MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE BRAINSTORM WAYS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES

More than 100 attended the Illinois Valley Communities Against Substance
Abuse meeting.

Some were young, some were old. One person was First Assistant La Salle
County State's Attorney Brian Towne, another was a heroin addict. One was a
former clergyman, others were concerned residents.

Some came to find out what would happen. For others, it was to discover
what they could do. What everyone received was a chance to participate in a
movement to kick illegal drugs out of the Illinois Valley and send underage
drinking with it, which, in the end, was everyone's goal, no matter who
they were.

"We don't have the answers," said Claudia Bachman, assistant prevention
coordinator at North Central Behavioral Health Systems and an IVCASA
organizer. "The community has the answers, which is why the community has
to take ownership of this effort."

Ownership began Tuesday with the sharing of ideas, brainstorming and
looking for a way to win.

The suggestions included boycotting companies that advertise T-shrits with
alcohol logos as "back-to-school" clothing.

All other suggestions came from those in attendance, who broke into focus
groups to begin plotting ideas that will be compiled and presented at next
month's meeting.

"Our hope is to bring several communities and schools together, " said
IVCASA chair Tracie Mazzorana, "and all of the coalitions, too."

Most statistical researchers will say that decisions are driven by surveys
I happens everywhere from the business community to U.S. presidential
elections.

IVCASA members surveyed 134 people, 54 were people who attended last
month's meeting. The rest were La Salle-Peru Township High School teachers.

That survey revealed poor family environments, living conditions for local
children, frequent media messages promoting alcohol products, and the
availability of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to children were high risk
factors in the Illinois Valley.

Yet more than half of those surveyed, 80 of whom were L-P teachers, listed
"unsafe school atmosphere due to drugs, gangs, violence, bullying,
intimidation, etc." as a low risk factor.

L-P student Torie Bunzell, 16, who attended the meeting and participated in
a group, said illegal drug use and underage drinking have become such a
problem that she is considering joining "Teens On Prevention," an
extracurricular group that works to raise awareness of such problems. She
also fulfilled a government class assignment.

"I think these things are just getting was out of control," she said.

Peggy Barajas of La Salle agrees, adding that area residents need to begin
taking action.

"It's real easy to sit there and say, "Nobody in my family does this so
I'll let someone else take care of it,'" she said. "I'm tired of hearing
excuses. Unless it comes up and slaps you in the face and it's your child,
people around here just close their eyes to it.

"I think people are afraid too," she added. "They're afraid to report their
bad neighbors thinking something might happen to them."

..To be continued at the next IVCASA meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at LPHS.