Pubdate: Wed, 22 Mar 2006
Source: Standard-Journal (PA)
Copyright: 2006 Standard-Journal
Contact:  http://www.standard-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3286
Author: Mike Tischio, Staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

PARENTS: TIME TO FACE THE FACTS

Meeting Spotlights Drug Abuse Among Lewisburg Teens

LEWISBURG -- "Please do not leave here tonight thinking  drugs aren't 
here in Lewisburg. Crack, heroin, opium  and cocaine are sold here; 
and not by the guy in  slouchy jeans, but by preppy, good-looking, 
well-educated, normal looking people."

This was the testimony of Laure Gargano, currently one  of two 
drug/alcohol intervention specialists at  Lewisburg Area High School, 
during Monday night's  informational meeting for parents of students 
at  Eichhorn Middle School.

Gargano may have been the final speaker of the evening,  but her 
message was the most alarming. Through 13 years  experience at the 
White Deer treatment facility and as  the facilitator of several 
student groups at the high  school, Gargano knows first hand what 
drugs students in  the Lewisburg area are using, and that kids are 
ending  up in treatment facilities. She was very clear that  parents 
need to hold their children responsible.

"If my daughter shows up at your house with a pot pipe,  I expect you 
to call me, as uncomfortable as it may  be," Gargano said.

She added that parents need to know their neighbors,  know their 
kids' friends, the friends' parents, where  their kids are going and 
who they will be with when  they leave the house. She responded to 
questions  regarding the source of drugs for middle and high  school 
students by asking parents to look into their  own homes.

"Many of the kids that end up in addiction programs  have their first 
cigarette, first joint or first drink  at home with Mom and Dad 
present." Gargano related a  frightening scenario of students raiding 
their parents  medicine cabinets, "then going to a party and emptying 
heart medication, barbiturates, blood pressure medicine  and more 
into a big bowl and eating it throughout the  night." She warned 
parents to even watch their students  after an adult party, as kids 
will "help out" by  downing unfinished drinks.

The information she gave, along with the other  presenters, painted a 
picture of a growing problem in  Union and surrounding counties. 
Lewisburg Police Chief  Paul Yost, East Buffalo Township Police Chief 
Barry  Hosterman, and Gargano's associate, Patricia Wertman,  all 
made the point that kids are leaving school,  driving to Philadelphia 
to pick up cocaine or heroin,  and returning to school before the end 
of the day.

"It's only a two and a half hour drive each way," noted Yost.

Megan Will of Clinical Outcomes and Teens Against  Tobacco reported 
that although cigarettes don't always  lead to other drug use, "a 
majority of cocaine and  heroin users also smoke." She also pointed 
out that a  pack of cigarettes "cost the tobacco companies about 12 
cents to make, so at about $4 retail, they make a big  profit." Will 
made the point that additives to  cigarettes increase the body's 
absorption of nicotine,  addicting kids even faster.

More than 60 people attended Monday evening's meeting,  and they 
asked questions, and were given materials to  educate them about drug 
and alcohol use in teens as  young as 11- to 13-years-old. Among 
other things, they  learned that even middle school children can be 
getting heroin, for as little as $5 or $10 a bag, and that up  to 25 
percent of kids report their first drug  experience was heroin.

Tracy Krum, Eichhorn principal, said afterward that the  questions 
parents asked will guide her in planning  future presentations.

"I'm very glad that so many people came out," she said.  "I think 
they learned that there is a very real problem  here in town."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom