Pubdate: Mon, 16 Jun 2008
Source: Carroll County Times (MD)
Copyright: 2008 Carroll County Times
Contact:  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1524
Author: Erica Kritt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON DANGEROUS TEENAGE BEHAVIOR

The effects of substance abuse on the developing brain  will be the 
main topic at this year's Risky Business  Prevention Conference.

The conference, which will be held Tuesday at the St.  John's Portico 
in Westminster, was started in 1997 as a  way to educate the 
community about dangerous teenage  behavior such as drug and alcohol 
abuse, unprotected  sex and depression.

According to Kim Spangler, director of health education  at the 
Carroll County Health Department, the event  offers education on 
trends and statistics, and also  provides information on prevention.

Each year, there is an evaluation at the conference  where 
participants list topics they would like to learn  about. Last year, 
participants asked for information on  adolescent substance abuse, 
said Linda Auerback, an  assistant substance abuse prevention 
coordinator at  Junction Inc. in Westminster.

Junction Inc. provides substance abuse treatment to  adults and 
adolescents in Carroll County.

According to Auerback, there has been a national  increase in 
prescription drug abuse among adolescents.  At Junction there has 
been a 28 percent increase of  people who abused heroin being 
assessed between 2006  and 2007.

Auerback said it is important to have this conference  every year, 
because things are constantly changing.

She said there is a drug gaining popularity called  "greenies," which 
is a form of liquid marijuana that  can be chewed.

"They look like gumballs," Auerback said.

Without knowing about the drug, most parents would not  pay attention 
to their child chewing gum, but if you  know about greenies, Auerback 
said a person is more  likely to look twice instead of ignoring the behavior.

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If you go

What: 12th annual Risky Business Prevention Conference

When: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: St. John's Portico, 43 Monroe St., Westminster

Tickets: $25 includes continental breakfast and lunch,  available at the door

Information: Call Janet Mays at 410-876-4425
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom