Pubdate: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 Source: Herald News, The (Fall River, MA) Copyright: 2011 The Herald News Contact: http://www.heraldnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3604 Author: Will Richmond, Herald News Staff Reporter BOLD COALITION OF FALL RIVER LOOKS TO REVERSE TRENDS SEEN IN YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE REPORT FALL RIVER - Armed with the results of surveys related to health and risk behaviors conducted at the city's high and middle schools, the BOLD Coalition is considering the next steps to make Fall River a healthier place. With the surveys showing increased use of marijuana, among other concerns, Staff Director Craig Gaspard said BOLD is planning to create a series of public service announcements aimed at prescription drug abuse. Gaspard said he hopes to have the advertisements run on local radio and public access television stations. Outreach could be expanded to other stations if grant funding can be secured. While the PSAs would reach a wide audience, Gaspard said, efforts are also being made to provide more intimate guidance to students through the creation of after-school Students Against Destructive Decisions groups. Gaspard said one such group has recently been formed at the James Morton Middle School and that other middle schools have considered adopting the concept. Gaspard said the Morton group has drawn 30 students, with a focus on proactive awareness to avoid substance abuse and violent tendencies. Part of that effort includes the signing of a commitment letter by the students to remain free of substance abuse. "We're not checking on them, but the moral commitment is there," Gaspard said. Advocacy is nothing new to BOLD. During the past year, the youth-based organization lobbied the City Council to pass an ordinance that would require all pharmacies within the city's borders to remove tobacco products from their shelves. That effort proved successful, though Gaspard recognized that it is just part of the process to decrease tobacco habits. "Is it going to make a huge difference? No, but it's a way to impact sales," Gaspard said. "The options are limiting access and keeping the costs up, mainly through taxes." The coalition also consists of several groups such as Teens Against Drug Abuse, which attempts to reduce teen drinking through sticker shock campaigns in which the teenagers place stickers on packages containing alcoholic drinks to remind purchasers that they must be 21. The group also works with police on license stings to see if stores are selling to minors. Gaspard said that with the survey results also showing that one-third of high school students have consumed alcohol during their lives, that an effort is under way to strengthen social host laws within the city that would go beyond the state legislation. "There's no limitation on a community strengthening those laws," Gaspard said. "Part of it is just keeping people educated." The effort to provide information includes reaching out through the coalition's Facebook page and website. The group is also a regular attendee at health fairs and Gaspard said he speaks with Parent Teacher Organizations upon request. "We're really focusing on reaching parents and their kids," Gaspard said. "It's a very complicated world to be a kid right now." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.