TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE 'HUGE PROBLEM' IN MARTIN COUNTY

Two South Fork Sophomores Say The Numbers Cited In A Youth Survey Were
Far Too Low

JENSEN BEACH -- Martin County's youths are doing drugs and drinking alcohol
at alarming rates.

All under the not-so-watchful noses of their parents.

"We need to know that it's not OK," said Kristen Klempert, a sophomore at
South Fork High School. "It is so accepted. No one speaks out. It's not right."

Fellow South Fork sophomore Lauren Moss agreed.

"It's a huge problem," she said. "The community has been doing a lot, but
it needs to continue."

The girls joined about 60 government and community leaders in the second of
two "community mobilization" workshops to combat teenage drug and alcohol
use Wednesday at Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach.

According to the 2002 Florida Youth Survey, almost 40 percent of the
county's teenagers reported using alcohol within 30 days of the survey.
Almost 20 percent reported using marijuana in the same period.

Although those numbers ranked Martin County second in the state for teen
marijuana use and seventh for alcohol use, the girls said the numbers were
far too low.

At the workshop, Martin County Commission chairman Michael DiTerlizzi said
overcoming parental denial is the key obstacle to cutting down on teenage
drug and alcohol use.

"We all need to accept the fact that Martin County is in trouble," said
DiTerlizzi, who has three children. "We believe it is, that's why we're
here today. Denial has to be overcome."

Moss said recent events have forced more parents to confront the issue.

She said the June 17, 2002, alcohol-related collision that killed two
teenage girls and sent the teen driver who caused it to prison, and last
year's drug-related death of a Martin County High School senior, have
opened the eyes of a lot of parents to their children's actions.

"But parents don't want to admit it's their kids," Moss said.

Tia Rutherford, 17, a senior at South Fork, said police and the sheriff's
office have been cracking down in recent months, with more teenagers
getting in trouble for drinking and drug use.

"It's not as easy to hide any more," she said.

All three teenagers at Wednesday's meeting said the problem will probably
never go away, but meetings such as Wednesday's can help.

"As long as we keep the community aware, the problem can only decrease and
things can get better," Klempert said.

As part of the awareness process, the results from Wednesday's meeting will
be gathered and turned into a strategic plan to combat teenage drug and
alcohol use to be revealed at the Oct. 8 meeting of the Shared Service
Network's executive roundtable.

The Shared Services Network, a group of government agency chiefs formed in
1999 to improve children's lives, was a co-sponsor of the community
mobilization workshops.

"Our hope is to provide you with something in your hands today that might a
start for you," said Robyn Cleghorn, the safe and drug free schools
coordinator for Martin County schools. "There is something out there for
everyone."

Among the items proposed for the plan are local ordinances to track the
sale of kegs of beer and hold party hosts responsible for teen drinking or
drug use that takes place at their event.

DeTerlizzi said he has already asked the county attorney to research
ordinances adopted by other counties for the county commission to review.

"The key is that we're trying to save kids lives," DiTerlizzi said. "Save
them from death, from tragedy. Save years on their lives from substance abuse."