HELP WANTED IN WAR ON DRUGS

Hanover Alliance Plans Outreach to Teens, Parents

Getting more parents and students involved in the war against
substance abuse by teens are just some of the goals being set by the
Hanover Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse (HAPSA).

Alliance officials say drug and alcohol use by local youths appears to
be somewhat lower than by teens from nearby communities, but vigilance
against it must continue. These observations are just some of the
objectives HAPSA is noting as it marks its 20th anniversary.

"To what extent there is a drug problem varies, depending on who you
are talking to," said Police Chief Paul R. Hayes.

Hanover Public School health educator Mary Stagno said a 2001 survey
of Hanover High students revealed some surprising details about
alcohol and drug use. "Alcohol and drug usage by Hanover students then
were not surprising," said Stagno. "We did have some surprises about
binge drinking."

The poll indicated 70.7 percent of all Hanover students had least one
drink of alcohol on at least one occasion during their lives. This
usage was 10 percent below

The survey indicated upwards to 35.1 percent of the high school
student admitted to drinking five or more alcoholic beverages in a
row. "That, (binge drinking) became a focus of concern for us," said
Stagno.

High school secretary Nancy McVinney said the effort to inform
youngsters about substance abuse must be ongoing.

"We need more education at the high school based on what I hear from
the kids," said McVinney, an alliance member. "The kids who are using
drugs have got to know what the consequences are."

She said efforts to help students with drug problems have improved
considerably over the years. "The kids can always go see a guidance
counselor if they have an... issue," said McVinney.

School nurses also have training to identify what types of drugs a
student maybe under the influence of when a crisis arises. "We have up
to date training to access a student and what they might be using,"
said Maryann Kenyon, a school nurse and board of health member. "We
have a check list to determine what a student might be using and to
identify any medical problems that may result."

Hayes said educating youngsters about alcohol and drug use remains the
central goal of the Alliance.

"The school's health program gives the kids the real deal on drug
dangers," said Hayes. "We tell the kids in classes and school
assemblies what the legal consequences are."

He said the classroom settings are especially helpful when talking
with students about drug dangers because the setting is more informal
than an assembly of 200 youths.

Alliance officials say the group has done much with helping youngsters
and parents understand the dangers of drug/alcohol abuse during the
past 20 years. "Education is what is really all about," said McVinney.
"Drug issues are not going to go away."

Hayes said the Alliance is a byproduct of a national push against drug
abuse by former first lady Nancy Reagan during the 1980s. Organizers
of HAPSA got a jump start on forming the group through a drug and
alcohol awareness fair that was held at the Hanover Mall in 1984.
Hayes said this fair helped lay the foundation for the organizations
and series of outreaches to local teens. Some of these efforts
include; Safe Grad Night, an annual educational program for high
school students and DARE.

"A lot of hard work has gone into Safe Grad Night," said Hayes. "You
have about 85-95 percent of all the graduates going to it."

The Alliance also helped stage a mock car crash involving liquor at
the high school a year ago days before the junior-senior prom. A local
towing company provided two wrecked cars and a funeral home lent a
hearse for students to observe while they were informed about the
dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. "The car crash
brought together a portion of the community," said the Rev. Donald
Remick, a HAPSA member and pastor of First Congregational Church. "The
faith community also did an awareness on alcohol abuse a few years ago
during a Sunday worship service in the liturgy."

Hayes said participation in HAPSA by members tends to vary. "We used
to have more students involved, but they are not as involved as they
once were because of academic requirements," said Hayes. "We are
hoping to get them involved again. We're also trying to get a cross
section of school officials, parents and police involved."

The Alliance has about 80 residents on its mailing list and is hoping
more parents, residents and businesspersons will get involved. Hayes
said more information about HASPA can be received by calling Stagno at
(781) 871-1122