MOBILIZE IN 2009 FOR OUR KIDS

The good news of the new year lies in the oft-quoted sentiment "in
crisis lies opportunity."

As a nation, we are challenged to examine old stereotypes and accepted
economic wisdom. In acknowledging the reality of the daunting fiscal
challenges in front of us, perhaps Americans will pause to question
some social problems that have been allowed to persist with little
serious analysis or discussion.

The Chemical Health Initiative of Goodhue County is focused on
changing social and cultural attitudes that accept underage drinking
and drug use as a normal part of growing up.

Twenty-first century research and science-based evidence have refuted
this notion of alcohol use by young people as harmless. The leading
cause of death in this country for people the ages of 16-24 is
injury-related death; alcohol is the leading cause of those
injury-related deaths.

In the past 18 months, several young Minnesotans have died of alcohol
poisoning.

Science confirms that alcohol interferes with how the brain operates
during adolescent developmental periods. Drugs and alcohol can change
the course of a young person's mental, emotional, cognitive and social
development and alter his or her opportunities for a healthy life.

Research establishes that young people who begin drinking in their
early teens are not only at greater risk for developing alcoholism
sometime in their life, they are at greater risk for developing
alcoholism more quickly and at younger ages.

Despite the horror implicit in this reality, it remains difficult to
convince adults that underage drinking and illegal drug use must be
taken seriously. The accepted wisdom that "everybody does it" is
blinding us to the tragic realities of lives lost and dreams destroyed
as the result of casual attitudes about alcohol and drugs in our society.

Our children deserve better.

We recognize that their futures can be protected and enhanced by real
changes in attitudes and behaviors that we can make right now. Adults
need to be clear and unambiguous in their messages to young people:
alcohol and drugs are very dangerous substances that hold the power to
destroy lives and dreams.

Adults need to model responsible behavior in using alcohol and act as
role models for how to live a healthy life. Adults can become involved
and active in young peoples' lives in a way that helps them to grow up
healthy and happy. Our communities can focus on creating healthy
community-centered activities for kids and families and mobilize
public opinion around the importance of keeping our young people
alcohol and drug free.

The prestigious Search Institute recently published its growing body
of research that identifies "building the capacity of communities to
support young people's healthy development" as the most critical part
of alcohol/drug prevention efforts. Search Institute's findings make
it clear that "community-building strategies that unleash public
commitment, passion and capacity must be the integral part of
effective prevention efforts."

It may be the easier path to tolerate alcohol and drug use by our
young people and simply avoid the difficult work that is required to
keep our kids drug and alcohol free. But if we are to take away any
lesson from our current economic crisis, it is this: avoiding or
neglecting fundamental oversight responsibilities, as difficult or
unpleasant as they may be, will only make our problems worse.

This New Year provides Goodhue County citizens with the opportunity to
make important changes in attitudes and behaviors that will reduce the
potential for tragedy and heartache for our children and families, now
and in the future. By committing ourselves to producing
community-centered practices that educate, guide, and direct our young
people toward healthy living, we are taking the first step toward
protecting and nourishing their promise and potential.

We can all strive to develop sustained, strength-building
relationships with children and adolescents, both within families and
in neighborhoods. We can be passionate about modeling healthy
lifestyles for our children to respect and emulate.

We can make 2009 the year that Goodhue County citizens mobilize public
will, power, capacity and commitment to insure healthy and prosperous
lives for our children. And it doesn't require economic hardship. It
requires changes in attitudes and behaviors.

For more information about the Chemical Health Initiative go to the
Web site at www.chi-goodhue.org