Pubdate: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Copyright: 1999 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: http://www.newspress.com/ FREE - AND ALIVE Annual Weekend Of Activities Teaches Sobriety The Partnership for a Drug-Free America sponsored an advertisement that ran recently in a Southern California newspaper. It was entitled, "How to Write an Obituary for Your Teen-ager." If that headline didn't get your attention the text beneath it most assuredly would. It is the narrative of a parent awaiting the death of a child, comatose from "sniffing," the increasingly frequent practice of teens and younger children using household chemicals as inhalants. Sniffing is crippling or killing a greater number of children every year. Interspersed with the riveting narrative are parenthetical tips on how to write an obit for your own child. The juxtaposition of grim reality and journalistic advice is sobering, to say the least. By the time you finish reading the ad, you have the urge to rid your home of the dozens of commonly used products that can - and do - kill children every day. But wouldn't it be far more practical to talk to your child about the dangers of sniffing? Wouldn't we all be better served if our children were made to understand the awful truth about substance abuse? That's the overall purpose of "I'm Free 4 the Weekend," the annual drug-free celebrations, which take place next weekend, April 9-11, at various locations on the South Coast. The object is to provide good, clean fun and entertainment for thousands of young people, who first must sign a pledge that they will enjoy the festivities clean and sober. No drugs. No alcohol. No cigarettes. Just kids doing what kids love to do without the influences of dangerous and/or illegal substances. This will be the eighth annual "I'm Free 4 the Weekend" celebration, sponsored by Fighting back and seven South Coast Rotary Clubs, and supported by dozens of local businesses and community agencies, including the News-Press. It's part of National Alcohol Awareness Month, which takes place across America during April each year. Last year more than 8,000 youngsters from Carpinteria to Goleta participated in three days of parties, dances and other events. Organizers are hoping for more than 10,000 students this year. We are alerting you to this important event a week early because tomorrow is the first day your young student can sign the pledge card that entitles them to participate in the "I'm Free 4 the Weekend" events. The cards will be available at all secondary schools in the Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta districts. Signing the pledge card and wearing the wristband that symbolizes support of the substance-free ideal entitles youngsters to enjoy several special events. There is, for example, "High School Night" at the Santa Barbara Family YMCA on Hitchcock Way beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, April 9. The following night, the Y will host a "Junior High Night" beginning at 8 p.m. There will be dancing and fun competitions at both events, plus plenty of pizza and soft drinks. Members of the UCSB Gauchos men's and women's basketball teams will join in the fun. The role of the Rotary Clubs in this is that their members beat the bushes for prizes and merchandise from more than 80 local businesses - everything from movie passes and ice cream to a free trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo. Parents can get in on the fun,too. With your pledge to be drug, alcohol and tobacco-free for the weekend, you can serve as an adult chaperone - remember chaperones from your days in junior and even senior high school? - at the two major weekend parties. Just call Fighting Back at 963-1433, ext. 114, to get your name on the volunteer list or to get more information about the various events. There's another way parents can participate. You can use "I'm Free 4 the weekend" as the catalyst for conversations with your youngsters about substance abuse. And you can listen. More than half of parents say they talk to their teens about drugs at least four times in the past year, yet less than a quarter of teens recall such a discussion. That indicates perhaps parents talked but the youngster didn't listen. Only by the parent talking and listening can a meaningful, two-way discussion of this issue truly occur. Maybe if you take the time now to talk about substance abuse, you won't have to worry about how to word your teen's obituary. Think about that. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D