Pubdate: Thu, 02 Sep 2004
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2004, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Robin Fitzgerald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ADULTS TRAIN TO HELP YOUTH

GULFPORT - The pieces of the puzzle to prevent youth behavior problems and 
substance abuse may already be available in Harrison County.

Putting those pieces together is a goal of community leaders who completed 
training Wednesday for Communities That Care, a countywide coalition. The 
training marks the start of efforts to use science and research to develop 
intervention and prevention measures, said Fred Walker, chairman of the 
Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force.

"We're wishing we had done this 10 years ago," said Walker, whose group has 
received $39,000 in grants to implement CTC.

The public won't see immediate results, he said, but many people may be 
asked to give input.

"We didn't realize we have so many resources in Harrison County," said 
Albert Stallworth, an addiction counsellor for Memorial Behavioral Health 
Services.

"What we need to do is put all the pieces together, get everyone working 
together. For example, you see we have very little clergy involved, but we 
know many churches have programs to help others."

CTC is a community development program of the Channing Bete Co.

But it's more of a system than a program, Walker said.

"They've identified 20 risk-factor areas and developed a matrix showing 
where these factors are more prone to cause a child to turn to substance 
abuse, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, school dropouts and violence," he said.

"It's about getting to the root of the problem. There's a lot of great 
programs out there now but they may not be involved in an overall plan. It 
takes collaboration."

About 30 community board members will work on research and make 
recommendations, and about 30 key community leaders will share in 
decision-making.

The teams are risk and protective factors; resource assessment and 
workforce; youth involvement; funding and sustainability; public relations 
and outreach; and maintenance, policies and procedures and celebration.

A grant of $25,000 from Purdue Pharma has drawn some criticism. The company 
manufactures OxyContin, a prescription pain-reliever with a high potential 
for abuse.

"The drug has a useful purpose but the company knows some people are 
abusing it," Walker said. "That's why they're being a good corporate 
citizen by investing in drug awareness programs."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D