Pubdate: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 Source: State, The (SC) Copyright: 2001 The State Contact: http://www.thestate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/426 Author: Chuck Crumbo CREAGH BRINGING ANTI-DRUG TALKS TO COLUMBIA Motivational Speaker And Former PBS Host To Talk To Midlands Students And Their Parents At 6 feet 7 inches and 363 pounds, Milton Creagh looks more like a powerhouse NFL lineman than a motivational speaker. But Creagh's message about the damage drugs and alcohol can do to the body and mind has a way of chopping down the defenses of children and firing up parents to take the offensive. "Milton is extremely dynamic," said Beverly Bullock of the Lexington-Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. "People like him because he's funny, yet at the same time he's stimulating." Creagh will be in Columbia Monday through Thursday, speaking to students at nine high schools and middle schools during the day and holding court with the public at night. The former host of the PBS series, "Parenting Works!," Creagh also hosted the Emmy-nominated talk show, "Atlanta Teen Talk." He's been featured in three nationally syndicated television specials. His trip to Columbia is sponsored by the Safe Schools/Healthy Students project of Richland District 1 and LRADAC, the Behavioral Health Center of the Midlands. During the day Tuesday, Creagh will speak to students at A.C. Flora High, Dreher High, and Hand Middle schools. On Wednesday, he'll be at Eau Claire High, Keenan High, and Crayton Middle schools. Thursday, Creagh will meet with students at Hammond, Cardinal Newman and Heathwood Hall schools. He'll also hold community sessions at night. The sessions begin at 7 p.m. and are scheduled for Tuesday at Keenan Theater, Wednesday at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church and Thursday at the USC Law School auditorium. Admission is free. Organizers will distribute questionnaires at the public meetings to gauge parents' interest in the "Safe Schools/Healthy Students" project and invite them to join, Bullock said. About 70 parents are involved in the project, which is funded through a three-year, $8.1 million federal grant for intervention and prevention programs. The grant was awarded to Richland 1 in May 2000. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom