CHURCHES ARE ASKED TO JOIN IN DRUG WAR

Antidrug group sends 147 invitations seeking partners to help curb use
by county kids.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (March 11, 2000) -- Representatives from 147 area
churches have been invited to partner with the Hamilton County Council
on Alcohol and Other Drugs to curb illegal drug use and underage drinking.

Church leaders have been asked to take two or three members of their
respective congregations to a meeting hosted by the council March 18
at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds.

A continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.,
followed by presentations until 11 a.m.

George L. Kristo, executive director of the council, said the meeting
is intended to partner churches in the county with the council to stem
the tide of illegal drug use.

"Research has shown that kids are more likely to resist alcohol and
other drug use if they hear non-use messages in many places, like the
home, their schools, their churches," Kristo said.

"There are numerous persons in every church who have the same concerns
as we do regarding the drug problems in our society, and this gives
them an opportunity to come forth and meet with us and have their
ideas shape the steps the council ultimately takes in this regard."

Kristo said there's an increasing body of evidence that the ages 8-11
are crucial in developing attitudes against illegal drug use and
underage drinking.

"That appears to be the age when we either save them or lose them," he
said.

"To approach kids when they're juniors in high school and already
using (drugs or alcohol) doesn't do it. That ties in to what we're
trying to do with the churches.

"A lot of times, teen-agers don't go to church with their parents, but
those ages between 8 and 11, they're still going to church together
and still involved with Sunday school classes and still learning at
that age.

"That's the age we should be working on."

The council has a "traveling unit" that could be displayed at churches
to educate members on signs, symptoms and dangers of drug use, Kristo
said.

The council also can send representatives to Sunday school classes to
teach drug resistance skills to young people in the churches, he said.

He said the council would like to be represented at the monthly
meetings of the Council of Churches.

Kristo said that, so far, only five Hamilton County churches have
indicated they plan to send representatives to the March 18 meeting.
Registration will be accepted through Friday. Call (317) 776-8429.

Kristo also encouraged churches to participate in the annual anti-drug
rally party. Last year's event at the fairgrounds attracted more than
2,000 people, he said.

This year's rally and party will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 30 at
the fairgrounds.