ALERT LIBRARY ADDS HISPANIC DRUG PREVENTION MATERIALS

ASHLAND - A local drug prevention agency has stocked up on materials that
it hopes will help the region's growing Spanish-speaking population.

The ALERT Regional Prevention Center's library now includes Hispanic/Latino
drug prevention materials, which it plans to distribute to those groups
that come in contact with Spanish-speaking youth and adults - parents,
teachers, counselors and law enforcement.

ALERT librarian Anna Jean Brown said she was motivated to develop the
resource after her daughter, who lives in a local apartment complex, had
trouble with a group of Hispanics in her neighborhood. The men often sat on
top of her car, Brown said, making small dents. Her daughter called the
police, and then learned that the men understood neither the English
language nor the implications of their actions.

"The laws in Mexico are very different," Brown explained. "Alcohol and
drugs are more acceptable there. Many do not yet understand you just cannot
do those types of things here. There are some large cultural differences
between the two countries."

Brown decided she could help by expanding the selection in the ALERT
library to include resources in both Spanish. Among the available resources
are kits for groups interested in organizing community drug prevention
strategies, drug prevention posters, children's activity books and various
flyers and leaflets warning against the dangers of abusing drugs.

There is a great demand for Spanish drug prevention material across the
country, Brown said.

"They were really very difficult to get because the Hispanic population has
taken off nationwide," she said. "Just in our community, we have witnessed
the growth from the workers who come in to Cook Family Foods to work.

"With the numbers we have seen, we know they will have questions about
drugs and alcohol."

ALERT is urging both public service providers and members of the Hispanic
community in the 10-country region it serves to use the center's available
informational resources.

"I feel we have to reach out to make a difference in their lives," she
said. "We can't just sit back and watch. We have to help our communities
learn to educate Hispanics about drug prevention."