city news
october
Be a Piece of the Puzzle: Teens Finding Their Way on a Slippery Road
Dealing with Daily Pressures and Stressors
By DeAnna Pearl, Director of the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
According to the Part-
nership for a Drug-Free
America, American teens
are using drugs and al-
cohol to deal with the
pressures and stress of school. In a 2007
Partnership Attitude Tracking Study,
73% of youth asked stated this fact indi-
cating that teen perceptions of motivat-
ing factors for using drugs.
The top three reasons:
73% deal with stress
65% feeling cool
65% feeling better about them-
selves
Good News!!! Drug use among teens is
on a steady downward trend on overall
drug abuse. This also includes alcohol
and cigarettes. However, over the past
decade, studies have shown a steadily
changing trend in what teens think of
as the motivations for using drugs. The
“to have fun” idea is declining, while the
motivations to use drugs to solve prob-
lems are increasing.
Unfortunately, teens’ ongoing intentional
abuse of prescription and over-the-coun-
ter medications remains a serious con-
cern, as many teens mistakenly believe
the abuse of medicines is less dangerous
than abuse of illegal drugs. According to
Steve Pasierb, CEO of Partnership for a
Drug-Free America, “Whether it’s to get
high or deal with stress, or if they mis-
takenly believe it will help them perform
better in school or sports, teens don’t re-
alize that when used without a prescrip-
tion, these medicines can be every bit as
harmful as illegal street drugs.”
On the flip side, a 2007 Partnership
study of parents’ attitudes about teen
drug use, released in June 2007, showed
that parents severely underestimate the
impact of stress on their teens’ decision
to use drugs. Only 7% of parents believe
that teens might use drugs to cope with
stress. It is ironic that an average par-
ent spends a lot of time worrying about
what they don’t want for their child:
drug use, early sexual activity, physical
abuse, gangs, drinking, dropping out of
school...arg! How do we cope?
TAKE A MOMENT-- Visualize what
you do want for your child. Write it
down, type it up or draw it out. Ask your
child what they envision for themselves.
Share with your child your vision. Plan
how both of you can work together in
making it happen. Often, this vision
does not include ATOD’s (Alcohol To-
bacco and Other Drugs). Still don’t
know what to say? There is a website
called TimeToTalk.org. This website
has information on how to help parents
2009
9
start and maintain open, honest dialogue
with their kids about the risks of drugs
and alcohol.
In Vernonia and around the state of Ore-
gon, parenting classes focusing on fami-
lies with kids between the ages of 10-14
are being offered. The Strengthening
Families Project offers communication-
building exercises for both the youth
and parents separately and then create
an opportunity in which they practice
the new skills together. In Vernonia, a
series of classes starts Monday, October
5 th and runs for seven fun-filled weeks.
If you would like more information on
classes in Vernonia, contact Sonia Pack-
man, SFP Trainer, at (503) 429-6540 or
DeAnna Pearl, Vernonia Prevention Co-
alition, at (503) 369-7370.
(Excerpts taken from Partnership for a Drug-
Free American press release, 8/5/2008,
www.drugfree.org)
What’s the Plan, Stan? A Monthly Update on City Planning
By Seth Lenaerts
If you have made a trip to City Hall lately, you
may have noticed some changes. One of which, is that
there is no longer a handsome young fellow working in
the main office. That’s right, I’m gone! My internship
with the City ended at the end of August and I am on to
wetter and windier places, specifically Lincoln City.
City administration has seen some changes
too. The police department and public works have
both added part-time directors. When these additions
are coupled with a new full-time City administrator,
Vernonia finds itself in a place it hasn’t been in awhile,
mostly staffed.
For planning purposes, the addition of a Public
Works Di-
rector and
Chief of
Police, even if only part-time, is significant. Planning
takes time and requires a big picture view. When a
work force is understaffed, it’s very difficult to do that.
It’s similar to a common-day occurrence that happens
to me. It’s 6 pm, I just got home from work, I’m hun-
gry and I have a meeting to get to at 7 pm. I run to the
store and grab the necessities to feed myself that night.
It would be more effective if I would think long-term.
If I spent a little more time shopping and got everything
I needed for the next week, it would save me time and
be more cost-effective. But like I said, I’m in a rush;
my stomach is begging for food, I am just focusing on
silencing the problem.
All cities have a lot of projects and tasks that
need to be done-- many of which need to be done im-
mediately, others should be done, and the list of tasks
coming down the pipe is endless. Hopefully, having di-
rectors will help to manage those projects and prepare
for the duties that are on the horizon. I wish these new
staff members the best of luck!
As for me, this will be the last monthly, What’s
the plan, Stan? Thanks to the Vernonia’s Voice for giv-
ing me a medium to share my interest in planning. I
intend on writing an article here and there if something
interesting comes up, but we all know about the valid-
ity of intentions. I must say it has been a pleasure liv-
ing and working here. Thank you for letting me take
part in your community, I really enjoyed it! I have a lot
more I could say, but I will leave you with this, pass the
bond and stop using plastic bags!
Until next time, you don’t have to be coy, Roy,
just listen to me.
Darrold Mushatt and
Carol Davis show off
the quilt Davis won
in a raffle to help
Mushatt raise money
for his needed kidney
transplant.
Mush-
att's wife, Teresa,
looks on from the
back left.
Vernonia School District teachers and staff look
over preliminary plans for the Vernonia School
Campus with Architects that are designing the
building.
Huge Sale!
We Attended Scamp’s
Bankruptcy Auction!
THOUSANDS OF ITEMS!
HUGE SAVINGS!
50% off retail price
Custom Arrangements
(503) 429-2000
www.VernoniaFlorist.com
Lisa@VernoniaFlorist.com
Pet Supplies & Grooming
(503) 429-PETS (7387)
www.CreaturesPetShop.com
Ben-n-Lisa@CreaturesPetShop.com
Open Monday thru Saturday, 10AM to 6PM Closed Sundays
736 Bridge Street, Vernonia
Visa/Mastercard Accepted
