Pubdate: Thu, 16 Feb 2006
Source: Marblehead Reporter (MA)
Copyright: 2006 CommunitysNewspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.townonline.com/marblehead
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3395
Author: Kaitlin Melanson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug  Education)

TEAMUP BRINGS ABUSE PREVENTION EXPERT TO TOWN

As the generation gap between parent and child continues to stretch 
beyond recognition, many parents begin to view their own children as 
strangers and are unsure how to open up the lines of communication 
with out sounding like the enemy. Tuesday,  Feb. 28, TeamUp Inc. of 
Marblehead will present "Understanding the Teenage  Brain: A 
Discussion on Drug and Alcohol Use, Risky Behaviors and 
Prevention  Strategies," a program featuring consultant, teacher, 
coach and former director  of the Training Institute of Narcotic and 
Drug Research Inc. Michael Nerney. The  program will run from 7-9 
p.m. in the Performing Arts Center of the Marblehead  Veterans Middle School.

During the  presentation, which is geared for an adult audience, 
Nerney will provide  extensive, concrete evidence of the effects of 
alcohol and drug use on an  adolescent brain, as well proactive steps 
towards building a strong line of  communication between parent and 
teen. Nerney is also speaking in Swampscott the  following day.

In both March and  May, Nerney will come back to speak directly to 
several adolescent groups,50  students at a time in both Marblehead 
and Swampcott middle and high schools,  along with hosting a pre-prom 
seminar at the high school level. Nerney will also  hold special 
professional development programs with teachers and faculty over  the 
next few months.

In Massachusetts,  28 percent of children 13 and under have had a 
drink, and 12 percent have used  marijuana. With the percentages 
constantly rising, Joyce Alla, marketing  chairwoman of TeamUp, which 
is sponsoring Nerney's appearance in Marblehead,  says more needs to 
be done. "The 'just say  no' slogan doesn't work anymore," Alla said. 
"As parents we really need to work  on opening the lines of 
communication." TeamUp President  Susan Hauck added. "We need to 
increase awareness of the effects of drugs and  alcohol as well as 
promote the tactic of early education." Swampscott  guidance 
counselor Reardon said seeing Nerney last year in Marblehead was 
the  motivation for bringing him to Swampscott, thanks to a grant 
from the local educational support organization, SUCCESS. For many 
parents,  the thought of talking to their elementary and middle 
school aged children doesn't seem necessary, but TeamUp advocates 
feel the sooner the better.

"It's better to  be talking to your children all along than when it's 
too late," said Elizabeth  Moore, principal of Marblehead Veterans 
Middle School. "Parents should just  cater their talks to the 
different age levels their children are at."

Moore, who has  attended presentations by Nerney in the past, thinks 
children relate to the  research Nerney brings to the table, and that 
they like to have evidence that  they can hold in the palm of their 
hands. "Children like to  see concrete evidence showing them what 
definitively what can happen to them if  they do something," Moore 
said. "Last year [Nerney] showed parents and teachers  research he 
had done on the brain, showing that as they enter adolescence their 
forebrain is not as developed and they become impulsive."

In terms of when  to talk with your children, Steve McFadden, 
guidance counselor at the Village  School, also in Marblehead, has 
also adopted a sooner rather than later view on  the situation.

"Though a lot of  parents may think how does this relate to my young 
child, they have to realize  that these issues come up quicker than 
you think and it is always best to be  prepared," McFadden said.

Local counselor  Larry Robinson says the main thing most parents need 
to learn is how not to talk  down to their children as if they know 
everything, yet instead create an equal  playing field where the kids 
feel that they can talk to their parents rather  than fight with 
them. Part of his own method in his Lynn office is making 
his  clients feel comfortable from the moment they step over the 
threshold, whether  it be from the soothing smell of incense of the 
Native American pictures and  artifacts placed around the waiting 
room. "Children need to  gain your trust, otherwise if you criticize 
them from A to Z they are not going  to listen to anything you have 
to say," Robinson said. "Kids at this age are  angry because they 
have to be. Their parents are no longer their friends and  they are 
now responsible for making adult decisions." Robinson says a  lot of 
the problem is that middle schoolers see what their older siblings 
are  doing and figuring that this what is "cool," creating a 
tremendous amount of  pressure to be just that.

"We need to work  toward changing what defines 'cool'," Robinson 
said. "If we accepted kids more  for who they are then they would be 
better at deciding what 'cool' actually  is."

Currently one of  the more effective programs in place is the 
athletic department's social  contract which was brought in by 
director Michael Plansky. Since putting the  contracts in place, 
Plansky says they have only had to in force the policy once  this year.

"We bring the  responsibility to the kids by making them form their 
own social contracts saying  here's what they want to do and if we 
want our team to succeed we all need to  follow by these rules," 
Plansky says. "The students are in charge of assigning  penalties 
unanimously so that everyone is on the same page and they can look 
out for each other."

Plansky added,  "The goal is to have the students looking out for 
each other and learning  together how to be responsible. Our hope is 
that if they are out and see someone  breaking the rules they will 
say 'hey, that's in our contract and you shouldn't  be doing that'."

Swampscott High  School has a similar student teaching student method 
known as SADD, an  organization of Students Against Destructive 
Decisions. "We are an active  chapter and two of our high school 
students are on the board," Reardon said. "We  do presentations every 
year that are funded through a SUCCESS, Inc. grant and  this year we 
are going to mirror what Marblehead did last year by having 50 
students at a time work with Nerney." "Many parents are  trying so 
hard to be there child's best friend, but as parents that is not what 
we signed up for," said Marblehead Police Detective Sgt. Marion 
Keating.  "Parents should create an information exchange where they 
have all the cell  phone numbers and email addresses so that at any 
point in time they are able to  get in touch with their child." 
Keating added,  "Parents are now having to talk to their children 
about subjects they never  thought they would have to before. For 
example, what should your child do if  they are babysitting and the 
parents come home drunk and are going to drive them  home? These are 
things that we don't think of but need to because they  happen."

Judy Luise,  adjustment counselor at Marblehead High School, suggests 
teaching children how  to act in advance, trying to advert problems 
rather than deal with the  consequences.

"We try and teach  them in a non-judgmental environment how to react 
rather then reflect after the  fact," Luise said.

According to Jim  Ryan, director of Northeast Center for Healthy 
Communities, several surrounding  communities have taken the 
initiative to effectively attack the problem.

"Hamilton-Wenham  is currently collecting data to develop strategies, 
and Lynn has a whole study  done up on risk factors along with 
protective factors and building strong  neighborhoods," Ryan said. 
"Many communities are forming coalitions trying to  get parents 
engaged in the issue and building communication so they can be 
mentors in the situation."

"No parent can  fully protect their child," said Moore. "What they 
can do is continue the  conversation. It can be as simple as asking 
you kids how they feel after you  both witness a character in a 
television show doing something wrong. As parents  we should always 
be talking."

JUST THE  FACTS What: TeamUp  lecture on drug and alcohol awareness 
and prevention, featuring former Director  of the Training Institute 
of Narcotic and Drug Research, Michael Nerney, now  working with 
Partners in Prevention. Not recommended for student attendance.

When: Tuesday,  Feb. 28, 7-8:30 p.m. Where: Marblehead  Veterans 
Middle School Performing Arts Center
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom