AROUND THE PARK: SCHOOLS HOST TALK ON DRUG ABUSE

Experts say knowledge is power, especially when dealing with
adolescents' exposure to drugs and alcohol.

With this in mind, PTSOs from Severna Park high and middle schools
have joined forces to bring a "Street Drug Update" talk by Michael
Gimbel, director of the Sheppard Pratt Office of Substance Abuse
Education & Prevention to Severna Park families from 7 to 9 p.m. April
26 at the middle school.

The new training program is for school administrators, counselors,
student assistance teams, teachers, nurses, coaches, students and parents.

"This is the kind of program that shares and provides useful tools and
'look fors' for parents," said William Myers, principal of Severna
Park High School. "For their children who are faced with temptations -
this talk will help better diagnose, understand and hopefully prevent
our children to be involved in any drug or alcohol incidents."

The program also will cover the use of drugs by athletes.

"It is tempting to become faster and stronger," he said. "Parents need
to know what they are facing and how to cope with it."

Mr. Myers considers both the middle and high school as the nucleus of
the community, pointing out the two other successful educational
programs SPHS has hosted for parents. "Secrets of the Teenage Brain"
and another on Internet safety.

SPHS business teacher Gail Gugerli's involvement with the Maryland
Student Assistance Program prompted her to bring the program to the
school. The team of teachers identifies students with possible drug
problems.

Mrs. Gugerli sees the need for an update from the eyes of an educator
and as a parent. "This is a personal passion. I have an interest to
help kids and their parents. We have issues and kids that need help."

She pointed to the recent studies showing a growing trend of inhalants
being used by seventh- and eighth-graders.

"It is absolutely a growing problem that every parent needs to be
aware of. We are so insulated, and need to know what is out there and
talk to them (kids) about it," she said.

Mr. Gimbel gave a presentation to the faculty at SPMS on Tuesday and
will do so at the high school next week. Sharon Morell, SPMS
principal, said she was dumbfounded to learn about all of the drugs
that are available to adolecents and teens.

She said Mr. Gimbel spoke to her faculty not just about drugs, but
also about tobacco use and its new packaging, new devices to hide
alcohol in purses and young people's overuse of prescription and
non-prescription drugs. "This talk is for the entire adult community,
including private schools," Mrs. Morell said.

The talk will cover the latest drug and alcohol trends, prescription
drug abuse, intervention techniques, parent education,
student-athletes and performance-enhancing drugs, drug testing and
other legal options, and treatment options and relapse prevention.

According to his biography, Mr. Gimbel has been involved in the field
of substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment for more
than 25 years. Currently the director of substance abuse education for
the Sheppard Pratt Health System, he's responsible for developing a
substance abuse prevention network comprised of educators, businesses,
youth, parents, treatment agencies and the faith community.

He hosts two substance-abuse TV shows, "Straight Talk" and "Teen
Talk," and is frequently called upon by the local and national media
as one of the area's most knowledgeable substance abuse experts.For
information, e-mail Mrs. Gugerli at ggugerli@aacps.org, or call
410-544-0900.

To learn more about the Street Drug Update program, call the Sheppard
Pratt Office of Substance Abuse Education at 410-938-3100.

Another community-focused program "You Don't Know Me ... Until You Know
Me" dealing with the topics of race, discrimination, violence
prevention, personal identity, suicide, gender equity, homophobia and
the emotional pain felt by special education children, is at 7 p.m.
Tuesday at Severn School.

Michael Fowlin, actor, psychologist and poet, will present a
one-person 75-minute performance, slipping in and out of nine
characters, both male and female, who share their stories. The
characters share their humorous and, at times, heartbreaking stories.
Admission is free.

Four Severn School freshmen won the Optimist Club's annual Oratorical
contest: Kelly Crumrine took first place and Kelsey Trundle second in
the girls category; Alex Jones first place and Jared Woodward second
in the boys.