October 18, 2000
Page A5
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The War on Drugs
Begins at Home
Bv B arbara C imaglio
D irector . O regon O ffice o f A lcohol and
CKViiAavsh
W hat w ill it take to w in the w ar on
drugs? T hat question is on the m inds
o f m any O regonians.
As long as a lucrative market exists
for illegal drugs, farmers and traffick­
ers in Latin A m erica, A sia and the
U nited States w ill w ork hard to sup­
ply it, no m atter w hat the risks. C o­
lom bia, w hich produces m ore than
h alf o f the w o rld ’s cocaine, under­
stands this lesson all too well.
“C olom bia can put a stop to drugs
here at some point,” President A ndres
Pastrana predicted ju st before Presi­
dent C linton visited the country in
A ugust. “ But if the dem and contin­
ues, som ebody else som ew here else
in the w old is going to produce them .”
Truer w ords w ere never spoken.
W e w on ’ t get anyw here in the w ar on
drugs - in C olom bia or in O regon -
until w e prevent people, especially
our youth, from using illegal sub­
stances in the first place.
Prevention is our m ost effective
w eapon against drugs. D ata from the
past 20 years show that it has sub­
stantially reduced illicit drug use.
In 1979, for exam ple, a federal sur­
vey found that 25 m illion A m ericans
used an illegal drug during the m onth
p rio rto the survey. In 1995, how ever,
after m ore than a decade o f w ide­
spread and ag g ressiv e education
about drugs, the sam e figure fell to
12.8 million Americans, a decrease o f
nearly 50 percent.
W hile ad vertising, classroom pro­
gram s and com m unity cam paigns all
influence a ch ild ’s choices about
drugs, parents m ake the m ost im por­
tant difference o f all. C h ild re n do
listen to th e ir p aren ts an d clo sely
follow th eir exam ple. T h a t’s w hy
m ore than 42 p erc en t o f teen s w ho
have never used m arijuana say their
p are n ts p lay ed an im p o rtan t p art in
this decision.
U n fo rtu n a tely , m any yo u n g O r­
eg o n ian s have had an o th er e x p e ri­
ence. T hey beg an d ru g use at hom e
w ith p arents w ho e ith e r p a rtic i­
p ated in the use o r tu rn ed a b lin d
eye to w h a t’s h ap p e n in g w ith th eir
children.
Even m ore disturbing, recent su r­
v ey s show that m any ad u lt O re g o ­
n ia n s have a fav o rab le attitu d e to ­
w ard m arijuana use, and even allow
th e ir ch ild ren to use it w ith them .
W e c a n ’t b lam e th at on C o lom bian
d ru g cartels.
W hat can p aren ts do to p rev en t
d ru g p rev en t d ru g abuse by their
ch ild ren ?
S et an exam ple for y o u r children
and estab lish c lea r g ro u n d rules.
K ids w ill do w hat they see th eir
p are n ts do, o r w ill do w hat th eir
p aren ts let them get aw ay w ith.
K now y o u r fa m ily ’s h isto ry o f
alco h o l and d ru g ab u se an d d is­
cu ss it w ith y o u r ch ild ren .
T alk to y o u r ch ild ren ab o u t the
d an g ers o f su b stan ce ab use. Be a
good liste n e r and be h o n est i f y o u r
teen -ag e r asks w h eth e r you have
u sed drugs.
L earn m ore ab o u t sp ecific drugs
- esp e c ia lly m a riju an a , ste ro id s
clu b drugs an d inhalants. T he m ore
you know , the b etter eq u ip p ed you
are to d eterm in e w h eth e r y o u r
te en -ag e r is ab u sin g drugs.
R e co g n ize the w arn in g signs
o f s u b sta n c e a b u se , su ch as
ch an g es in h ab its, a d ro p in
g rades, o r a loss o f in te rest in
h o b b ies o r o th e r ac tiv itie s. I f
you see th ese b eh a v io rs, get
h elp from a h ea lth care p ro fe s­
sional.
G et in v o lv e d in co m m u n ity
ac tiv itie s to im p ro v e local su b ­
stan ce ab u se p rev e n tio n effo rts
a n d s u p p o r t tr e a tm e n t th a t
b u ild s on the stren g th s o f fam ­
ily and com m unity.
P re v e n tin g y o u n g O re g o ­
nians from using d ru g s is n ot an
easy job. But to g eth er w ith treat­
m en t fo r ad d icts w h o w an t to
q u it alto g eth er, it is the surest
w ay to red u ce d em an d for these
d a n g e ro u s su b stan ce s.
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Families Wanted for
International Adoptions
Holt International C hildren’s Ser­
vices, the country’s oldest and largest
inter-country adoption agency, is look­
ing for families interested in adopting
a child from overseas.
The agency will host a free adop­
tion information meeting in Portland,
on Nov. 4. The meeting will be at Holt
International Children’s Services, 9320
S.W. BarburBlvd.,CapitolPlazaBuild-
ing#100,at 10 a.m.
The need to recruit adoptive fami­
lies reflects changes in adoption trends
in this country, as well as the openness
o f countries, like China, to the concept
o f international adoption. Susan Soon-
Keum Cox, Holt’s spokesperson, says,
“The adoption picture has changed
dramatically in this country. It used to
be that families wanting to adopt could
w aita long time. Now, it is children who
are waiting for families. The need to get
them out oforphanages and into adop­
tive families is quite urgent. For some
children, inter-country adoption is the
only hope they have.”
Holt social workers will provide in­
formation about H olt’s adoption pro­
grams, and the basic procedure for
international adoption. A family who
has adoptive through Holt will share
their personal experience and answer
questions. The meeting is open to
anyone interested in adoption and is
Pk
Real-world
instructors
Easy transfer
□ i n f • Low cost
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If you th in k these add up
to a great education,
you’ve already
passed you r firs t test.
Portland
Community
College
Providence Gets Into
Halloween Spirit
T
Call 503-614-7270.
www.pcc.edu
iny you.
-Wearlight-coloredclothingorreflec-
,e-type clothing so you are more visible
id remember to put reflective tape on
kes and skateboards, too.
-Use face paint rather than masks or
ings that will cover your eyes.
-Cross the street only at comers.
-Look both ways before crossing the
street to check for cars and trucks.
-Don’t hide or cross the street be­
tween parked cars.
-Carry a flashlight to light your way.
-Visit homes that have the porch light
on.
-Keep away from open fires and
candles, keeping in mind that costumes
can be extremely flammable.
-Accept your treats at the door and
never go into a stranger's house.
-Be cautious o f strangers and animals.
-Have a grown-up inspect your treats
before eating and don’t eat candy if the
package is already opened. Small, hard
Inspiring star of stage, screen and television
Ann will inspire you to face your own life challenges
and find "The Winner in You" with her humor and
poignant life story. This dynamic performer, mother
and cancer survivor is well known for her TV movie,
"The Ann Jillian Story," which shares the story of
her victory over breast cancer.
pieces o f candy are a choking hazard for
young children.
The American RedCross is dedicated
to helping make families and communi­
ties safer at home and around the world.
The Oregon Trail Chapter Red Cross
offers courses that are specially designed
for youth. Babysitter’s Training and
Basic Aid Training introduce children to
important issues that will help them be
prepared in emergency situations.
Formore information on these or other
RedCrossCourses,call(503)280- 1440or
visitwww.redcross-pdx.org.
I
Homebound seniors
are receiving special
deliveries
of
gourm et
boxed
lunches
fro m
Loaves & Fishes, the
M eals-O n-W heels
People, this week.
Local residents who
donated $16 to send
a Meal-A-Gram to
som eone special
paid fo r the meals.
The
annual
prom otion
by
Loaves & Fishes
raises m oney fo r
programs that serve
homebound seniors.
College That Fits Tour life
Ann Jillian
Keeping Halloween Fun and Safe
Neighborhoods across Portland will
; soon taken over by witches, goblins
id superheroes in search o f tasty treats.
Halloween can be filled with surprise
id enjoyment if children and parents
illow common sense practices. To help
lsure a fun and safe holiday. Red Cross
Ters these safety tips:
-Plan your route and share it with your
mily. Ifpossible.haveanadultaccom-
ext. 109.
Holt International Children’s Ser­
vices, a non-profit organization, has
been serving homeless children over­
seas since 1956. H olt’s program s em ­
phasize caring forchildren with warm,
affectionate care while trying to place
the children in permanent families as
quickly as possible.
Holt’s first priority is to return children
to birth parents; however, Holt places
children with adoptive families in the
child’ sbirth country orwith families in the
United States. Holt has placed 50,000
children with adoptive families.
Small classes
Halloween Treat Bags Offer Safety
o h e lp k e e p y o u r little
g h o s t an d g o b lin s
s a f e th is H a llo w e e n ,
fo u r P ro v id e n c e H e a lth S y stem
h o s p ita ls a r e h a n d in g o u t fre e
re fle c tiv e b ag s fo r c o lle c tin g H a l­
lo w e e n tre a ts .
B e g in n in g T u e s d a y , O ct. 24,
f a m ilie s w ith c h ild r e n m a y p ic k
up th e b a g s a t P ro v id e n c e St.
V in c e n t M e d ic a l C e n te r, P ro v i­
d e n c e P o rtla n d M e d ic a l C e n te r,
P ro v id e n c e M ilw a u k ie H o sp ita l
an d P ro v id e n c e N e w b e rg H o s p i­
tal.
T h e b a g s a ls o o f fe r tip s fo r
safe tre a t c o lle c tio n , su ch as s ta y ­
in g w ith a p a re n t o r in a la rg e
gro u p at all tim es, w alk in g in w ell-
lit a re a s a n d a s k in g an a d u lt to
A young girl is handed a reflective bag fo r her Halloween
ch e c k y o u r tre a ts a fte r c o lle c tio n .
treats.
(P hoto by P aul G ambino for the P ortland O bserver )
H a llo w e e n is O ct. 31.
free o f charge. For more inform ation,
call Kathie Stocker at (503) 244-2440
Sharon Kitzhaber
Oregon's First Lady
Sharon is a dedicated advocate for Oregon's
children, an avid supporter of the arts, a pilot and
a mother At A Day for You, Sharon will talk about
how she uses the forum of First Lady to promote
children’s issues.
Enjoy a hosted lunch and attend sessions presented by
Providence physicians and noted experts on topics
ranging from alternative medicine to menopause to
financial planning.
Fee $25 (Providence Health Plan members $20).
A Day for You
is brought to you by
SAl.OMONSMmiBARNEY
A
Saturday, Nov. 4 • 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Portland Hilton Hotel
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In coaperntitn urith:
PREVENTION,
Magazine
It
Providence | Health System
A c a r in g d if f e r e n c e y o u c a n f e e l
R egister online a t w w w .p ro v id e n c e .o rg /a d a y fo ry o u
For a d d itio n a l in fo rm atio n , call th e P rovidence R esource Line a t 503-216-6595.