Pubdate: Fri, 26 May 2000 Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT) Copyright: 2000 The Billings Gazette Contact: P.O. Box 36300, Billings, MT 59101-6300 Fax: 406-657-1208 Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/ Author: Pat Bellinghausen, LOCAL LEADERS DISCUSS CURBING DRUG ABUSE Changing attitudes could be the start of reducing the use and abuse of drugs in our community. That approach was the subject of discussion Thursday for 40 people, including Mayor Chuck Tooley, County Commissioner Bill Kennedy, Sheriff Chuck Maxwell, Police Chief Ron Tussing, United Way Director Carol Burton, School District 2 officials, state legislators and representatives from health and human service organizations. They gathered in the basement of Deaconess Billings Clinic for a meeting of the Billings/Yellowstone County Drug Prevention Planning Committee, a group that branched from the Billings Healthy Communities Coalition earlier this year. A steering committee of several health service, business and education professionals has poured over the possibilities for combating drinking, tobacco use and abuse of other drugs. Montana State University Associate Professors Ernie Randolfi and Carl Hanson presented the committee's consensus: What parents, youngsters and the community think about alcohol and other drugs contributes to underage smoking, drinking and drug abuse. A survey of Billings students in grades 8, 10 and 12 showed that many teens believed that their friends thought substance use is OK. They also saw their parents and community as condoning their drinking. Several people at the meeting offered examples of those problems: Lack of concern about drunken driving and minor in possession offenses. Parents renting hotel rooms for teens so they wouldn't drive home after a night of drinking. Parents providing alcohol for minors AD even kegs of beer AD to drink at home. Conflicting messages about alcohol, such as community events that feature drinking on the street or drinking at fund-raising events to benefit youth programs. A parent getting a court injunction to prevent the school from enforcing a no-drinking rule so that a student could keep playing sports. The group brainstormed ideas for changing attitudes. School District 2 Trustee Katharin Kelker suggested that punishment shouldn't be the only option for encouraging people to avoid substance use. For example, she suggested, parents might be included in voluntary smoking cessation classes with their teenage children to encourage both generations to quit. More volunteer opportunities for young people and more community volunteers to working with needy youngsters were suggested by other participants. Randolfi repeatedly reminded the group that the goal isn't a quick fix. The committee is formulating a plan for long-term solutions that will span five years. Among other first steps for the community plan are: Identifying what services are available for youths and what services are lacking and establishing a communication network for sharing information about community resources. More information on the drug prevention effort is available on the Internet at http://www.optimalhealthconcepts.com/prevention. Pat Bellinghausen can be reached at 657-1303 or at --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D