Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2008
Source: Naples Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 2008 Naples Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.naplesnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284
Author: Maria Victoria Delgado
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Note: Ms Delgado is the Executive Director of Drug Free Collier

IMAGINE RECOVERY MONTH WITHOUT YOUTH

NAPLES -- September is Recovery Month.

President Bush signed a proclamation to acknowledge the  thousands of
people who battle with addiction and seek  professional help. It is
commendable for our nation to  support those who struggle with drug
addiction.

It is also necessary, however, to ask whether Collier  County is doing
everything possible to prevent juvenile  substance abuse in our
community. Considering recent  national and local data, the youth of
Collier County  mirror youth across America as it pertains to
substance  abuse.

According to a recent report by the Substance Abuse and  Mental Health
Administration, juvenile use of cocaine  and methamphetamine is down,
but binge drinking,  marijuana use and prescription-drug abuse are on
the  rise. These trends should concern everyone in Collier  County.

Parents play a major role in prevention. We know that  when parents
are involved in all aspects of their  children's lives, provide clear
rules, talk to their  children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol
and  provide opportunities for their children to trust their  own
judgment, it is less likely that children will  indulge in drugs and
alcohol.

Good parenting is not the only aspect in preventing  juvenile
substance abuse. As a researcher, I have  reviewed resiliency studies
of youth who live in dire  social-economic environments and who still
resist drugs  and alcohol.

What promotes resiliency? Concerned adults -- teachers,  friends,
relatives, pastors, older siblings, neighbors  or neighborhoods that
take an interest in the youth.  Children need to know that we care.
Although adults  might think that their words fall on deaf ears,
children hear and perceive their concern loud and  clear.

Drugs and alcohol are everywhere in Collier County. The  average age
at which children try alcohol is 12.9 years  old. Alcohol, marijuana
and prescription drugs are  sometimes considered gateway drugs which
may lead to  addiction or stronger drugs. We know that keeping youth
drug- and alcohol-free until 21 greatly reduces the  possibility of
them becoming addicted.

How is Collier County going to keep its youth drug- and  alcohol-free?
It takes work, but it is possible. It  involves caring about the
approximately 40,000 students  in Collier County Public Schools.
Caring means taking a  pro-active approach about those who sell
alcohol to  minors, those who provide alcohol to youth during home
parties and asking adults to keep their alcohol "off  limits" to their
children and to their children's  friends.

Alcohol is not a rite of passage. Some adults do not  understand that
providing alcohol or making it  available to minors is not only
against the law, it is  playing roulette with the mental health of our
most  precious resource -- the children of our community.

The legalization of marijuana is also a hot topic. As a  501(c)
federally funded organization, Drug Free Collier  cannot lobby against
such legislation. It is, however,  concerned that legalizing marijuana
will make it more  accessible to our youth. As we have seen with
alcohol,  the easier the access, the more likely youth will use  it.
There are so many uncertainties about the short-  and long-term
effects of smoking marijuana. Why  legalize a drug that can cause
brain damage and  possible chromosomal defects in future
generations?

Finally, prescription drugs are good and necessary when  we are in
pain and treacherous when they are accessible  to youth. If you want
to know who sells prescription  drugs, ask the kids. They will tell
you that they know  who sells tranquilizers, amphetamines, pain
medication  and similar substances. They might also tell you that
these kids got them from an adult's medicine cabinet.  Prescription
drugs are just as addictive as cocaine and  methamphetamine.

Drug Free Collier offers an easy way to dispose of  unused controlled
substances and all other unused  medication. Operation Medicine
Cabinet is a  collaborative effort with Collier County's Sheriff's
Office and the local pharmacies.

For additional information regarding the safe and legal  way of
disposing of unused medication, call 377-0535 or  go online to
DrugfreeCollier.org.

You may read this commentary and say that your  children, or
grandchildren don't drink or do drugs.  While that might be true, as
long as there are youth at  risk of substance abuse, your children and
your  community are at risk. Get involved with your children  and your
community. Imagine a Recovery Month that does  not include Collier
County's youth because we have done  everything possible to prevent
juvenile substance abuse  in our community.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath