Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 Source: Providence Journal, The (RI) Copyright: 2003 The Providence Journal Company Contact: http://www.projo.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352 Author: Andrew C. Helman ALCOHOL'S STILL TOP ABUSE PROBLEM AMONG YOUNG, SAYS TOWN'S COUNSELOR EAST GREENWICH -- Alcohol continues to be at the root of many referrals to the town's substance-abuse counselor, Robert L. Houghtaling, according to a mid-year report that he submitted to the Town Council this week. Houghtaling, the coordinator of -- and sole counselor in -- the East Greenwich Substance Abuse Prevention Program, said he provided counseling to 62 people -- 48 of them younger than 21 -- for drug or alcohol problems since last July 1. Of the 62, he said, he ultimately referred 45 to other agencies. "Alcohol is just so damn easy to get a hold of," Houghtaling said. While many youngsters may try smoking marijuana, he said, his experience is that "alcohol wins out" as the substance most abused by young people. Adults and adolescents are referred to Houghtaling by the police, the schools, the Juvenile Hearing Board and therapists, for counseling that focuses on behavioral and mental-health problems, not just substance abuse. Some people come to him directly. All told, he said, in his report, 143 people came to him in the latter half of 2002, most of them without referrals. Houghtaling, who holds a master's degree in counseling education from Providence College, meets with clients in their homes, at the police station, in school guidance offices and, sometimes, over coffee. In his 19 years working for the town, he says, he has counseled residents ranging in age from 12 to the mid-70s. In the previous two years, Houghtaling's statistics showed drugs to be the more frequent problem. Last June 30, when Houghtaling released his year-end report, drugs were the leading cause for referrals, but at that time he said he was unsure if it was only a "blip on the screen." Yesterday he called the number in that report a "statistical anomaly. If I had to bet, I think alcohol has always been the dominant drug." "As you look at some of the reasons for referrals, one of the things I am most proud of is how many referrals come directly from parents and kids referring themselves," Houghtaling said, noting the police and schools have greatly cooperated and referred a total of 40 clients this year. School resource officers, Houghtaling and juvenile officer Lt. Thomas Joyce try to discourage under-age drinking at house parties. They urge parents to arrange for adequate supervision of their children when the parents go off on vacations. Joyce said Houghtaling is the best asset he has had in 40 years of police work, calling him "the best drug counselor in the state." "I think from an adult perspective, we have to perpetually be vigilant so parents and adults become part of the support network instead of part of the problem," Houghtaling said. "We have to have parents not condone drinking in the house, or if they go away to make sure there is appropriate supervision." Besides counseling individuals, Houghtaling operates programs in the community to discourage substance abuse by young people. From 6 to 9:30 every Friday evening, he runs a teen center in Swift Gym, where youths can play basketball, lift weights or watch television. He runs a weekly philosophy club for students, and coordinates several other clubs. "A lot of the effort is to try and create programs that not only address the substance abuse, but find places where kids can connect with the community," Houghtaling said. "I think the community has done a great job in terms of promoting mentorship programs, but I think that's stuff that we need to do more of." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens