Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2007
Source: Kane County Chronicle (IL)
Copyright: 2007 Kane County Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.kcchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3178
Author: Kate Thayer

DOES DRUG TREND HIT HOME?

A drug-abuse counselor keeps a photograph of a teen in his office, a 
reminder of the importance of his work.

That teen, Geneva High School graduate Jake Zegart,  died at 18 from 
an overdose of the painkiller  oxycodone.

"I have a picture of him working on his car," said Chic  Williams, 
the community intervention coordinator for  Geneva schools. "It's 
kind of a reminder of why we do  what we do."

Although Zegart used the powerful painkiller that day  in October 
2004, Williams said, prescription drugs were  not the usual drugs of 
choice for Kane County teens.

But a study released last week by the University of  Michigan's 
Institute for Social Research says  prescription-painkiller abuse is 
on the rise among  young people.

The study also found that overall teen drug use is  falling, 
partially because of a decrease in the  popularity of marijuana.

In Kane County, some officials aren't so sure that's  the case.

Assistant State's Attorney Deb Bree prosecutes cases  against juveniles.

"Our trend is still holding strong with marijuana," she  said. "I 
haven't noticed juveniles being charged [with  possession of 
prescription drugs]."

Bree said juveniles occasionally would be charged with  using other 
varieties of drugs, but not nearly as  frequently as marijuana.

Williams agrees that marijuana and underage drinking is  his biggest 
concern, but he doesn't discredit the  national study, and has seen 
other drug use also.

"It's a valuable study. When you look at national  statistics and 
apply them locally ... areas take on a  little different look," he said.

"Moving into the prescription-drug area is something  that's very 
concerning," he added. "We see young kids  using cold medicine [and 
powerful prescription drugs].  Kids are getting it out of their 
medicine cabinet. It's  very bothersome."

Williams credits a society full of pressures, combined  with the 
teenage tendency to take risks.

"There are so many things kids are exposed to," he  said, referencing 
school shootings and other tragedies.  "I wouldn't want to be a kid 
growing up in our culture.  It's just kind of a scary environment."

Regardless of the drug, juveniles in court for drug use  typically 
receive counseling to treat the drug abuse,  Bree said.

Juveniles also have the opportunity to enroll in the  county's drug 
court, where treatment and other methods  are completed and then the 
charges can be expunged.

Williams said an important component of treating the  addiction is 
parent involvement, but also should  involve professional help.

"Our approach is multifaceted," he said. "Getting  parents on board 
is an [important] part of what we do."

This approach is used whether a teenager is using  marijuana, 
prescription drugs or other drugs, Williams  said.

"Parents should know where there kids are, how much  money they 
have," he said. "It's kind of old-school,  common sense stuff."
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