FREE - AND ALIVE

Annual Weekend Of Activities Teaches Sobriety

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America sponsored an advertisement that ran
recently in a Southern California newspaper. It was entitled, "How to Write
an Obituary for Your Teen-ager."

If that headline didn't get your attention the text beneath it most
assuredly would. It is the narrative of a parent awaiting the death of a
child, comatose from "sniffing," the increasingly frequent practice of teens
and younger children using household chemicals as inhalants. Sniffing is
crippling or killing a greater number of children every year.

Interspersed with the riveting narrative are parenthetical tips on how to
write an obit for your own child.

The juxtaposition of grim reality and journalistic advice is sobering, to
say the least. By the time you finish reading the ad, you have the urge to
rid your home of the dozens of commonly used products that can - and do -
kill children every day.

But wouldn't it be far more practical to talk to your child about the
dangers of sniffing? Wouldn't we all be better served if our children were
made to understand the awful truth about substance abuse?

That's the overall purpose of "I'm Free 4 the Weekend," the annual drug-free
celebrations, which take place next weekend, April 9-11, at various
locations on the South Coast. The object is to provide good, clean fun and
entertainment for thousands of young people, who first must sign a pledge
that they will enjoy the festivities clean and sober. No drugs. No alcohol.
No cigarettes. Just kids doing what kids love to do without the influences
of dangerous and/or illegal substances.

This will be the eighth annual "I'm Free 4 the Weekend" celebration,
sponsored by Fighting back and seven South Coast Rotary Clubs, and supported
by dozens of local businesses and community agencies, including the
News-Press. It's part of National Alcohol Awareness Month, which takes place
across America during April each year.

Last year more than 8,000 youngsters from Carpinteria to Goleta participated
in three days of parties, dances and other events. Organizers are hoping for
more than 10,000 students this year. We are alerting you to this important
event a week early because tomorrow is the first day your young student can
sign the pledge card that entitles them to participate in the "I'm Free 4
the Weekend" events. The cards will be available at all secondary schools in
the Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta districts. Signing the pledge card
and wearing the wristband that symbolizes support of the substance-free
ideal entitles youngsters to enjoy several special events. There is, for
example, "High School Night" at the Santa Barbara Family YMCA on Hitchcock
Way beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, April 9. The following night, the Y will
host a "Junior High Night" beginning at 8 p.m. There will be dancing and fun
competitions at both events, plus plenty of pizza and soft drinks. Members
of the UCSB Gauchos men's and women's basketball teams will join in the fun.

The role of the Rotary Clubs in this is that their members beat the bushes
for prizes and merchandise from more than 80 local businesses - everything
from movie passes and ice cream to a free trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Parents can get in on the fun,too. With your pledge to be drug, alcohol and
tobacco-free for the weekend, you can serve as an adult chaperone - remember
chaperones from your days in junior and even senior high school? - at the
two major weekend parties. Just call Fighting Back at 963-1433, ext. 114, to
get your name on the volunteer list or to get more information about the
various events.

There's another way parents can participate. You can use "I'm Free 4 the
weekend" as the catalyst for conversations with your youngsters about
substance abuse. And you can listen. More than half of parents say they talk
to their teens about drugs at least four times in the past year, yet less
than a quarter of teens recall such a discussion. That indicates perhaps
parents talked but the youngster didn't listen. Only by the parent talking
and listening can a meaningful, two-way discussion of this issue truly occur.

Maybe if you take the time now to talk about substance abuse, you won't have
to worry about how to word your teen's obituary. Think about that.