PURPLE PEOPLE TO SPREAD ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE

Rally Set in County April 20

CUMBERLAND - On the morning of April 20, pairs of people wearing
purple T-shirts and holding purple posters will be positioned
strategically on street corners and school grounds throughout the county.

The purple people's purpose is to promote an anti-drug environment
and to encourage parents to talk to their children about the dangers
of drug use.

"It's a wonderful way for the community to join together and sit down
with their children, no matter how young or old, and talk to them
about drug use - it's also time for people who are pregnant to think
about what they are putting into their bodies," said Allegany County
Board of Education member Jane Dawson.

The "Today is the Day" event will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. to capture
the attention of children going to school and parents going to work,
according to Becky McClarran of McClarran & Williams Inc.

"We provide drug prevention education in schools with programs like
DARE; however, no matter how we try to make them understand how
detrimental drugs are, the people that have the most influence are
their parents," said Lorelee Farrell, assistant supervisor of health
and family life at the Allegany County Board of Education.

"We want to increase awareness - we know there's a drug problem in
the community - we read about drug busts in the paper, and we want to
make sure our children are drug-free," said McClarran, who is
involved with organizing the event.

The Local Management Board and the Coalition for a Drug Free
Community obtained grants to make the event possible.

"Today is the Day will give people from across Allegany County a
chance to speak out with one voice about the growing problem of drug
abuse in our community," said Robin Summerfield, systems of care
specialist for the Local Management Board. "The voice will encourage
parents, friends and others to begin talking about the dangers of
drug abuse, especially to young people and pregnant women, and how to
find help."

Last year in Allegany County, more than 40 babies were born addicted
to crack, said McClarran.

"The 4/20 initiative is the result of ordinary people doing an
extraordinary job to increase public awareness as it relates to
substance abuse in Allegany County," said Lt. Jim Pyles, commander of
the Maryland State Police Cumberland barrack and member of the
advisory board of the C3I narcotics and criminal units.

April 20 was chosen as the date for a specific reason, said McClarran.

"According to the myth, this started at some high school in
California - teachers left class at 4:15, so 4:20 became the time to
light up a joint," said McClarran, "4/20 has become a kind of holiday
for people who want to legalize marijuana."

A Web site that contains signs of drug use and treatment resources is
in the process of being developed, according to McClarran.

"I'm very excited about this - we do have an issue that we need to
address," said McClarran.

To participate, contact the Local Management Board at (301) 777-2008.