CYPRIOTS LEARNING TO FIGHT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Group In Owensboro For 3 Weeks On Fullbright Grant

Ten or 15 years ago, alcohol was consumed only during special
occasions in Cyprus, an island of 700,000 people in the Mediterranean
Sea. Lately though, children as young as 13 are visiting clubs and
abusing alcohol, said a Greek man who graduated from Brescia College
but is back in Owensboro to learn about prevention and treatment.

Drugs are increasing as well, said George Boyiadji, a psychologist
and director of Tolmi, an open therapeutic community in southern
Cyprus for people with addictions.

Due to the increase, 30 Cypriots are in Owensboro for three weeks to
learn about drug and alcohol prevention and treatment.

"We would like to know what works and what doesn't work," Boyiadji
said Thursday while taking a break from sessions at RiverValley
Regional Prevention Center.

Little drug abuse existed in Cyprus before the mid-1970s, when
marijuana found its way across the sea from neighboring Lebanon. Now,
drug abuse has shifted from marijuana to heroin, cocaine and
methamphetamine, Boyiadji said.

"There was a drastic change that the Cyprus society in general
faced," Boyiadji said.

Part of that change stemmed from the invasion and capture of the
north of the island by Turkey. Greek Cypriots fled their homes to
settle in the south, and Turkish Cypriots relocated to the north.
Since then, the two communities have co-existed with little contact.

But for the past couple of weeks, representatives from both sides
have been dining, sightseeing and learning together.

"We hope to bring (the friendship) back as long as we can keep
politicians out of it," Boyiadji said.

Boyiadji graduated from Brescia College, now Brescia University, in
1984. After living in both Cyprus and the United States for several
years, he now lives in southern Cyprus.

The 30 Cypriots' journey began when three Americans, including Eva
Atkinson, director of the Brescia University Counseling Center,
attended a two-week drug and alcohol abuse convention in February.
The event was part of the annual convention of KENTHEA, a center in
Cyprus for education and rehabilitation.

Shortly after, a Fulbright Commission grant became available to fund
a trip for 30 Cypriots to visit the United States to learn more about
drug and alcohol abuse. Atkinson applied and Owensboro was selected
over the University of Pittsburgh and Georgetown University.

Speaking in a thick accent, Boyiadji said he told Fulbright officials
he wanted his fellow Cypriots to get a sample of what "real"
Americans were.

"I told them here they would meet real American people," he said.
"Plus, I think my fellow Cypriots have misconceptions of the United
States because of the movies."

Last week the Cypriots received training at the prevention center.
This week and the following week, they will attend workshops at
Brescia. They will also visit OASIS, the area's spouse abuse center,
and Beacon Central High School, an alternative high school.

"In terms of drug and alcohol prevention, they are where we were 20
years ago," Atkinson said. "They want to learn from our mistakes as
well as our successes."

Gary Hall, director of the prevention center, said the Cypriots will
have "tons" of materials to take back with them to implement
prevention and treatment programs in their communities.

"We hope that they will go back and face the problem together," Hall said.