DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE LOCAL FORUM'S HOT TOPIC

Survey Reveals Slight Majority Of Those Aged 14 To 18 Consume Alcohol, One
In Five Uses Drugs

In the same week that police busted four Placentia residents on drug related
charges and the NLC announced a crackdown on selling liquor to minors, a
drug and alcohol abuse forum was held at the P4 Youth Centre.

The relatively well-attended meeting was held as a result of a recent survey
distributed among area teens, the results of which revealed a slight
majority of those aged 14 - 18 consumed alcohol and about one in five used
drugs.

Cpl. Wayne Edgecombe of the RCMP said that these things are a regular
occurrence in the community and it's not just youth that are affected by
what happens but adults also.

There are two things that people should take the time to think about. First
of all they should be realistic when thinking about this issue, he said. It
is a problem which no one should expect to be able to solve overnight but
it's important to be aware that young people are doing these things. If they
persist, then at least sessions like this could educate them and give them
the facts on what the risks are.

Good parenting is important The second is that the biggest and best weapon
that can be used to fight the problem is good parents. It's a positive thing
that many of the parents who do show up to these forums are good parents.
They are the people who have to help in getting the word out to other
parents and adults and teach them about recognizing the signs that a child
is drinking or using drugs.

Many people in the community do know what's going on and most club and store
owners are pretty good when it comes to keeping an eye out for underage
drinking or buying alcohol. One case earlier this year saw a man get the
maximum sentence for supplying liquor to minors but in the end "We're only
as good as the community we police," he said.

Cst. Deon Dyson the numbers of young people reporting they're drinking or
taking drugs is very serious, considering their age and that some of the
drugs mentioned were harder ones.

Where do attitudes toward alcohol and drug use come from? The main source is
home itself, he said

Common drugs like marijuana, although illegal, are prominent and it's almost
impossible to stop the trafficking in it and get it all.

"If we could, it would be a miracle."

A lot of marijuana comes these days from British Columbia, where extensive
growing operations abound. They've been found everywhere, from open fields
and mountainsides to apartments and garages. The operations are usually
hydroponic and turn out crops valued in the millions of dollars, making it
incredibly lucrative. Police are worried not just about the amount, which
they are barely able to put a dent in, but the potency.

Cst. Dyson commented that the marijuana that comes from these operations
isn't the pot that people remember from the drug culture days of the 1960's.
A lot of what's being produced now is as potent as harder drugs in terms of
the high that it can give the smoker.

There are other drugs that are out there that parents should be aware of,
too. One is the drug ecstasy, known also as the rave drug. Although there
hasn't been a lot of it reported in Newfoundland yet, police have come
across it and have dealt with young people who have taken it.

There's also prescription drug abuse out there and one of the drugs young
people should be aware of is Ritalin, the drug prescribed for children who
have been diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder.

The people who traffic in this and other drugs are putting other people at
risk and Cst. Dyson said he hopes they're going to be responsible enough to
realize that.

Even tobacco is another drug and Newfoundland has one of, if not the
highest, smoking rates in the country. Again, usage patterns and an
introduction to it will likely come from the home.

"Kids are only going to learn what they see," he adds. "Is it worth it? I
don't think it is."

It's vital that parents, among others, step up and make their concerns known
when they suspect something is wrong.

"The more assistance we can receive, the better we can do our job," he
added.

Who's a friend? "The most animated presentation came from Dr. Keegan, who
noted that everyday, doctors and nurses deal with the consequences of
decisions people make and that includes abusing drugs and alcohol.

A lot of times, when it comes to alcohol and drugs, you only see the "fun"
side, not the results, he pointed out. One of the things rarely talked about
are the social consequences, especially among young women.

The dangers are all too real for this group and stem at least partially from
the physical risks. The most obvious danger is that of unprotected sex while
impaired. That could lead to disease or pregnancy. Violence from those who
drink is another thing to watch out for, too.

The risks from tobacco are well-known but even then it goes further than
that: it leaves almost anything that smoke comes in contact with reeking, it
leaves teeth and hands stained and even ages people, making them look older
than they are.

"It's a stupid deal," said Dr. Keegan.

There are two things for young people to keep in mind when it comes to
drugs, he explained. The first is that if a friend offers you drugs, they
aren't your friend. Like the tobacco or beer companies, they only want your
money - nothing else. They care very little or not at all what happens to
the customer afterwards

"You always got to be thinking: What's the risk?" he said.

The second point is simply that "If you can't ask your parents or teacher
about it, than you probably shouldn't be doing it."

He's had instances where he's received calls from doctors at hospitals in
St. John's inquiring whether a young person in there was his patient.
They're simply too embarrassed by what has happened to them to go to their
own doctor in their own community with their problem.

The main thing is to remember that the focus of all this education is the
young people, he concluded.

"It's you guys who we're worried about."

The final message came from Wayne Power of Students Against Drunk Driving,
who reminded the audience that drinking any amount of alcohol followed by
driving means impaired driving.

There's no quick way to sober up as the liver can still only oxidize a 1/2
ounce of alcohol every hour.

He suggested a way around that being the Contract for Life, an agreement
whereby instead of being caught in a difficult situation or facing a ride
home with an impaired driver, then a young person agree to call their
parents to be picked up anytime, anywhere, no questions asked.

There's also making sure you plan before you party, assign a designated
driver, stay overnight or possibly "Don't drink at all," he said.