PARENTS WARNED OF DRUG USE

Pam and Tom Paoli's oldest daughter graduated from Naperville Central High
School 17 years ago. Their second daughter is a freshman there today.

The couple recently attended a "Teens and Drugs" seminar hosted by
Naperville School District 203 to see what kinds of dangers their younger
daughter may face.

"We wanted to learn what was out there and what we can do to help prevent
some of these things from happening to our daughter," said Pam Paoli.

Added her husband: "It was very interesting and, frankly, a lot of it was
shocking. Things are totally different than when our oldest daughter was
going through school."

Robin Amberger, student assistance coordinator, and Tim Erdman, a
Naperville police officer and school resource officer, presented the
seminar to raise parents' awareness of some of the dangers that surround
today's students.

"The bad news is there are a lot of drugs out there and our kids are using
a variety of them. And no kid is immune to it. It is all around them and 90
percent of the kids are exposed to it or know where to get it," Amberger
told the parents. "The good news is that you are here and concerned about it."

Amberger said the best deterrent to drug use is a parent's disappointment.

"Tell them that they can't use drugs. Tell them there will be consequences
if they do and tell them that you will be disappointed in them. Several
studies have shown that kids don't want their parents to be disappointed in
them and that is the No. 1 reason why kids decide not to use drugs,"
Amberger said.

One tool a parent can have in dealing with the drug situation is
education--knowing what drugs are out there, how they are used and what
effects they can have on kids. Learning the warning signs of drug use can
help prevent bigger problems.

The biggest scare to the Paolis and the 40 others who attended is the
emergence of club drugs, such as Ecstasy, and their growing popularity
among students.

"There's an irony that you think you are sending your kid to a safe place
where these clubs say `no alcohol served,'" Amberger said. "But there are
more things going on there, dangerous things."

Raves, Erdman said, are not just simple parties, as teens would lead you to
believe. "Don't be fooled. Mostly, it's just a big festival of drugs," he said.

The club drugs enhance senses, raise body temperature, increase heart rates
and cause other metabolical changes that make them dangerous.

"The hospitals see kids in full cardiac arrest and these are young kids who
shouldn't be having these kinds of problems," Amberger said.

The clubs also add to the problems, she explained, by increasing the heat
in the room, making it dangerous for the people using the drugs. Then they
offer a chill room where, for a fee, teens cool down for a limited amount
of time.

Because the drugs tend to make users grind their teeth and clench their
jaws, the clubs will also sell suckers or candy pacifiers. Bottled water
can go for as much as $5 to $10, Amberger said. The allure is the
heightened awareness of everything around them. Senses are magnified and
everything "feels good," Amberger said.

"We have seen Ecstasy on the rise here at the school with our students,"
Amberger said.

Amberger and Erdman touched on every drug on the scene, including
marijuana, which they said is more dangerous than ever.

"This isn't the same drug that was used in our youth. And now we know this
stuff is harmful and the marijuana that is used today is more powerful and
more potent," Amberger said.

The school district has compiled a booklet, "Raising Chemically Healthy
Kids," that is available to parents. Another seminar is scheduled for Feb.
12 that will cover prevention, how to recognize drug use and help that is
available to parents and teens. For more information call 630-375-3025.`