DRUG-FREE COALITION: ALCOHOL NUMBERS CAN BE SOBERING

Using results from the PRIDE survey administered at Hayesville High, Criss
showed how most of the students who use alcohol are using it on the
weekends and not at their own home. Therefore, the assumption can be made
that they are using it with friends on the weekends when parents may not be
aware. The survey also showed that of those students surveyed, more use
alcohol than use tobacco or marijuana. Thus affirming Criss' statement that
alcohol is the drug of choice.

Criss stressed that parents must become involved in the prevention of
alcohol and drug abuse, saying that parents must know where their children
are on the weekends and what they are doing.

"Parents are the key figure in effecting their kids," she stated. Criss
also pointed to the intervention that the schools are doing, specifically
mentioning the "Too Good For Drugs" program to begin in the 9th grade next
year. In addition, six hours of driver's education is now drug and alcohol
education.

Dr. Criss also pointed to the survey results which show a lower percentage

of alcohol use by those who have certain "risk protective factors." These
factors include having clearly defined rules set by parents, being involved
in a church or synagogue, receiving good grades, being involved in
community and school activities, and play sports.

The assumption, Criss explained, can then be made that a young person who
has all of these positive influences will have a much easier time staying
free from alcohol and drugs. Pointing straight back to the original
conclusion that it takes everyone in a community working together to help
keep their kids safe - parents, educators, pastors, coaches, law
enforcement - everyone has a part to play. "We must send a message (to our
young people) that this is something we believe in," Criss said of the
community's role in fighting under-age drinking.

The panel of guests invited by Drug Free Coalition Coordinator Steve Smith
answered questions to try to help residents better understand how they can
help our youngest citizens make good decisions when it

comes to drugs and alcohol. Research has shown that if intervention begins
early, children are much less likely to become involved in alcohol abuse.
Research has also shown that alcohol use among young people often leads to
much more risky behavior and is often the predecessor for other drug abuse.

The panel of guests on hand Tuesday evening agreed that everyone in the
community must be involved if Clay County is to be successful at helping
kids stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Sobering were the facts given by District Attorney Michael Bonfoey who said
every court docket contains underage drunk driving cases. The bottom line,
he said, is that underage drinking is simply illegal. It is against the law
for anyone under the age of 21 to buy or possess alcohol, period.

The way to solve this problem, according to District Attorney Bonfoey, is
"in the community, by the community."

At a recent meeting held in Haywood County in conjunction with Alcohol
Awareness Month, Bonfoey said their was one-fourth of the people

in attendance as compared with Clay County's meeting. "We are seven times
as large as Clay," he added. "You have a much higher percentage of
residents here tonight. I congratulate you on the interest you have shown."

In dealing with the problem of underage drinking, he said that a community
must start somewhere. "This is a great start for Clay County," Bonfoey added.

Working together as a community, he said is the key to having a safe
community. "When a community takes a stand against drugs and alcohol then
our law enforcement doesn't have to deal with this issue alone." In
closing, Bonfoey encouraged Clay County to spread what they are doing to
the other six counties in the Western North Carolina district.

Jane Callahan, Director of the National Coalition Institute, Community
Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, traveled from Washington, D.C. to attend
last week's meeting. Extremely pleased with the local town hall meeting,
Callahan said she had spent several weeks traveling across

the country attending similar town meeting for Alcohol Awareness Month, and
said that Clay County's meeting was one of her favorites.

"You had a nice cross section of the community in attendance," she said.
And per capita, you had the best turn out." Callahan, who had attended a
similar meeting in Washington, D.C., said Hayesville had a better crowd
than the one in the Nation's capital.

She also commented about the cross section of the community that was
involved, saying that the Coalition did a fine job putting the meeting
together.

"I am so impressed by what the coalition is doing," she said of the work of
the Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Clay County.

"It really is a community effort."

Callahan said that an excellent job was done by the panel. She said they
effectively showed the correlation between the early and often use of
alcohol and the other problems that result from that abuse. Specifically,
death caused by drunk drivers and serious drug addiction in adults which
often starts with alcohol use as a child.