COUNSELING WORKS TO PREVENT DRUG, ALCOHOL ABUSE

A recent article on DARE and its future demonstrated the good will in our
community toward efforts to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by
youth. It also showed that there is very little awareness of prevention
efforts that have long been successful on the local scene.

The Youth and Community Services of White Oaks employs four full-time
prevention specialists. They have presented extensive programs in many
locations. The prevention staff used research-based curricula in it
programming, which all has a zero-tolerance focus. This year prevention
staff has worked with over 500 youth and their families.

Our prevention efforts are grounded on several proven assumptions:

Substance use at an early age is often the origin of a trajectory that
continues to dependency in adult life.

Use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs as an adolescent or as a child often
causes measurable alteration in brain function that is both negative and
permanent.

Chemical dependency usually has its origin as a pediatric problem and it is
eminently preventable.

The domains to target in prevention with proven results are the individual,
the family, school, peer group, community and society. Three proven results
are improved school attendance and bonding to school, adults and community;
increased knowledge about and negative attitudes toward alcohol and tobacco
use; and enhanced ability to respond appropriately to situations involving
drug use.

It works.

Tom Murphy

White Oaks, chief of operations

Peoria