STRENGTHEN FAMILIES TO FIGHT DRUGS

Mention the Substance Abuse Council and most people think of programs to
encourage teens not to use drugs or alcohol, helping them to become
involved in positive activities and resist peer pressure to experiment with
illegal substances. But that is just a part of what the council does.

Knowing that families play an important role in helping kids to avoid
drugs, the Substance Abuse Council also offers a seven-week Strengthening
Families Program that is aimed at young people ages 10 to 14 and their
parents or guardians. Reaching out to the middle-school population is an
important step in curtailing alcohol and drug use at the high school level.
Too often this age group feels ignored, trapped between elementary and high
school and not quite certain where they fit in. That leaves them especially
vulnerable to wanting to be "cool" by mimicking the bad behavior of 16-,
17- and 18-year-olds.

The Strengthening Families Program aims to avoid such problems by helping
adolescents think about their future and their families, including
understanding and appreciating their parents and caregivers. Parents in the
program learn the importance of setting limits and making rules, but in a
loving way that encourages positive behavior. The program reinforces what
we already know: Strong, healthy families are the best way to raise
children to become happy, productive adults.

The Substance Abuse Council has been able to offer the Strengthening
Families Program, now in its fourth year, through a federal grant from the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. That funding will
run out at the end of next year - but it's not going to stop the Substance
Abuse Council from continuing to help families. The council has made it a
priority to continue to offer the Strengthening Families Program, and the
United Way has indicated it plans to support the program.

We're glad, because it is efforts such as these that can help our young
people forge a stronger bond with their families, which in turn helps build
a better community.

Enquirer's view

THE ISSUE: The Strengthening Families Program offered through the Substance
Abuse Council.

WE THINK: The program is effective in supporting families and in reaching
out to middle-school students, who often feel ignored, to help them avoid
using drugs and alcohol in later years. We're glad that the Substance Abuse
Council plans to continue the program even after the current federal
funding expires at the end of next year.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Tell us what you think. Information on how to publish your
ideas appears with 'Readers' Views' at right.