Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jan 2006
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2006 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Mark Baker, The Register-Guard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TV SHOW ZEROES IN ON DRUG ABUSE

Local television anchors are going back to school.

Actually, they already have. And you can see on local TV stations the 
work they have done with students at four Lane County high schools.

The half-hour special, to be broadcast Sunday at 6 p.m., is the 
seventh annual "One Voice: Media United Against Drugs."

The special is a collaboration between the Lane Education Service 
District, Lane County Health and Human Services, all major television 
network stations based in Lane County and Eugene area radio stations.

The goal is to provide the community with a way to prevent, treat and 
diminish drug and alcohol use and abuse - and its consequences.

For this year's special, the four local TV stations - KVAL, KEZI, 
KMTR and KLSR - adopted a high school's audiovisual class this past fall.

Local anchors mentored the students as they planned, organized, 
filmed, edited and produced vignettes about how drugs and alcohol can 
affect high school students' lives.

The students interviewed their peers, parents and others, capturing 
how to make healthy choices and be alcohol- and drug-free in high school.

The program includes four pieces of about six minutes, each produced 
by the students at Thurston, Oakridge, Junction City and Sheldon high 
schools. The pieces showcase tips, ideas and strategies parents can 
use to encourage dialogue, interaction and involvement between 
themselves and their children.

"It was just really remarkable to hear all of the different stories 
that came out of the high schools," said Brinda Narayan-Wold of the 
Lane County Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse. "I think we're 
going to see four very different approaches."

Thurston High students worked with Rick Dancer of KEZI on a piece 
titled "Get Involved." It focuses on establishing a regular weekly 
routine to do something with your child, whether it's going out for 
ice cream or a movie. It's suggested that parents get to know their 
children's friends and parents, so you're familiar with their 
activities, and to eat meals together regularly.

Oakridge High students worked with Jennifer Winters of KVAL on a 
piece titled "Learn to Communicate," focusing on how to be a better 
listener, how to ask questions of your child and how to encourage them.

The piece talks about how to give honest answers, how to react in a 
way that won't cut off discussion, how to be absolutely clear what 
your values are and how to communicate them to your child.

Junction City High students worked with Bob Broderick of KLSR on a 
piece titled, "Walk the Walk," focusing on how parents can examine 
their own behavior and be role models.

Sheldon High students worked with Matt Templeton on KMTR on a piece 
titled "Lay Down the Law," about setting limits and creating rules 
for children when it comes to drugs and alcohol. The focus is on 
discussing in advance the consequences of breaking rules and how to 
make expectations clear.

National statistics say that children who learn from their parents 
and other caring adults about the risks of drugs and alcohol are 
about 36 percent less likely to smoke marijuana than children who do 
not, and 50 percent less likely to use inhalants.

In Oregon, children are about 50 percent less likely to use alcohol 
if their parents disapprove, according to a 2000 drug-use survey.

TELEVISION PREVIEW
One Voice: Media United Against Drugs
What: Seventh annual local TV special to combat drug and alcohol use 
and abuse among teenagers
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Channels: KEZI, KVAL, KMTR, KLSR, KEVU and Lane County Metro Television
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman