PARENTS CAN HELP FIGHT TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE

Sara Antonson admits she used to think methamphetamine was a drug
prescribed by doctors.

But that was before she started working on an Eau Claire Area Chamber of
Commerce video project focused on preventing drug use. The experience
opened her eyes to the realities of street drugs.

"One of our concerns is communication. The battle is not knowing what we
need to discuss with our kids," said Antonson, who has two children in high
school and one in elementary school.

Antonson's group, an offshoot of the chamber's Leadership Eau Claire
program, is working on a video that will be shown to students in fifth
through ninth grade.

"As a parent I felt pretty naive," she said. "I didn't know what meth was.
I needed to be educated on the drug."

Being involved in a drug prevention group is teaching Antonson things about
drugs she never would have known.

"I know now how dangerous meth is," she said. "I know what can happen."

Jean Christenson shares Antonson's view and also is working to prevent
students from trying drugs that could kill them.

Christenson, the Eau Claire school district's alcohol, tobacco and drug
prevention coordinator, advocates starting drug prevention at fifth and
sixth grade in the district and would consider starting sooner.

One of her top priorities is informing students about the complications of
new drugs popping up in the area.

"We're seeing more of (methamphetamines) in general," she said of the
Chippewa Valley. "We see more kids talking about meth and Ecstasy."

Although alcohol and tobacco prevention is Christenson's biggest concern,
drugs are a close second.

One of the best prevention methods is getting the parents involved, she said.

"It's hard to find out a way to link up with the parents," she said. "We're
really trying to pull together as a community."

Antonson said she believes the best way to get parents involved is to make
them aware of the drugs students are using, including meth and Ecstasy,
with an informative video.

Don Byrne, owner and producer of an Eau Claire video production studio
called The Post House, said he got involved with Antonson and Christenson
because of their drug prevention ideas.

"This is something I had been thinking about for a year," Byrne said of the
prevention video.

The video will be made in two parts: One will go to the parents and the
other to students.

"We're aiming to educate parents about Ecstasy and meth," Byrne said. "For
the fifth- and ninth-graders we're trying to dispel the myths."

Because meth and Ecstasy are newer drugs and prevention of those drugs has
not been taught to older students, Christenson said high school students
might be expected to watch the video.

"We need to catch up with the older kids," Christenson said.

Students need to be informed there is no safe way to take these drugs,
contrary to what is stated on some Web sites.

To pay for the video project, Byrne is applying for state grants and
looking for funding locally. He said his company will ask for small amounts
of money from 10 to 20 organizations.

"So far we've seen overwhelming support for the project," he said.

"The goal is to secure funding," Christenson said. "We need to make these
videos happen."

For at least five years the Eau Claire school district has been offering
the DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Christenson said. The
Eau Claire Sheriff's Department has been administering the program.

Christenson said there are 12 lessons a semester. An officer visits half of
all fifth grade classes 12 times one semester and then hits the rest of the
classes the second semester.

Christenson said the new programs, such as the video, are for those
students who may not have received information on new drugs.

Many prevention programs in the area, including DARE, receive state funding.

Louis Oppor, team leader of the Brighter Futures Initiative in the state
Department of Health and Family Services, said every county receives
prevention money from the department, usually based on population.

The Brighter Futures Initiative is a child development pilot project to
help youths make responsible decisions and develop healthy social skills.
While county agencies have flexibility in using the funds, they will be
required to show measurable reductions in problem areas such as youth drug
and alcohol use, unmarried pregnancy or child abuse and neglect.

The Department of Public Instruction funds school districts in much the
same manner, based on district size.

Steve Fernan, DPI coordinator for the safe and drug-free schools program,
said his department deals with two grants, one funded federally and the
other by the state. While school districts must apply for both, the state
grant doles out more money and is extremely competitive, Fernan said.

The federal grant offers about $4 for every student, but the state grant
allows for $150,000 for larger districts.

Fernan said schools go in streaks when it comes to focusing on prevention
methods or academics and testing.

"It seems lately that the pendulum is swinging toward academics and
testing," Fernan said. "Sometimes (districts) get lost in testing aspects."

When that happens, Fernan just makes more noise about prevention to the
districts.

"We have to make sure that parents, teachers and administrators hear us,"
he said.

Antonson hears Fernan loud and clear and is ready to make a difference.

"I want to be ready (to provide drug prevention information)," she said. "I
want to be able to say this is what we know. I believe it's so important
that we are aware."

Waters can be reached at 723-0303 or alyssa.waters@ecpc.com.