COMIC-BOOK CHARACTER TEACHES KIDS TO SAY 'NO'

NEW BRITAIN - Detective Slick Tracy is making his way to the New Britain
Parks and Recreation Department's Afterschool program.Although Slick
Tracy's mission is to help youth make wise choices when it comes to saying
no to drugs and alcohol, he's not your ordinary detective.He's a comic-book
character.

New Britain Youth Services will introduce Detective Slick Tracy to
approximately 100 fifth- and sixth-grade students through interactive comic
books.The comic books each have a storyline that deals with helping
students with their drug refusal skills.

"Children need to do more than just say no,"says Chris Montes,
administrator of community services. "That's not enough.They need to know
what can happen to you if you don't say no, and why you should say no."

The program, dealing with both drugs and alcohol, includes four sessions
lasting 30 to 40 minutes in length.There is a workbook to go along with the
comic book so that students can answer questions on what they've read.
Students are testing on their drug-prevention knowledge prior to the
program and then again at the conclusion of the program.This allows the
administrators to gain a better understanding of the impact of the program
and its effectiveness.

"This is a primary prevention program, targeting the youth.The earlier the
better," Montes said. "It also has an optional parent component, and we
encourage them or an older sibling to participate."

"We have a poster contest at the end and a family fun event."Montes said,
"This program is a wonderful follow-up to project D.A.R.E."

Funding for the Slick Tracy Program was provided by the Substance Abuse
Action Council of Central Connecticut. Project Northland will supply the
comic books.The Parks and Recreation Department after-school staff will be
trained to present the program, which will run from January to May.