ANTI-DRUG EFFORT BEGINS

Middletown Coalition Aims To Protect Teen-agers

MIDDLETOWN — This city could become Greater Cincinnati's 18th community to
form a group dedicated to keeping its youth drug-free.

An organizational meeting for a Coalition for a Drug Free Middletown is
scheduled for 7 p.m., today in the city commission chambers, One Donham Plaza.

Rhonda Ramsey-Molina, director of the Coalition for a Drug Free Greater
Cincinnati, will speak with parents, elected officials, school
representatives, business leaders and others about forming a Middletown
coalition.

"The first thing to do is understand the issue on the local level," said
Ms. Ramsey-Molina. "You have to examine what is (Middletown's) issue. What
we're looking for are those unwritten messages that say it's OK to use,
even if our words say it isn't."

A spring survey of 47,256 Greater Cincinnati students in grades 7-12 — more
than half the students of that age in the region — showed that alcohol,
cigarettes and marijuana are the drugs of choice, Ms. Ramsey-Molina said.

Half of seniors and 11 percent of seventh-graders said they were regular
users of alcohol; 36 percent of seniors and 9 percent of sev enth-graders
smoke cigarettes; and 24 percent of seniors and 6 percent of
seventh-graders use marijuana, according to survey results.

"It takes a community to create a safe and drug free environment for
everyone," Ms. Ingram said. "I have a child who's 12 and a child who's a
college freshman and I want that world (safe and drug free) for my children
as well as the other children here."

Ms. Ingram's advisory board contacted the Greater Cincinnati coalition
about forming a Middletown coalition. Representatives from the schools, the
county prosecutor's office, police and community groups are expected at
today's meeting.

"The schools approached us but it's the community we appeal to," said Ms.
Ramsey-Molina said. "We've seen huge reductions (in drug, alcohol and
cigarette use) when parents talk to kids and when parents set clear and
consistent rules."