Parents Arrested for Teen Partying

A married couple in Naperville, Ill., was arrested for allowing minors to consume alcohol in their home, the Chicago Sun-Times [http://www.suntimes.com/index/index.html] reported June 4.

Police learned about the high-school graduation party at the home of Kathleen and James Connor, both 52, when the couple called for permission to leave cars parked on the street overnight. They told police they didn't want the teens to drive home after drinking.

When the Connors explained the reason for their request, police went to the home and arrested them for allowing underage drinking. The parents may have had good intentions, but, "you just can't do that," said Naperville Police Sgt. Joel Truemper.

Seven youths, ages 17 to 20, including the Connors' son, Patrick, were also cited for underage drinking.

Join Together Online [http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0,1854,563740,00.html]

Wins Top PR Industry Award

Washington, DC - A national effort to inform parents about the harms of youth marijuana use received the PR industry's highest honor, a Silver Anvil, for outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation of a government public service campaign. The Marijuana Initiative of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at an awards ceremony June 5th in New York. The effort, launched last September, is dispelling common myths about marijuana through a series of media briefings, public events, community partnerships, Web sites and printed resources.

"Since the launch of our marijuana prevention campaign last September, we have alerted parents across the country to the risks of youth marijuana use and given them tools they need to help keep their children drug-free," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Marijuana is riskier than many people think -- in fact, more teens are in treatment for marijuana than for all other illicit drugs combined."

FULL STORY [http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/articles/WhiteHouseJuly2003.htm]
Office of National Drug Control Policy [http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/]

Small-Town America Deals with Heroin Problem

In Lexington, Ohio, for example, the adult sons of Steve and Chris Thomas have stolen more than $50,000 from the family business to support their heroin addiction. Mark Thomas, 22, and Matt Thomas, 18, were arraigned on felony drug-possession charges. The next day, Mark was back to using heroin.

"I don't know what we're going to do," said Chris Thomas.

The family is one of many in the region with children addicted to heroin. Hospitals and drug counselors report an alarming increase in overdoses in small communities throughout the Midwest. According to law-enforcement officials, the heroin market has expanded beyond the typical clientele.

Join Together Online [http://www.jointogether.org/y/0,2521,563660,00.html]

Resolution Rejecting Zero Tolerance

Wed., June 11, 2003

Marsha Rosenbaum, well known pro-drug legalization advocate, persuades CA State PTA to teach our children how to be a "responsible" illicit drug users.

The 104th California State Parent Teachers Association (PTA) voted to reject zero tolerance responses to student drug use. Instead of suspension and expulsion, compassionate alternative programs that encourage prevention, treatment, and education will be advocated.

In voting “yes,” California's PTA accepts that drug use continues to be prevalent in schools, yet punishing students with ineffective suspension or expulsion without attempting to alter behavior does not solve the problem. The solution, according to the resolution, lies in “school connectedness.”

Julie Bauer, author of the resolution and Vice President for Community Concerns in California’s 3rd District, was first exposed to the approach advocated by Safety First before drafting the PTA resolution. The language in the successful resolution is echoed in Safety First, a reality-based approach for parents to address teens, drugs, and drug education.

Read the resolution [http://www.dfaf.org/articles/CA_PTA_resolution.pdf]
Drug Free American Foundation [http://www.dfaf.org/home.html]

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:
I see a lot of information out there about the importance of having a drug free workplace, but I’m not convinced that I should start a program at my small warehouse business. Is substance abuse more common in certain occupations and industries than others?
Signed,

Doubting Thomas

Dear Doubting:

Heavy alcohol and illicit drug use is highest among construction workers and food preparers. Auto mechanics, laborers and light-truck drivers are among those more susceptible to alcohol abuse. And tobacco use is more common among blue-collar workers than white-collar workers.

Consider this, more than 14 million Americans use illicit drugs. Roughly three-quarters of these individuals are employed, and when they arrive for work, they don’t leave their problems at the door. American businesses pay a high price for substance abuse in the workplace. Some costs—increased absences, accidents and errors—are obvious. Others, such as low employee morale and high illness rates are less obvious, but the effects are equally harmful.

Small businesses are greatly disadvantaged when it comes to drugs and alcohol in the workplace. They are less likely than large companies to have programs in place to combat the problem, yet they are more likely to be the “employer-of-choice” for illicit drug users. Individuals who can’t adhere to a drug-free workplace policy seek employment at precisely those firms that don’t have one, and the cost of just one error caused by an impaired employee can devastate a small company.

Feedback & Comments...

If you have questions about programs offered by the Drug Free Workplace drop us a line and let us know at:Publisher@dfwp.utsa.org [mailto:gmortell@utsa.edu]

You are currently subscribed to the Drug Free Workplace Newsletter. If you would like to discontinue your subscription Click Below to unsubscribe.