SCHOOLS COMBINE WITH COMMUNITY IN EFFORT TO CURB DRUG, ALCOHOL ABUSE

Sumner County schools is combining forces with local law
enforcement, community groups and members of the court system to
create a unified front against the problem of drug and alcohol abuse
among teens.

The Sumner County Anti-Drug Coalition officially formed last week.

The idea for the group came from Sumner County Schools Safe and Drug
Free Coordinator Pat Conner. Criminal Court Judge Jane Wheatcraft
was asked to spearhead the meeting.

"I would say 90 to 95 percent of the cases that I see are drug
related in some way, covering everything from fraud to assault to
burglary. Drugs are tied in some how," Wheatcraft said. "When she
(Conner) brought the idea to me, I immediately realized that this
would need to be an interdisciplinary approach to the problem with
all of the community, coming together to deal with it."

The first meeting of the Coalition was mainly focused on the
participants voicing their concerns and getting to know one another.

At its next meeting, the Coalition will begin to discuss creating
specific committees to deal with problems that are specific to the
different communities in the County.

Conner said that most people at the meeting were surprised at how
ready teens are to accept the idea of drinking and using drugs in
social gatherings.

A recent Teen Issues Survey taken by the school system showed that
out of 9,456 students who participated in the survey 25.6 percent
admitted to drinking alcohol, 12.6 percent admitted to using
marijuana and 12.5 percent admitted misusing prescription drugs.

"If you don't have teens living in your home, you don't really know
about these problems," Conner said. "We need to start working
smarter rather than harder to deal with these issues and this
coalition is the first step."

Dwight Lewis from Friends Against Alcohol and Drugs sees the
coalition helping to bridge the gap between parents and their
children when it comes to talking about drug use.

"Parents are an important part of the conversation," Lewis said.
"It's hard to convince kids drinking is bad when they see their
parent's liquor cabinet at home every day."

Conner based the idea for the coalition on the framework created by
the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) program.

CADCA provides technical assistance and training and marketing
programs for community coalitions.

CADCA representative Pam White spoke to the Sumner County Coalition
and emphasized the importance of team building across the community.

"I think she really made the point of bringing in people from all
walks of life from parents, students, faith based organizations, and
members of the health and business communities," Wheatcraft said.

"We won't be working in a vacuum any more."

The Anti-Drug Coalition meets again at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4 in
the General Sessions Criminal Court Room on South Water Avenue in Gallatin.