PARENTS TURN OUT TO LEARN ABOUT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Parents and concerned citizens turned out Thursday night at Norman
Public Schools Curriculum Building to learn how substance abuse
affects children and adults in the Norman community.

Thursday's presentation was one of a six-part speaker series that
Parents Helping Parents will present over the upcoming months.

Emily Furney of United Way opened the discussion with results from a
community needs assessment survey. The purpose was to find what the
most important needs of the community.

"The results came from people of all incomes," Furney said.

She said Norman residents identified the top two problems in the city
as youth substance abuse and adult substance abuse.

Furney recommended people unite and stop alcohol and drug abuse
before it becomes a problem.

"Youth need more fun and safe things to do out of school time," she said.

Jennifer Newell of the Norman Police Department said Norman is a
great place to live but substance abuse does exist.

She said in 2006, police cited 50 teenagers for being a minor in
possession of alcohol, and 54 youth were arrested for public
intoxication. Officers took into custody 13 minors for driving under
the influence.

Newell said offenses related to drugs increased from 2005 to 2006. In
2005, 87 teenagers were arrested for possession of drugs; the figure
increased to 108 in 2006.

"This is a problem that all of us have to work together to fix," she said.

Norman High School principal Dr. Lynne Chesley said staff and faculty
members have found alcohol and drugs on teenagers, but it doesn't
happen everyday.

"We do find kids on a substance that are reported by teachers or
friends," she said.

Chesley said the majority of students caught at Norman High School
have experimented with alcohol or marijuana. Very few teenagers have
used cocaine.

As an assistant principal at Norman North High School, Ann Blatt said
she notices a drop in grades and attendance as the first signs of
substance abuse.

"The biggest thing we like to do is contact a parent and share that
with them," she said.

Blatt oversees 10th grade students and meets with teachers weekly.

She said if substance abuse is suspected, the Norman North High staff
recommends the child and parent speak with a school counselor.

Randy Roller and Maribeth Govin are counselors with the Norman Public
Schools Assistance Program. Both visit with youth in both middle
school and high school.

Govin said most children begin to abuse alcohol or drugs as early as
middle school.

As a counselor, she asks a student, "When was the first time you ever
used this?"

"Almost all the time it's 14," Govin said.

In 2006, more than 100 youth were suspended from school for substance
abuse, she said.

Roller said teenagers most often succumb to peer pressure and either
drink alcohol or try drugs. Govin and Roller take referrals from
principals and counselors to help students battle the problem.

Malissa Frey, a parent, said she attended the panel discussion to
learn more about the issue in Norman.

She said the program showed how to make people more aware of substance abuse.

"If you have a child who has a problem, it shows you where to turn," Frey said.

She said the presentation told parents that help is available and
where to get more information about underage drinking and drug use.