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Show Garfield Teachers Attend All-Day Drug Abuse Session Twenty-seven Garfield County School District teachers led by district superintendent Henry Jolley spent Sasturday, Sept. 7 in an all-day seminar on Alcohol and Drug Abuse at Bryce Valley School. Tom Jackson, Alcohol and Drug Prevention Specialist assigned to Garfield County conducted and directed the seminar. "Some of the statistics are staggering"said more than one of the attending teachers. The average age for beginning smokers in Utah is 11 years. The average age beginning for alcohol and marijuina users in Utah Is 12. Over 40,000 Utah teens are regular drinkers; 25,000 Utah teens use marijuana regulaily; over 30,000 Utah teens used in illicit drug in the last 30 days; over 13,000 teen use drugs while in school; 3,500 Utah tens use cocaine regularly; 7,500 Utah youths (mainly 7-11) use Inhalants regularly; and the use of chewing tobacco Js on a rapid rise in Utah. Jackson said, "A you can see, the problem is real. Without the help of many groups, we will not be able to (jet this problem under control. The state hts mandated that alcohol and drug information be taught at all grade levels. In addition to this, an entire K-12 Alcohol and Drug Curriculum has been developed." Jackson said, "great pressure is being put on the schools to help solve the alcohol and drug abuse problems among our youth. A 1983 poll taken among the give million member National Congress of Parents and Teachers ranked alcohol and drug abuse as the number one problem facing the schools of America," Although the seminars are for the teachers, Jackson recognizes the absolute need for parents not only to recognize the problems and the symptoms but to have the courage and the strength to "do something about it." Many parents have not or would not take the time to understand the things to look for in a youngster's behavior that would spell "change," Jackson has spelled out symptoms and behavorial changes that could and will alert the alert parent to the dangers of abuse. Jackson listed a number of "Negative teaching tools" that (See DRUG ABUSE Page 4) Drug Abuse flEEHEEEni parents often unknowingly use which can encourage their children to use drugs. "Never eat together as a family." Mealtimes, he said, can be a quality time together, a sharing of love and ideas, and it can also be a time of observation. "Never have family traditions which can occur weekly, monthly, or annually that the children can look forward to." Although sometimes family get-togethers may see a little strained and "Heavy" he said, they are the very times that children remember with affection, "because we did it together." ' "Never listen to your children; talk at them, not to them." Jackson told parents, "One of the most fascinating experiences in the world is watching our children grow and develop, and there is no better way to do that than by listening to them." "Never let your children experience cold, fatigue, adventure, Injury, risk, challenge, experimentation, failure, frustration, or discouragement." Denying your children these, he said, will never bring a time of sharing of problems, a time of holding, a time of loving, and a time of the child knowing that his parent loves him and can be trusted. "When confronted with the choice of either spending money or time on material pursuits or family activity, always choose the material object." "By this," he said, "parents miss sunsets together with their children, and camping out in a leaky, happy tent full of family would be a thing your family would never know." "Always tell others, in front of your child, what great things you 'little boy is doing' and always ex- pect him to win. Build up such high walls that he can never climb them." Jackson said, "He will never hear you say, 'that's okay son, we'll have another wack at it later."' Jackson says that often parents, "fall to realize that youngsters have a right to expect certain behavior from them." Children don't want to see parents argue in front of them. It gives the youngsters a feeling of instability. Children all feel that "they" deserve the same kind of affection that their siblings receive. Young people do not want to be lied to. Youngsters want and expect equal treatment from both parents, a sense of belonging and of having worth. Young people have a desire and a need for their parents to be constant in their affections and moods. Some of the Indications that Jackson has noted in a pamphlet he uses to show some of the symptoms of drug use in some but not all people: using spray to cover smoke odor; using gum or mints to cover breath; withdrawing from family functions; a lack of motivation; loss of appetite or obsession with junk food only; money or items that can be sold turn up missing; ditching class; incense use in room; wearing of sunglasses at an inappropriate time; abrupt changes in behavior; secrecy; a sudden change in friends; or a drop in school performance. These and many other behavioral changes can be an indication of abuse. A great deal of interesting and important information is readily available. Help can be obtained by writing to Jackson at P.O. Box 395, Panguitch, 84759 or by calling 676-8866. |