COMMUNITY APPROACH KEY TO COMBATING DRUG ABUSE

KILLINGLY -- Ask Robert A. Brex, director of the Northeast Communities
Against Substance Abuse, about the best way to keep kids off drugs and the
answer might surprise you.

According to Brex, it has nothing to do with scare tactics, fancy
psychology or threats. Rather, he says, it is just having good adult role
models.

It is because of that aspect that the Killingly-based NECASA -- which
serves 21 towns in Windham, New London and Tolland counties -- recently
honored 24 eastern Connecticut residents for volunteer work.

Brex said these volunteers are community helpers, not NECASA volunteers.

"In this case, it's more that they're important to the community," Brex
said Friday. "That is probably one of the best preventative means you can
take, having an adult being a positive role model to young people."

NECASA is a nonprofit drug prevention organization that hosts several
programs, in conjunction with local schools and youth and civic groups,
aimed at educating youngsters on the pitfalls of substance abuse.

Brex said, often children and teens will take an adult role model's actions
to heart more than their own family.

"Sometimes, kids tend to listen to adults outside their family more than
within their family," he said.

Last week, NECASA feted the two dozen activists at a special banquet held
at The Harvest restaurant in Pomfret.

It was the eighth such event in the organization's history, with the group
teaming up with area banks to fight drug abuse.

The event -- called the Volunteer With Youth Recognition Awards Night --
was sponsored by The Savings Bank of Manchester, Citizens National Bank,
Jewett City Savings Bank, West Bank, Putnam Savings Bank, The Savings
Institute and Fleet Bank.

Brex said the honored volunteers -- who did everything from lead scouting
programs to youth sports -- often have to make time in their busy lives to
help out.

"You find out that the people who are the busiest are the ones who find
time to fit things in," he said. "We really need more folks who are willing
to take up the slack."