DOPE OPEN OPENS DIALOGUE

Junior Golf Tournament To Teach Kids About Drug Abuse Over Burgers, Candy

FLORHAM PARK -- About 100 school-age children will gather at
Brooklake Country Club on Wednesday for the 38th Annual Dope Open
Junior Golf Tournament to raise awareness of substance abuse and to
enjoy a fun day with their friends.

As a part of the senior Dope Open, which will be played a day later,
the event allows participants to play for free in an effort to
introduce the issues of drug and alcohol abuse.

"We want to make the kids aware of what's going on, of the drug
situation," said Dope Open co-chairman John Puskar.

The Dope Open was founded in 1968 after Mary Mulholland learned that
four children in Morris County had died from drug and alcohol overdoses.

"I'm a mother of six," Mulholland said. "I was scared to death that
it could happen to any of us."

While the senior Dope Open hopes to raise about $100,000 to donate
to rehabilitation, battered women and social services centers, the
junior Dope Open focuses on awareness and education for teenagers.

"The key is the juniors, because the kids are the ones who see it
happen to their friends," Mulholland said.

The tournament begins with lunch at 11 a.m., during which hot dogs,
hamburgers, ice cream and candy will be served. Two teenagers, a boy
and a girl from Daytop Village of Mendham, will talk to the
participants about their experience with rehabilitation.

"It really hits home with a lot of the kids because these (speakers)
are kids their own age that are going through rehab," said golf
tournament co-chairman Jack Harrigan.

An officer from the Drug Enforcement Administration also will speak
about substance abuse.

After lunch, the participants will be separated into groups based on
age and preference, and will be assigned to different holes on the
golf course. The golf tournament kicks off with a shotgun start at noon.

Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day.