Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Substance-Abuse-Task-Force-

Full Text:

Task Force Steps Up Efforts Against Drug Abuse

Through more publicity and education, the town's Substance Abuse Task Force

hopes to stem drug use among teens in the community.

Recent survey results show drug use has risen among Newtown's teens, though at

a slower pace than national averages.

The survey also showed that middle and high school students are more accepting

of marijuana than they used to be.

The Substance Abuse Task Force addressed this survey at a recent meeting and

produced a list of actions that it thinks the community could take to prevent

drug abuse.

This list includes:

Publicize the middle and high school Student Assistance Teams.

Publicize the various town resources addressing this issue.

Provide parent and/or student workshops consistently.

Have parents who have been through drug use problems with their children help

other parents.

Educate parents about new drugs, signs of drug use,and the effects of drugs.

Emphasize and encourage students who do not use drugs to take leadership roles

and discourage such use.

Develop student programs with an anti-drug purpose.

The task force plans to discuss how it can institute these ideas at its next

meeting on November 16.

The task force has initiated many programs since 1993, but feels these areas

could be bolstered with more activity.

It stressed that it has been working on this issue for a few years and has

made headway with programming. Since 1993, Newtown High School has gotten a

full-time social worker, substance abuse counselor, and male and female

security guards.

The substance abuse policy has been revised, parent training programs have

been developed and offered and this year, the school system is offering a DARE

program for the seventh grade.