SEEKING SOLUTIONS SUBSTANCE ABUSE FORUM DRAWS DIVERSE OPINIONS

Edmond demonstrated it cares for youth Tuesday night when more than 50
people attended a community forum to offer solutions for separating at-risk
youth from illicit drugs.

The Edmond Sun hosted the forum, held at the City Council Chambers Tuesday
evening, following last week's publication of the six-part investigative
series "A Stranger in the House." The series examined the impact of illicit
drugs on Edmond youth.

The panel, comprised of high school students, a psychologist, a
representative of the Oklahoma County Sherrif, Edmond schools associate
superentendent and Edmond Family Services director, hit the tip of the
iceberg in suggesting ways to halt youth involvement with drugs.

If denial enables substance abuse to continue within families and a
community, then the vocal exchange of ideas at the forum was a potent dose
of food for solutions to stave off substance abuse.

The forum was held to create a task force of community leaders to offer
creative ideas to alleviate the drug problem in Edmond.

The Sun bleieves community ninvolvement and education is indisensable when
it comes to weparating dangerous drugs and youth.

The panel's solutions were discussed with the audience. A libertarian spoke
of decriminalization and legalization of marijuana.

County Commissioner Stuart Earnest said that intervention and treatment
rather than punishment for individuals suffering from substance abuse.
Edmond psychologist Paul Tobin said that substance abuse treatment is a
disease that is successfully treated in 80 percent of cases.

And Ben Brown, director of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services, said the two state-contracted substance abuse
facilities do not have enough beds to handle the thousands of young people
needing treatment. One of those drug recovery centers, the House of Life is
in Arcadia, is the only drug-treatment center for youth in the Edmond area.

High school students spoke of peer pressure, boredom and rebelliousness as
the triggers of substance abuse.

Edmond North student council member Erin Goranson and Jay Doyle, a member
of Students Against Destructive Decisions, attending Memorial, suggested
that more community-sponsored activities for youth could help prevent
teen-agers from falling victim to illicit drugs.

More focus needs to be centered on middle school students, Goranson said.

State Rep. Ray Vaughn of Edmond called tobacco a gateway drug to alcohol
and other hard drugs. He said that several years ago the state allowed
municipalities to enforce tobacco laws. However, each municipality must
pass an ordinance to enforce tobacco laws. The Edmond City Council has
chosen not to do so, Vaughan complained.

Edmond Municipal Court Judge Alan Synar announced that two new programs to
be launched Nov. 1 in juvenile court. SEED is an educational program
designed to help first-time drug offenders. It is aimed at providing
resources to get them help. A second program involves direct counseling.
For example, a juvenile is referred to a volunteer group, directed by AA
counselors. An Edmond Public Schools employee would help coordinate the
program.

He termed the existing Diversions program a success in preventing
first-time offenders from further drug- and alcohol-related offenses.

And Edmond Public Schools Associate Superintendent Brenda Lyons said the
school system plans to sponsor a Youth Risk Behavior Surveilance Survey
next year, examining how youth are impacted by illicit drugs on and off campus.

Edmond businessman Pat Nichols told The Sun he has to proposed to Edmond
Schools a program that he calls "Parents Helping Parents."

Parents with children who have suffered from substance abuse could offer
helpful coping strategies to other parents concerned that their own
children are at risk. Parents would share information, support and
understanding, he said, and remain anonymous if they choose.

"I would rather look back and say, 'We did all we could do,' rather than
look back and say, 'We didn't try hard enough,'" Nichols said.