DRUG CZAR CITES GOOD WORK OF NORTHLAND COALITION

"Unfortunately, this problem has an important dimension of denial.
People don't want to see it. They want to believe it's bigger than it
is. They also believe there's nothing they can do. That's wrong."

The nation's drug czar is praising the Northland Coalition for its
work to reduce illegal drug use and alcohol consumption among area
youth.

John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, said it is because of work that groups such as the Northland
Coalition, who have formed partnerships with schools and local law
enforcement agencies, drug use among area teenagers have dropped.
Walters was in Kansas City on Friday to present an award to the
Northland Coalition for its work in reducing drug and alcohol use
among teens.

"People talk about partnerships in government," Walters said during
the presentation at Maple Woods Community College. "Here is one of the
places where it could not be clearer."

He also said parents need to play a more prominent role in the lives
of their children to ensure youth do not fall prey to social norms
that suggest recreational use of illegal drugs is acceptable.

"We have communities like this across the nation, where people like
you are saving lives," Walters said. "We can save more lives, more
rapidly, with more people reaching to lend a hand."

The Northland Coalition includes volunteers from Ray, Clay and Platte
counties who work to address substance abuse and violence prevention
issues.

"The volunteers have worked hard over the years to reduce substance
abuse," said Vicky Ward, manager of prevention services at Tri-County
Mental Health Services which is part of the Northland Coalition.

"It was an honor to have the nation's drug czar to acknowledge the
work of those volunteers," Ward said.

Last week, the federal government released its 2003 National Survey on
Drug Use and Health. The survey discovered that fewer young people are
using marijuana, LSD and Ecstasy, but more youth are now abusing
prescription drugs.

For example, Walters said more youth are obtaining illegal
prescriptions for drugs such as Oxycontin and other
painkillers.

The study also showed a 20-percent decline between 2002 and 2003 in
the number of youths who smoke marijuana at least 20 days each month.

Despite those numbers, Walters said, the conflicting ideas persist
that drug use always will be part of American culture.

"Unfortunately, this problem has an important dimension of denial," he
said. "People don't want to see it. They want to believe it's bigger
than it is. They also believe there's nothing they can do. That's wrong."

While the federal government can provide some support, Walters said,
community groups and local law enforcement agencies also play a
critical role in reducing drug use. He said local groups can target
that support because they see problems and solutions more closely.

"We provide a national estimate on a variety of dimensions and try to
improve some of those, but it's very important that those be tied to
local measures as well," Walters said. "You can see what's working.
You can see what's growing."

The latest Missouri statistics from the federal Drug Policy
Information Clearinghouse were issued in August. For the most recent
years available, 2000-2001, the statistics showed that 9.94 percent of
those aged 12 to 17 had used an illicit drug in the previous month.

Tri-County Mental Health is the lead group for the Northland
Coalition.

Ward said community groups in the Northland are working with law
enforcement to devise new ways to clamp down on youth who either
possess or consume illegal drugs.

Ward said many agencies in Ray, Clay and Platte counties have
developed a zero-tolerance internal policies when it comes to
under-age drinking. No longer are officers in many departments able to
allow minors, who have been drinking, to continue on their way.

Officers must now either deliver the youth to a responsible adult or
take the minor in until a parent or guardian can pick them up.