FORUM EXAMINES TEEN YEARS AND DRUGS

Drug use in Ouachita Parish schools was the topic of a forum Thursday
morning sponsored by the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.

Data from a survey conducted by the state's Region VIII Office for
Addictive Disorders was presented at the forum at the Monroe office of the
United Way of Northeast Louisiana.

"I was surprised at the data on antisocial behavior," said Lynda Gavioli,
director of the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana.

Information presented during the forum indicate more than 50 percent of
Ouachita Parish School system's 8th-, 10th- and 12th-graders who completed
the survey are around youth who participate in antisocial behavior.

Eight hundred parish 12th graders completed the survey; 1,115 10th-graders;
1,559 eighth graders; and 1,669 parish sixth graders.

The survey defines antisocial behavior as taking or selling drugs or
getting suspended from school.

Gavioli said one way to counter antisocial behavior is to listen to youth.

"Young people have got to be valued so they will tell us what their
problems are," she said.

Surveys were conducted last spring in Ouachita, Lincoln, Madison, Franklin,
Caldwell, Morehouse, East Carroll, West Carroll, Richland, Tensas, Jackson
and Union parishes.

Bill Blanchard, prevention coordinator with the Office for Addictive
Disorders, presented the data on Ouachita Parish schools and has presented
data on Franklin, Union, West Carroll and Madison in those parishes.

"We will go to any parish that invites us," he said.

Doris Broadnax, regional prevention coordinator for the Office for
Addictive Disorders, said, "Parents need to be aware of what their children
are doing."

Gavioli suggested that the information be taken to Parent-Teacher
Organization meetings.

Blanchard said his office has not received survey results on Monroe City
Schools, but it should be in soon.