinated citywide plan so that we  can have 
targets for the next five years . . . the  areas we want to impact 
and how we're going to go about  it," said Erica Schmitz, coordinator 
for Portland  Communities Mobilizing for Change on 
Alcohol.  "Community involvement and participation and ownership  of 
the process is really important to make it work."

The survey asks for the top three things "helping to  keep youth 
healthy, safe and free from alcohol, tobacco  and other drugs." It 
also asks for the main issues  teenagers and pre-teens are dealing 
with regarding  substance abuse and what it might take to solve those problems.

Mariah McKenzie, a freshman at Portland High School,  said easy 
access contributes to the city's drug  problem. She also said 
athletics are a good antidote  for some teenagers.

"A lot of kids don't do drugs or drink because they  have to stay in 
shape," she said. Her friend Tamara  Manzer said drinking or smoking 
can get you kicked off  the team, another powerful disincentive.

Kids sometimes abuse substances because it helps  distract them from 
bad things going on in their lives,  said Marcy Angelo, also a freshman.

"There are always things going on in your life that you  can't help. 
Drinking, doing drugs and smoking is an  easy way to vent," she said.

While the survey will provide information, making a  difference will 
require more work, say organizers.

"It's not enough to identify what the problems are in  the community. 
We need to identify what people care  about and what they're willing 
to take on as priorities  for action," Schmitz said.

"We really want to promote the idea that it's  everyone's 
responsibility. It's not just parents. It's  not just kids and 
schools. It's every member of the  community."

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By The Numbers

The 04 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey showed that high 
school seniors engaged in the following behaviors during the previous year:

23.5 PERCENT had been drunk or high at school.

12.4 PERCENT had sold illegal drugs.

6.2 PERCENT had been arrested.

81.6 PERCENT had participated in school clubs.

76.4 PERCENT had done extra work for school.

68.2 PERCENT had volunteered to do community service
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman