February 2, 2000
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Health/Education
Finding preventatives for drug use on-line
CONTRIBt'TEDSTORV
H J H lìlK P o K T L A S D Q B S m V E K
A frican-A m erican parents
and adult caregivers such as teachers,
c o a c h e s an d m e n to rs w h o are
interested in helping kids stay drug-
free can find abundant inform ation,
ideas, and referral to resources in
their com m unity at the A O L Parents’
D ru g R e so u rc e C e n te r (A O L
Keyword: Drug Help). The interactive
resource is a service o f the W hite
House Office ofNational Drug Control
P olicy’s (O N D CP) N ational Youth
Anti-D rug M edia Campaign.
Created in collaboration with
Partnership fora D rug-Free Am erica
(PD FA ), the Parents’ Drug Resource
C enter (PD RC) is a new, extrem ely
useful area that provides A O L ’s 16
m illio n m e m b e rs w ith a d ru g
prevention com m unity to assist them
in becom ing more inform ed about
drugs, to connect them to qualified
drug help resources, and to make a
difference in how they raise their
ch ild re n . T he site is esp ec ially
intended for parents o f kids in the
im m ed ia te p re -te e n y ea rs w ho,
according to research, still have a
significant am ount o f influence in
k id s’ decision-m aking processes.
Internet users w ho are not AOL
subscribers can access portions o f
PDRC
c o n te n t
at
ww w.theantidrug.com .
“T he
PDRC
and
Theantidrug.com can be resources
that prom ote pro-active dialogue
betw een parents and teens w hile
red u c in g a d o le sc e n t d ru g u se ,”
explained Dr. Donald Vereen, who is
the agency’s D eputy D irector and its
highest-ranking A frican-A m erican
policymaker.
W o rk in g w ith team s o f
ethnically diverse com m unications
experts, the content o f the PDRC and
th e a n tid ru g .c o m
have
b ee n
d e v e lo p e d and en h a n c e d to be
culturally appealing and relevant to
A fr ic a n - A m e r ic a n
a u d ie n c e s .
Features o f the PDRC include:
“ Be I n fo r m e d ” - an a re a
discussing how the drug culture has
changed and identifying drug slang
term s p o p u la r am ong c u ltu ra lly
diverse youths.
“Make A Difference” -featu rin g
excerpts from books by such leading
A frican-A m erican parenting experts
as M arieta G olden, Dr. Je ff G ardere,
Em m aTalbott, Benjamin Bowser and
Reginald Jones with practical tips for
talking to kids about drugs, self
m o n ito rin g b e h a v io r , a n d th e
im portance o f being involved in
schools and com m unities.
•
“G et Help” - detailing w arning
s ig n s o f y o u th
d ru g
u se ,
recommended actions for parents and
other adult caregivers, and referral
lin k s to d ru g tr e a tm e n t an d
counseling resources for African-
American and otherculturally diverse
communities.
•
A r o ta tin g fro n t s c re e n
prom otion that sp o tlig h ts fam ily
issues and events such as Black
Fam ily Reunion, Juneteenth, and
various festivals and conferences
presented by A frican-A m erican and
other culturally diverse com m unity
o r g a n iz a tio n s th r o u g h o u t th e
country.
As a com panion to the PDRC, the
new I n te rn e t w e b s ite c a lle d
T h e a n tid ru g .c o m
o ffe rs
an
environm ent o f resources to help
empower families - including parents
and teens - against the dangers o f
drugs.
Theantidrug.com features tips and
helpful strategies every parent can
use.
According to ON DC P, the PDRC and
theantidrug.com inform and empower
parents and other caregivers for drug
use prevention.
“Parents and caregivers o f kids will
b e n e fit g re a tly fro m re le v a n t
information to help them create a
dialogue about drug use and its
consequences,” Dr. V ereen added.
Younger kids don’t have to shy
away from strength training
C ontributed S tory
Depending on their levels o f maturity and development,
some young boys m ight be ready to tackle a strength
training program , says Dr. Joe Chorley, an adolescent
sports m edicine specialist at Baylor C ollege o f M edicine
in Houston.
“There is not a m agic age for boys to start strength
training,” Chorley said. “ Some may be very m ature at age
9 or 10, so it has m ore to do w ith how the child looks at the
activity.”
Boys who “g o o f o f f ’ in the weight room are m ore prone
to injuries, som e o f w hich can be severe. If, for example,
M
B la c k H is to ry
growth plates in the wrist, shoulder and knee responsible
for the length and width o f bones are dam aged, the child
might not reach his full height.
To keep w eight-lifting injuries at a minimum, Chorley
suggests that parents provide adequate supervision and
find a gym that offers sm aller machines that can better
accom m odateachild’sbody. Proper technique isalso key.
Chorley stresses, however, that strength training can
involve more than w orking with weights. Exercises that
use o n e’s body weight as resistance, like sit-ups, push
ups and pull-ups, are all good strength builders.
Strength training can help adolescent boys physically
and mentally. Boys who feel stronger, tend to be less
anxious and have m ore self confidence.
onth
Governor announces
appointments to Racial
& Ethnic Task Force
CONTRIBUTED STORY
for the
P ortland O bserver
Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed 21 members to the Racial and Ethnic Health
Task Force, created after a work group found that access to health care and
health outcom es vary in com munities o f color in Oregon. Task force
members represent Oregon’s di verse racial/ethnic backgrounds and diverse
geographic regions. M em ebers o f the task force are:
A t-large candidates:
C arm en Bauer, executive director, Centro Latino Americano
Ruby H aughton, vice president o f corporate affairs, Bank o f America
Matt Hennessee, president and chief executive officer, Quiktrak
D avid H oughton, director, Disease Prevention and Control D ivision o f
M ultnom ah County
Sunil K hanna, associate professor o f anthropology, Oregon State
U niversity
Floyd M artinez, director, Behavioral Health Division, M ultnomahCounty
Robert Ryan, program coordinator, Tuality Healthcare, Counseling and
A ddiction Services
Legislators:
Sen. Susan Castillo
Sen. Avel G ordly
Sen. Lenn Hannon
Sen. D avid Nelson
Rep. JoA nn Bowman
Rep. Jackie W inters
O ther Members:
Dr. Tom Jannise, Oregon Medical Association
G. Kent Ballanyne, Oregon Association '‘'Hospitals and Health System s
Kathleen Schwartz, Conference o f Local Health Officials
M ark G ibson, G overnor's Office
Dr. Bruce Bliatout, Com mision on Asian Affairs
C orliss M cKeever, Com mission on Black Affairs
Dr. D ovie Trevino, Com mission on Hispanic Affairs
Jackie M ercer, Com mssion on Indian Services
T he task force will focus its work in six areas: access to treatm ent, alcohol
and drug abuse, asthma, diabetes, HI V/AIDS, and lead poisoning. W ork
groups will be created around each area o f concern and, based on their
findings, recom m endations made to the governor and the Legislature.
A nyone w ho is interested in participating or who has questions can call
Jenny Lee at 503-731-4582
Health/Education Briefs
OHSU offers day
of free dentistry
checkups
Oregon Health Sciences U niversity’s
School o f D entistry will offer free
dental check u p s for ch ild ren on
Saturday, Feb. 5 as a kickoff for “Keep
C avities O ut,” a statew ide effort to
reduce cavities in O regon children.
The event is for children between the
ages o f seven and nine w ho d o n ’t
have access to dental care.
In addition to a dental exam , children
will receive a plastic coating, called
sealant, on healthy molars. Referral
inform ation will be available for
children w ho cannot have the sealant
added because o f exisiting tooth
decay.
Call 494-1600to make an appointment.
OLCC
cra ck s
down on illegal ID’s
M ore young people in Oregon are
using fake id en tificatio n to buy
alcohol and th e O reg o n L iquor
Control C om m ission is concerned.
O LCC officials seized four pieces o f
false identification from minors going
to two night clubs Jan. 20-23 in
M u ltn o m a h an d W a s h in g to n
counties.
O ne piece o f fake ID was taken from
a minor at the New Copper Penny on
92nd A venue and the three other false
IDs were taken from three minors at
the Sunset Club on Barnes Road in
Washington County.
James Miller, m anager o f the OLCC
Statewide Compl iance Tearn, said that
the
m in o rs
p r e s e n te d
th e
identification o f people who are 21
and older to get into the clubs. One
minor said he found the piece of
identification that he used. The other
three minors said that someone had
given them the identification. All
minors involved were charged with a
Class A misdemeanor and will be
subject to crim inal sanctions.
T he p eo p le w ho p ro v id ed th eir
identification can lose their driving
p r iv ile g e s o r th e ir O re g o n
id e n tif ic a tio n c a re fo r a y e a r,
according to the Department o f M otor
Vehicles.
To help em ployees o f businesses
that sell alcohol and cigarettes to
recognize false identification, the
O LCC sponsors and ID checking
class. For m ore information about the
class call 503-872-5196.
that is held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the
third W ednesday o f each month.
T hese w orkshops will provide basic
facts on surces o f lead in the home
and workplace. Health, enviromental,
and te stin g in fo rm atio n w ill be
covered. The w orkshops are held
throughout M ultnom ah County.
Call Stacey D rake Edw ards at 503-
823-1579 for workshop locations and
fo r m o re in f o rm a tio n a b o u t
w orkshops and programs.
Workshops offered
to in crea se lead
p o is o n in g
awareness
Free lead testing
for children
offered
T he Portland W ater B ureau’s Lead
Hazard Reduction Program is offering
a series o f free w orkshops to increase
aw areness about the dangers o f lead
poiso n in g and to p ro m o te lead-
p re v e n tio n a c tiv itie s in h o m es,
neighborhoods and w orkplaces.
A n all d a y w o rk s h o p fo r
professionals, educators, and trainers
w ho work with health, environmental
and com m unity organizations. These
w orkshops provide lead-prevention
aw areness in daily work activities
that will help organizations train their
ow n le a d -p re v e n tio n ed u c ato rs.
These w orkshops are scheduled from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Southeast
U plift, 3534 S.E. M ain and 9a.m . to4
p.m. on W ednesday, Feb. 9 at St.
A ndrew ’s C om m unity C enter, 4940
N.E. 8* and9a.m .to4p.m . Wednesday,
Feb. 23 at Brentw ood-D arlington
Com m unity Center, 7211 S.E. 62nd.
Registration is required.
The w ater bureau also will sponsor
tw o -h o u r w o rk s h o p s o n le a d -
prevention aw areness that will be
held on-site for staff m em bers o f
com m unity organizations. These
w o rk s h o p s a re g e a re d to th e
organization’s specific needs.
In addition to the training w orkshops
and the staff training, the bureau also
will offer an inform ation w orkshop
The O regon chapter o f 1 ysicians
for Social Responsibility, along with
o th e r c o m m u n ity g ro u p s an d
businesses, is sponsoring free lead
te s tin g fo r c h ild re n b eg in n ng
Saturday, Feb. 12.
The free testing will occur from H>
a.m . to 2 p.m . on the second Saturday
o f each month at Com m on Bond,
located at 4919 N.E. Ninth Ave.
Blood lead testing o f chi Idren should
be perform ed at the ages o f 1 and 2 or
at least before age 6 if no previous
testing has been done and any risk
factors for lead poisoning are present.
Children w holivein, or regularly stay
in a hom e, apartm ent, or child care
center constructed before 1978 are at
a greater risk o f developing lead
p o iso n in g , esp ecially if there is
rem odeling or peeling paint.
The effects o f lead poisoning are
reversible if detected early by a blood
test. If undetected, lead poisoning
dam ages the brain, causing learning
and behavioral problems.
In addition to Physicians for Social
Responsibility, the screenings are
sponsored by the Coalition o f Black
Men, Volunteersof America, 1 ommon
B ond, C L E A R C orps. the Urban
League o f Portland, and Old W ives’
Tales Restaurant. The Multnomah
C o u n ty H e a lth D e p a rtm e n t is
providing the laboratory testing and
supplies.
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