Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2003
Source: Kentucky Post (KY)
Copyright: 2003 Kentucky Post
Contact:  http://www.kypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/661
Author: David Wecker, Post staff reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

MEETING TO TARGET HEROIN USE

As Campbell County struggles with the reality of teen heroin use, a second 
communitywide intervention to combat the problem will be convened at 7 p.m. 
Tuesday at the auditorium at Campbell County High School. Mary Pat Behler, 
one of the meeting's organizers, said the purpose of the meeting is 
two-fold: to continue to draw attention to the issues of teen substance 
abuse throughout Northern Kentucky, and to explore ways to fund more 
treatment options. Behler is director of NorthKey Community Care, an 
outpatient community mental health organization.

It's the second such meeting this month in Campbell County. Alexandria 
Police Chief Mike Ward called the first in response to the overdose deaths 
of three young men from rural Campbell and Kenton counties since August. 
All three had histories of heroin abuse. An estimated 450 parents, 
educators and law enforcement officials attended that meeting at the 
Alexandria fire station on Feb. 5.

"The first meeting needed to happen, as painful as it was," Behler said. 
"I've never seen anything like it in Northern Kentucky, where an entire 
community has come together to deal with a drug problem.

"The unfortunate part is that, so often, it takes kids dying before people 
really get angry about it."

Behler said she agreed to help organize an on-going effort against teen 
substance abuse in Alexandria and beyond when parents approached her after 
the first meeting.

"They wanted to know, 'What do we do next?'" said Behler, who describes 
herself as "a Northern Kentucky point person regarding resources for 
prevention and treatment."

Tuesday's meeting will include:

. A look at teen substance abuse throughout Northern Kentucky. "People in 
Campbell County need to know they're not the only ones with a drug 
problem," said Behler.

. A video about the problem of adolescent substance abuse across America.

The video was produced by Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy, 
based at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University.

. A discussion of ways to create groups with specific missions. "We have 
parents who want to do something, but they need an organized format in 
which to do that," Behler said.

. A look at potential funding sources for prevention and treatment programs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom