Pubdate: Wed, 15 Sep 2004
Source: Kansas City Star (MO)
Copyright: 2004 The Kansas City Star
Contact:  http://www.kcstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221
Author: Glenn E. Rice, The Kansas City Star
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG CZAR CITES GOOD WORK OF NORTHLAND COALITION

"Unfortunately, this problem has an important dimension of denial.
People don't want to see it. They want to believe it's bigger than it
is. They also believe there's nothing they can do. That's wrong."

John P. Walters

The nation's drug czar is praising the Northland Coalition for its work to 
reduce illegal drug use and alcohol consumption among area youth.

John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 
said it is because of work that groups such as the Northland Coalition, who 
have formed partnerships with schools and local law enforcement agencies, 
drug use among area teenagers have dropped. Walters was in Kansas City on 
Friday to present an award to the Northland Coalition for its work in 
reducing drug and alcohol use among teens.

"People talk about partnerships in government," Walters said during the 
presentation at Maple Woods Community College. "Here is one of the places 
where it could not be clearer."

He also said parents need to play a more prominent role in the lives of 
their children to ensure youth do not fall prey to social norms that 
suggest recreational use of illegal drugs is acceptable.

"We have communities like this across the nation, where people like you are 
saving lives," Walters said. "We can save more lives, more rapidly, with 
more people reaching to lend a hand."

The Northland Coalition includes volunteers from Ray, Clay and Platte 
counties who work to address substance abuse and violence prevention issues.

"The volunteers have worked hard over the years to reduce substance abuse," 
said Vicky Ward, manager of prevention services at Tri-County Mental Health 
Services which is part of the Northland Coalition.

"It was an honor to have the nation's drug czar to acknowledge the work of 
those volunteers," Ward said.

Last week, the federal government released its 2003 National Survey on Drug 
Use and Health. The survey discovered that fewer young people are using 
marijuana, LSD and Ecstasy, but more youth are now abusing prescription drugs.

For example, Walters said more youth are obtaining illegal prescriptions 
for drugs such as Oxycontin and other painkillers.

The study also showed a 20-percent decline between 2002 and 2003 in the 
number of youths who smoke marijuana at least 20 days each month.

Despite those numbers, Walters said, the conflicting ideas persist that 
drug use always will be part of American culture.

"Unfortunately, this problem has an important dimension of denial," he 
said. "People don't want to see it. They want to believe it's bigger than 
it is. They also believe there's nothing they can do. That's wrong."

While the federal government can provide some support, Walters said, 
community groups and local law enforcement agencies also play a critical 
role in reducing drug use. He said local groups can target that support 
because they see problems and solutions more closely.

"We provide a national estimate on a variety of dimensions and try to 
improve some of those, but it's very important that those be tied to local 
measures as well," Walters said. "You can see what's working. You can see 
what's growing."

The latest Missouri statistics from the federal Drug Policy Information 
Clearinghouse were issued in August. For the most recent years available, 
2000-2001, the statistics showed that 9.94 percent of those aged 12 to 17 
had used an illicit drug in the previous month.

Tri-County Mental Health is the lead group for the Northland Coalition.

Ward said community groups in the Northland are working with law 
enforcement to devise new ways to clamp down on youth who either possess or 
consume illegal drugs.

Ward said many agencies in Ray, Clay and Platte counties have developed a 
zero-tolerance internal policies when it comes to under-age drinking. No 
longer are officers in many departments able to allow minors, who have been 
drinking, to continue on their way.

Officers must now either deliver the youth to a responsible adult or take 
the minor in until a parent or guardian can pick them up.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager