Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force

Task Force Initiates a Youth Force

2011-10-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

By John Laidler, Globe CorrespondentThe Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force is launching a new initiative as it prepares to celebrate turning 30 next year. The task force is establishing a new youth group to operate within its organization. The task force is currently recruiting young people in town to take part in the group. Any middle or high school aged resident is invited to join.“We are very excited about it,” said task force chairwoman Marilyn Belmonte. She said it is hoped that participants in the new group will help get more young people involved with the task force’s work and – because they are from that age group - may be “better able to reach young people.”The launching of the group may also enable the task force to broaden its focus, Belmonte said. Founded in 1982, the organization’s mission until now has been combating youth drug and alcohol use. But Belmonte said she anticipates that the youth group may want to “reach kids about other forms of risky behavior,” such as those related to texting, Internet use, and driving. Working with adult advisors, the young people will be able to design their own projects.“We want to hear from them what they think are some of the topics they want to pursue and how they think the best way is to reach other teens,” Belmonte said. The task force at times has “borrowed” young people from other organizations for specific projects, she said, “but we thought this year it would be nice to have our own youth group.”The task force, which until now has held all its meetings during the day, has decided to hold every other meeting in the evening to accommodate the youth group. The first evening meeting was set to be held this past Tuesday, Oct. 11. To join the youth group, e-mail Belmonte at Marilyn@DrugAbuseRecognition.com or call 781-572-1478.

Stand Up and APPLAUDD for Parents!

2011-03-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

APPLAUDD
March 15: Prescription Drugs, OTC' and Inhalants
March 22: Marijuana, Myths & Facts
March 29: Underage Drinking and Harnessing the Adolescent Brain to Work FOR YOU

Even if you missed the first session, you will enjoy the rest of this amazing workshop!

APLAUDD is about empowering parents to prevent their children from underage drinking and other substance abuse. Studies show that kids who do not drink and drug choose not to because they don’t want to lose the respect and support of their parents. Teens primarily want to please their parents. But this is something they will do anything to keep you from realizing. So teens are skilled at giving parents the impression that their words don’t matter to them. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. The words and conversations between teens and their parents matter a lot and can make a huge difference for our children.

Many parents do not feel that they have any power to influence their adolescents because teens build barriers to keep their parents at a distance. APPLAUDD will focus on how parents can dialog with their children to effectively encourage critical healthy behavior choices, building trust between parents and teens.

Researchers have found that specific attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, situations, and/or actions that parents can teach will reduce the likelihood that a young person will struggle with substance abuse and related problems even if that young person is exposed to a substantial number of risk factors. The protective factors explored appear to balance and buffer the negative impact of existing risk factors.

APPLAUDD will teach parents about what has changed in recent years regarding the actual substances themselves, what science now knows about the physiological effects on adolescents, recognizing signs substance abuse in teens, what to do about it, and the legal environment.

Join in on the conversation!
APPLAUDD
Tuesday March 15, 22, 29
7-9pm
Marshall Simonds Middle School

2011-02-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

APPLAUDD for Parents!
APPLAUDD: A Prevention Program Learning About Underage Drinking & Drugs
Tuesdays March 8, 15, 22, 29
7-9pm
Marshall Simonds Middle School
114 Winn Street, Burlington

All Woburn and Burlington Parents are Welcome.
Adults only.

This innovative parent workshop series is being co-sponsored by the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force and Woburn Memorial High School's LEARN

View APPLAUDD's video on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k08Ua9TUxz4

Monitoring Our Future

2011-01-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

Since 1975 the “Monitoring The Future” (MTF) survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use of adolescents nationwide. MTF is one of three surveys sponsored by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services that provide government agencies with data on youth substance use trends. 46,348 students from public and private schools in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades participated in this year's survey.
The results released in December 2010 show significant increases in use of Marijuana, Ecstasy and cigar smoking, decreases in cigarette smoking and binge drinking while prescription drug abuse remained stable but very high. 8th graders showed the greatest increase in illicit drug use. For 12th-graders, declines in cigarette use and increases in marijuana use put marijuana ahead of cigarette smoking.
"Mixed messages about drug legalization, particularly marijuana, may be to blame,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Such messages certainly don't help parents who are trying to prevent kids from using drugs."
But there is good news because studies show that parenting styles have a strong impact on youth substance abuse. Researchers at Brigham Young University have found that teenagers who grow up with parents who are either too strict or too permissive tend to binge drink more than their peers. The study was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The parenting style that led to the lowest levels of problem drinking struck a balance between both styles: accountability and support. Parents who monitor their children, set and enforce rules but are also flexible; show great interest in their children’s ideas and their daily activities; make expectations clear but support their children’s needs, had the lowest rate of heavy underage drinking.
A parent workshop series to help parents take proactive prevention steps that will reduce substance abuse risk for their adolescents will be offered in March by the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force. “APPLAUDD: A Prevention Program Learning About Underage Drinking & Drugs” is a four-part program designed to empower parents of students grades 5 through 12 with proven strategies that reduce risk of alcohol and drug abuse.
APPLAUDD won the national “Service to Science” award in 2010 for being a unique and innovative program that educates parents on the effect of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs on adolescent brain development and academic potential. It improves parent-teen communication skills, teaches specific parenting strategies proven to reduce teen substance abuse and changes how parents deal with underage drinking.
Save the dates for APPLAUDD: Tuesdays March 8, 15 22 and 29 from 7 to 9 pm in the Marshall Simonds Middle School Auditorium. Parents of children all ages are encouraged to attend!

Coalition Meeting at 1PM

2010-12-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

REMINDER!

Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force Meeting

Tuesday December 14

Time has been moved to 1pm

for this meeting only
Students Invited!

Topics of discussion:
Prom Letter to Parents
Question of Drug Paraphernalia and K2 sales
"Be the Designated Grown-Up" Campaign
Planning for Parent Workshop, "APPLAUDD"

See you there!

Murphy touts passage of inhalant bill

2010-08-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Boston Globe
August 3, 2010
The following is a press release from the office of Representative Charley Murphy:

Representative Charley Murphy hailed House passage of a bill which provides a critical treatment option to a growing number of Massachusetts families who suffer the destructive effects of inhalant abuse.

Commonly referred to as huffing, and most prevalent among 12-17-year olds, inhalant abuse is the purposeful inhalation of chemical vapors to achieve intoxication. A recent study listed inhalants as the fourth most abused substance among high school students trailing only alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana. Despite their growing numbers, current state law excludes many inhalant abusers from court-ordered substance abuse treatment programs.

“We have an increasing number of young people who need treatment for inhalant abuse but who are not getting the help they need,” Murphy said. “This bill seeks to remedy a critical shortfall in the existing statute so that we can reach these kids before they fall through the cracks.”

Under current state law, relatives, doctors, or law enforcement officials may petition a court to have alcohol or substance abusers committed for up to 30 days of treatment in a state-approved rehabilitation facility. Because many inhalants are not classified as controlled substances however, courts often lack statutory authority to commit huffing addicts to treatment.

“I wrote this bill with key input from police officers, substance abuse counselors, and parents,” Murphy said. “The stories they tell are of an especially menacing type of substance abuse and their shared sense of powerlessness to help many of those most at risk.”

The increasing pervasiveness of huffing has led to tough sanctions for the improper use, possession, purchase and sale of many inhalants. Still, experts identify a lack of awareness among community leaders as to the extent of the problem among young people. They hope Murphy’s bill will help sound the alarm.

“I have worked with Charley Murphy for 10 years to reduce youth substance abuse, including underage drinking, drug abuse and inhalant abuse,” said Marilyn G. Belmonte, Co-Chairperson of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force. “Most people do not realize how widespread inhalant abuse has become and that these chemicals are found in your kitchen, bathroom and garage. This bill could finally give us the power to treat the abusers and perhaps even prevent the abuse in the first place.”

Ma Online Prescription Database

2010-08-26T09:58:00.001-07:00

Massachusetts health officials approved a plan on Aug. 11 that will allow doctors and pharmacists to track narcotics prescriptions online -- a major step toward reducing "doctor shopping" in patients addicted to prescription drugs, officials said.

The Boston Globe reported Aug. 12 that the plan will give doctors and pharmacists access to an online database detailing patients' previous prescriptions for steroids and potent painkillers, such as OxyContin.

An estimated 9,000 Mass. residents are suspected of going from doctor to doctor seeking multiple prescriptions, said Alice Bonner, director of the Mass. Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality.

"It's tough to know when you're prescribing opioids or any controlled substance for chronic pain whether you're doing benefit or harm,'' said Daniel Alford, senior physician at the Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit at Boston University School of Medicine. "The more tools we have to help us to know whether we're benefiting or harming the patient, the better off we are.''

The online prescription monitoring program is set to go into effect early next year. Officials estimate the program will save $2 million a year by detecting patients "doctor shopping" through the state's health insurance program.

Summertime is Risky Business

2010-06-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

Summertime…..and the going is easy. School is out. Kids are home. Most extracurricular activities are on hiatus. So what are teenagers doing with their time over the summer months? Most adolescents have too much free, unsupervised time on their hands. That can lead to problems.

"Seasonality of Youth's First-Time Use of Marijuana, Cigarettes or Alcohol," from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows a 40 percent increase in first-time youth marijuana use during June and July, compared to the rest of the year. Each day in June and July an average of 6,300 youths try marijuana for the first time. The number of new underage drinkers and cigarette smokers also jumps during the summer months.

What can parents do to reduce the risk of underage drinking and drug use?
Teens are less likely to use drugs, alcohol, and tobacco if their parents set clear rules about these risky behaviors. According to recent research, when a young person decides whether or not to use drugs, a crucial consideration is: What will my parents think?

If you make your position on drug use clear and set rules and consequences for breaking them in advance, your teen is less likely to step over that line.

Here are some helpful tips from Parents: The Anti-Drug. (www.theantidrug.com)

1. Don’t make empty threats. But be careful not to impose harsh or unexpected new punishments either. Stick to your original plan and show your teen there will be fair consequences for their actions.

2. Reprimands should involve mild, negative consequences. Taking away privileges or grounding teens for a weekend typically fit the bill. Overly severe punishments can undermine the parent-child relationship and lead to rebellious
behavior.

3. Set a curfew and enforce it strictly. Be consistent on this rule, whether it’s to be home in time for dinner or to be home by midnight on a Saturday night. Be prepared to negotiate for special occasions like prom and holidays.

4. Have teens check in at regular times. If your teen has a cell phone, establish clear rules for using it such as, “When I call you, I expect a call or text back within 10 minutes”.

5. Check in with the party host. If your teen tells you he or she will be at a party or at a friend’s house, do not be afraid to call those parents to make sure adult supervision is in place and no alcohol will be served.

6. Make it easy to leave a party or hangout where drugs are being used. Discuss in advance how to signal you or another adult who will pick your teen up when he or she feels uncomfortable.
7. Establish house rules. If your teen is at home alone for long periods of time, set clear rules about who else is allowed in the house – and who is not. Also be sure to set clear rules about what is off limits – such as the car or liquor cabinet.

8. Recognize good behavior. If your teen is respecting your rules, compliment him or her for behaving admirably instead of focusing on what’s wrong. When you are quicker to praise than to criticize, young people learn to feel good about themselves and develop the self-confidence to trust their own judgment as they grow into adulthood.

SOCIAL NORMS SURVEY

2010-02-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

UNDERAGE DRINKING SURVEY RESULTS 2009

Total Respondents—
198 high school seniors
368 parents (80 High School; 288 Middle School)
208 8th graders (included only in some calculations)
774 total

Question 2: “How easy or difficult is it for underage youth to obtain alcohol from the following people/places in your community?”

Older Siblings--50% (283 out of 566) said “easy/very easy”
(132 of 198 Srs—67%; 151 of 368 Parents—41%)

Parents--15% (85 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(32 of 198 Srs---16%; 53 of 368 Parents---14%)

Friends---59% (333 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(152 of 198 Srs---77%; 181 of 368 Parents---49%)

Adult Strangers---22% (122 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(47 of 198 Srs---24%; 75 of 368 Parents---20%)

Bar/Restaurant-- 7% (40 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(16 of 198 Srs--- 8%; 24 of 368 Parents--- 6.5%)

Liquor Store-- 8% (44 out of 566) “easy/very easy”
(19 0f 198 Srs---10%; 25 of 368 Parents--- 7%)

Question 3: “How easy or difficult do you think it would be for underage youth to get alcohol from home without their parents knowing it?”

BHS Seniors: Very Easy 46=23%, Easy 102=51%, Difficult 37=18%, Very Difficult 7=3%
Parents: Very Easy 47=13%, Easy 175=48%, Difficult 81=22%, Very Difficult 61=17%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Easy 54=26%, Easy 79=38%, Difficult 58=28%, Very Difficult 16=8%

Question 4: “How often do you think parents in your community provide alcohol at parties their children host?”

22% of high school seniors (43/198) said “often/very often.”

Question 5: “How serious a problem is alcohol consumption by underage youth (14-20 years old) at unsupervised gatherings in your community?”

BHS Seniors: Very Serious 28=14%, Serious86=43%, Not Serious 59=29%, Uncertain 23=11%
Parents: Very Serious 60=16%, Serious 160=44%, Not Serious 51=14%, Uncertain 88=24%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Serious 29=14%, Serious 61=29%, Not Serious 59=29%, Uncertain 48=23%

Question 6: “How effective is your community at enforcing laws against drinking and driving?” (BHS Seniors only)

Very effective Effective Ineffective Very ineffective
94 (17%) 354 (63%) 83 (15%) 13 (2%)

Question 7: “How effective is your community at enforcing laws against adults buying alcohol for minors?”

BHS Seniors: Very Effective 19=9%, Effective 88=43%, Ineffective 77=38%, Very Ineffective 11=5%
Parents: Very Effective 75=20%, Effective 205=56%, Ineffective 60=16%, Very Ineffective 4=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Effective 26=13%, Effective 91=44%, Ineffective 79=38%, Very Ineffective 9=4%

Question #9: “How effective is your community at enforcing policies pertaining to student alcohol use?

BHS Seniors: Very Effective 41=20%, Effective 90=45%, Ineffective 50=25%, Very Ineffective 13=6%
Parents: Very Effective 78=21%, Effective 218=60%, Ineffective 46=13%, Very Ineffective 4=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: Very Effective 44=21%, Effective 119=57%, Ineffective 31=15%, Very Ineffective8=4%

Question 10: Who should Burlington penalize for underage drinking?
Y= Youth only, A=Adult providing alcohol only, B=both underage drinker and the adult?

BHS Seniors: Y 30=15%, A 17=8%, B 127=63%
Parents: Y 25=7%, A 34=9%, B 240=66%
MSMS 8th Graders: Y 33=16%, A 25=12%, B 131=63%

Question #11A: Is it acceptable to get DRUNK at……

Graduation Parties?
BHS Seniors: No 99=49%, Yes 96=48%
Parents: No 327=89%, Yes 17=5%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 118=57%, Yes 88=42%

Sporting Events?
BHS Seniors: No 84=42%, Yes 110=54%
Parents: No 329=90%, Yes 14=4%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 53=26%, Yes 151=73%

Question #11C: Is it acceptable for underage youth to drink at……

Graduation Parties?
BHS Seniors: No 125=62%, Yes 71=35%
Parents: No 330=90%, Yes 11=3%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 173=84%, Yes 30=14%

Sporting Events?
BHS Seniors: No 149=74%, Yes 46=23%
Parents: No 334=91%, Yes 5=1%
MSMS 8th Graders: No 177=86%, Yes 24=12%

PARENTS ONLY:
Question #14: If you knew of an underage drinking party in your community, would you…..

Confront Homeowner:
75=20%

Contact Police:
11=31%

Do Nothing 27=7%

Don’t Know 99=27%

PARENTS ONLY:
Question # 15: If a by-law is proposed in Burlington that holds homeowners responsible for underage drinking in their homes even if the homeowner is NOT present, would you support it?

Yes 142=39%
No 111=30%
Don’t Know 93=25%

2010-01-31T17:19:00.000-08:00

NOT IN OUR HOUSE:
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTIES

PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF THE
BURLINGTON DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010
7pm to 9pm
MARSHALL SIMONDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

RESULTS OF THE UNDERAGE DRINKING SURVEY WILL BE PRESENTED!

• 76% OF BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SAY IT IS EASY TO GET ALCOHOL FROM HOME WITHOUT PARENTS KNOWING.

• 58% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS & 59% OF PARENTS SAY THAT UNDERAGE DRINKING IN BURLINGTON IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

Prevention strategies including a Social Host By-Law will be discussed.
If you have teenagers, you need to know what may be done in our community
to prevent adults from providing alcohol.
Get your questions answered and voice your opinions.

For more information, contact Marilyn Belmonte at 781-229-2638 or
Charlie Franich at 781-270-1964

New Study Shows a Link Bewteen Early Onset of Drinking and Drug-Related Car Accidents

2009-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol & Drugs, the earlier a young person begins drinking, the greater risk of drug-related car accidents. The researchers surveyed over 40,000 over 18 year old drivers and found that 22% also used drugs, 10% drove under the influence of drugs and 1% had been in drug-related car accidents. Extrapolation of these proportions to the national population would mean 1 million people had been in drug-related crashes.

The research also looked at early age of drinking. They found the the greatest predictor of a drug-related car crash is early onset of drinking. Their conclusion is that the best method for prevention of drug-related car accidents is to increase alcohol abuse prevention in young people.

Age of Drinking Onset, alcohol Depemndemnce and their Relation to Drug Use and Dependence, Driving Under the Influence of drugs, and Motor Vehicle Crash Involvement Because of Drugs. Volume 69, Issue 2 March 2008

And the Survey Says.......

2009-11-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

It is Survey Time in Burlington!

The BDATF is surveying the parents of adolescents and students of the Marshall Simonds Middle School and Burlington High School to find out what the current perceptions are on underage drinking. Students are being given the survey through their health classes to allow discussion about the questions. Parents will be asked to complete the survey at parent-teacher conferences on the evenings of November 18 (MSMS), November 19 (BHS) and the day of November 20 (both MSMS & BHS).

The multiple choice questionnaire will include questions about where teens get alcohol, do parents host underage drinking parties and who should be held liable for such parties.

The data will be tabulated and presented to the entire community at a forum in February. The "Not in Our House" event will include potential plans to prevent underage drinking in our town. Strategies from other local communities will be discussed and explained. Parents and students will have an opportunity ask questions and voice their opinions about these ideas.

The task force is committed to keeping our young people healthy and safe. We want the community to understand what we do and to take an active role in shaping our efforts.

Please complete your surveys and play a part in shaping a healthy community!

MA Among 16 States with Higher Drug Deaths Than Car Accident Deaths

2009-10-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concluded that in more than 16 states, more people were killed by drugs than by auto accidents. The study, which was reported by the Associated Press, found that the majority of drug-related deaths were caused by the abuse of painkillers.

The report, which analyzed data from the National Vital Statistics System Mortality File, found that in 2006, more than 90 percent of poisoning deaths involved drugs. In fact, from 1999 to 2006 drug-related poisonings accounted for the largest portion of poisoning deaths overall.

Opioid analgesics, which are usually prescribed to treat pain, were involved in almost 40 percent of all poisoning deaths in 2006, up from about 20 percent in 1999. According to the AP story, for decades traffic accidents have been the biggest cause of injury-related death in the U.S. While they are still number one nationally, drug overdoses are pulling ahead in one state after another.

The number of states in which drug-related deaths have overtaken traffic fatalities has gone from eight in 2003 to 12 in 2005, and 16 in 2006. They are: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

CDC’s data also show that among opioid analgesic-related deaths, those involving methadone increased the most during the period 1999-2006. Methadone is a long-acting opioid used to help people addicted to painkillers and other opioid-based drugs, and in some cases as a painkiller.

"People see a car accident as something that might happen to them," said Margaret Warner, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the AP article. But as for death from a drug overdose, "maybe they see it as something that's not going happen to them."

CDC researchers counted more than 45,000 U.S. deaths nationwide from traffic accidents in 2006, and about 39,000 from drug-induced causes. Nationally, the death rate from traffic accidents fell by about 6.5 percent from 1999 through 2006 - from 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people to 14.3 per 100,000, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Press Release from National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

2009-09-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

CASA 2009 TEEN SURVEY REVEALS:
TEENS LIKELIER TO GET DRUNK, USE MARIJUANA, SMOKE CIGARETTES IF THEY SEE PARENT DRUNK
NEARLY NINE MILLION 12- TO 17-YEAR OLDS CAN GET PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO ABUSE IN A DAY, NEARLY FIVE MILLION IN AN HOUR

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 26, 2009 – Compared to teens who have not seen their parent(s) drunk, those who have are more than twice as likely to get drunk in a typical month, and three times likelier to use marijuana and smoke cigarettes, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIV: Teens and Parents, the 14th annual back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

The CASA survey found that 51 percent of 17-year olds have seen one or both of their parents drunk and 34 percent of 12- to 17-year olds have seen one or both of their parents drunk.

Teen drinking behavior is strongly associated with how teens believe their fathers feel about their drinking. Compared to teens who believe their father is against their drinking, teens who believe their father is okay with their drinking are two and a half times likelier to get drunk in a typical month.

The survey found that five percent of 12- to 15-year old girls and nine percent of 12- to 15-year old boys say their fathers are okay with their drinking. Thirteen percent of 16- and 17-year old girls and 20 percent of 16- and 17-year old boys say their fathers are okay with their drinking.

“Some Moms’ and Dads’ behavior and attitudes make them parent enablers—parents who send their 12- to 17-year olds a message that it’s okay to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs like marijuana,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and founder and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. “Teens’ behavior is strongly associated with their parents’ behavior and expectations, so parents who expect their children to drink and use drugs will have children who drink and use drugs.”

Compared to teens who have never tried alcohol, teens who get drunk monthly are:
• 18 times likelier to have tried marijuana;• Four times likelier to be able to get marijuana in an hour;
• Almost four times likelier to know someone their age who abuses prescription drugs;
• More than three times likelier to have friends who use marijuana; and
• More than twice as likely to know someone their age who uses meth, ecstasy, or other drugs such as cocaine, heroin or LSD.

Compared to teens who have never tried alcohol, those who get drunk at least once a month are:
• Twice as likely to know a girl who was forced to do something sexual she didn’t want to do; and
• Nearly four times likelier to know a guy who uses drugs or alcohol to hook up.

“The message for parents is loud and clear. If your teen is drinking, the odds are your teen is getting drunk. And teens who get drunk are much likelier to try marijuana and hang out with friends who are abusing prescription drugs and illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin,” said Elizabeth Planet, CASA’s Vice President and Director of Special Projects. “Parents who think their kids are just having an occasional drink each month need to wake up and smell the beer and pot.”

Teens whose parents believe the decision to use marijuana is not a big deal are almost twice as likely to use the drug, compared to teens whose parents say this decision is a big deal.

Most teens who smoke cigarettes (56 percent) say the decision to use marijuana is not a big deal.

“Parents are the key to raising drug-free kids and they have the power to do it if they send their children the clear message to choose not to use and demand that the schools their children attend be drug free,” noted Califano whose book How to Raise a Drug Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents, was published this month by Simon & Schuster’s Touchstone/Fireside Division.

For more information visit www.casacolumbia.org.

Watch Video!

2009-05-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Alcohol-Free Weekend...Burlington Pride....Raising Healthy Children

Alcohol-Free Weekend

2009-05-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

The 6th annual Alcohol-Free Weekend was a big success! Despite threatening clouds, approximately 150-175 people came out to the kickoff event on the common. Thank you for your continued support!

Celebrate Healthy Teens!

2009-04-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Please join us in celebrating the 6th Annual ALCOHOL-FREE WEEKEND on May 1 through 3 by pledging to stay alcohol free for one weekend, just before prom and graduation.

The mission of this weekend is to demonstrate to our young people that adults do not always choose to drink alcohol each weekend and that we can have fun without alcohol! It also reminds parents each spring to talk to their teens about the risks of underage drinking.

The Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force is holding a kickoff celebration on the Burlington Common on Friday May 1, 5-7pm. Free pizza and sodas will be served while families enjoy music performed by Burlington youth!

Burlington has taken a stand to teach young people to make healthy choices. Each spring, communities brace for the inevitible loss of a young life. Burlington takes this pro-active stand to reduce the risk of tragedy.

Parent-Teen Marijuana Forum

2009-04-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

Pictures from "MARIJUANA: WEEDING OUT THE TRUTH" March 11 at MSMS. Courtesy of Chief Fran Hart

Ban of Public Pot Smoking

2009-03-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Towns try to punish public marijuana use
Officials want children shielded
Excerpt from Boston Globe
March 25, 2009

Dozens of Massachusetts cities and towns are taking steps to impose stiff new fines for smoking marijuana in public and even to charge some violators with misdemeanors, a trend that critics say subverts the state ballot question passed overwhelmingly last fall to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

In recent weeks, at least seven communities - Duxbury, Lynn, Methuen, Medway, Milford, Salem, and Springfield - have passed bylaws that target people who light up in public. And two dozen cities and towns expect to vote this spring on similar measures, which proponents liken to local open container laws that ban drinking alcohol in public.

Police officials say they want to discourage flagrant marijuana smoking, particularly in public parks, schoolyards, and on beaches where young children gather. While last year's ballot initiative reduced possession of an ounce or less from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction carrying a $100 fine, police say that some marijuana smokers mistakenly believe that the voters legalized the drug entirely.

"If you're smoking marijuana in front of schoolchildren, to me that's a little bit more serious than smoking a joint by yourself out in the middle of the woods," said Salem police Captain Brian Gilligan. His city recently authorized officers to fine public smokers $300 in addition to the $100 fine for possession. The Salem bylaw also lets officers give them a misdemeanor summons, although Gilligan predicted that few will get them.

Question 2 passed by a vote of 65 to 35 percent, making Massachusetts one of a dozen states to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, Bernath said. Proponents of the change, including billionaire financier George Soros, who spent more than $400,000 in favor of decriminalization, said that it would ensure that those caught with small quantities would avoid the taint of a criminal record.

A statewide referendum specifically said each city and town could pass bylaws banning public use of marijuana, and communities across the state have started doing that. They are relying on a sample bylaw provided by Coakley's office, which says fines can be imposed, a criminal penalty, or both, in addition to the $100 possession fine.

Coakley's office reviews bylaws enacted to make sure they pass constitutional muster, but takes no position on penalizing people who smoke in public, said spokeswoman Emily LaGrassa.

In recent weeks, Duxbury's Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved imposing a $300 fine on people who smoke marijuana in public. Methuen's City Council passed a bylaw to impose a $100 fine on people who light up at parks, playgrounds, on school grounds, or a public beach.
Mayor William M. Manzi III of Methuen said he sponsored the measure because he wants to keep those areas free of marijuana and alcohol. "You can already be fined under a local ordinance for having an open container of Budweiser," he said.

To show that Methuen was being even-handed, he added, the council increased the fine for drinking alcohol in public from $50 to $100, the same as the fine for public marijuana smoking.
Some communities, however, are also authorizing officers to give people who smoke in public a misdemeanor summons.

Residents attending Milford's Town Meeting, for example, recently approved such a bylaw. The measure also imposes a fine of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for subsequent offenses.

Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin of Milford said he favored decriminalization last fall. But he supported the local bylaw because police need a tool to contend with young people who flout state law by smoking in public, sometimes in groups that make it difficult to determine who owns the marijuana.

"In the circumstances where you have a dozen young people or two dozen young people out in a park at night, OK, who possesses what?" he said.

But critics of the bylaws are skeptical.

Steven Epstein, a Georgetown lawyer and founder of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, said he believes the efforts amount to recriminalization and are "all motivated by police chiefs who lost their power when they no longer had the arbitrary power to arrest people for possessing or using marijuana."

School Required Prevention Education for Parents

2009-03-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. And this is the best time to hold a substance abuse prevention workshop for parents because of proms, graduations and general nice-weather partying.

But I have found in my travels around the state that most schools are reluctant to sponsor parent education events due to low turnouts. No one has the funds right now to burn for audiences of only a few dozen.

Even coalitions have a tough time getting the school department to cooperate with a parent program right now.

Yet, I believe schools need to take the bull by the horns and place the responsibility for underage and drug abuse back into the hands of parents.

How can you guarantee good turnouts?

Good turnouts for are guaranteed by two things:
a recent teen fatality or
a parent-required program.

Administrators can take a firm stand to be proactive and require that parents attend a "wellness night".

Many schools require parents to attend an athletics night each year. If a parent wants their teen to patricipate in sports, they must attend a meeting. So include a brief presentation as part of that meeting.

Many schools now require parents to attend a prevention program so their teen can attend a prom! (becoming very popular right now due to liabilities involved with proms.)

Some schools include a brief presentation at Open House Night or Orientation Night when parents will be coming to the school anyway.

If you can convince your school district to take this kind of stand and fill their auditorium, your prevention dollars will be stretched. It is the only way to be proactive...... because if and when a student dies, the parents (that do not attend presentations voluntarily) will be screaming that the community did not do enough to prevent the tragedy.

Yes, some parents will complain at first about a mandatory wellness night. But once it becomes an annual event, parents come to expect it. I've seen it work. I've presented to packed auditoriums. Those administrators tell me that parents are not a problem because it has been annual practice for years.

What do you think? Sound off! I want feedback.....

Confused About Marijuana?

2009-02-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Marshall Simonds Middle School PTO presents a PARENT/TEEN Forum…
MARIJUANA:
WEEDING OUT THE TRUTH
Presentation by Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force
Followed by a panel discussion with members of the
Burlington Schools and Police Department

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2009
7 - 9pm
MARSHALL SIMONDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

· Do you know why Marijuana brings more people into emergency rooms than OxyContin, LSD or Meth?
· Do you know why Marijuana causes more car accidents than any other drug?
· Do you know how the new Marijuana law affects school drug policy?
· Do you know how Marijuana affects grades, SAT’s and college admission?

PARENTS & TEENS ATTEND TOGETHER!
Parents, please accompany and sit with your adolescent.
Parents may attend alone but no teens are allowed admittance without a parent.

DOOR PRIZES!

For more information, contact MSMS president, Mary Fitzgerald at
mfstrider@comcast.net

Schools Stay Strict on Pot

2009-01-29T05:11:00.001-08:00

Despite decriminalization, schools keep strict drug possession policies
January 29, 2009
Connie Paige, Boston Globe

Area school superintendents surveyed recently said they have no plans to reverse their zero-tolerance policies concerning students found with drugs.

While school rules put students in a different category than other users in the wake of a new state law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, the superintendents maintain that the rules are for the students' own good.

Nashoba Valley Technical High School Superintendent Judith Klimkiewicz pointed out the rules help protect students' health and safety - especially in a school like hers where students often wield heavy and sharp-edged equipment and work with toxic and heated substances.

"The issue of drugs for a student who is high behind a desk in a math class is brutally different than for a student behind a lathe saw," she said. "That presents a clear and obvious danger."

Klimkiewicz said she is taking a lead from Mitchell D. Chester, the state commissioner of elementary and secondary education. Chester issued an advisory that the new law does not alter the authority of school officials to impose discipline, including suspension or expulsion, on students who possess 1 ounce of marijuana or less on school property or at school-sponsored or school-related functions. Under the law, the advisory noted, possession is defined as not only holding marijuana but also having it inside one's body.

Tewksbury Superintendent Christine L. McGrath said officials at that town's schools all agreed on maintaining existing rules. She said they are listening to advice from Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Leone is among many law enforcement officials - notably Attorney General Martha Coakley, other district attorneys, and police around the state - who have lobbied against the new law.

"We remain focused on continuing to send a clear message to our children that marijuana remains unhealthy, dangerous, and illegal in Massachusetts," Leone said in a statement about the new law, passed by voters at the ballot box in November.

Despite health and safety aims, the school rules can wreak havoc on students' lives, as Groton-Dunstable high schooler Cody Manley recently discovered the hard way. The 16-year-old was suspended for four months and barred from playing interscholastic football after he was caught on school grounds last October with three friends possessing a small amount of pot.

"I think it's unfair," said Manley, whose parents have taken the issue before the Groton-Dunstable School Committee for redress.

Manley was scheduled to return to school on Monday. Now he must receive counseling with a drug and alcohol specialist, submit to monthly drug testing, remain on probation for the rest of the school year, and cannot leave the building while school is in session.

After hearing Manley's case, Groton-Dunstable School Committee chairman Paul G. Funch said he believes that penalties under the marijuana rules can sometimes be too harsh. For example, he said he believes there should be reconsideration of the rule allowing a report of first-time marijuana possession to remain permanently on a student's transcript.

"I think that's really beyond the pale," Funch said. "You should get their attention, but I don't think their lives should be so severely impacted."

But Groton-Dunstable Principal Shelley Marcus Cohen said the policy must be maintained for the students' protection.

"Drugs are not going to be allowed on this campus," she said.

Flask for Teen Girls

2009-01-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

Advocates Call on 'Tween Stores to Stop Selling Flasks

January 27, 2009

Underage drinking advocates are calling on the teen accessory store chain, Icing by Claire's, to stop selling girl-friendly flasks.Flasks decorated with charms and designed to hold 5 ounces of liquor are available for $12.50, and one-shot keychain flasks with room for the individual's initials are available for $8.50 each.The flasks show disclaimers that the product is not meant for minors, and warns that the flasks are designed to carry alcoholic beverages and should not be used for beverages with acidic contents like fruit juices.

Advocates are concerned that Icing by Claire's is encouraging underage drinking by selling flasks, while targeting its products to girls as young as 17. Icing by Claire's is a subsidiary of Claire's, Inc., which operates approximately 3,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Recent studies show that girls are drinking earlier and increasing their alcohol intake. For example, the rate of 14-year-old girls using alcohol escalated from one in ten to almost one-third over the last 40 years. "In many cases, the girls are outdrinking the boys, putting themselves at greater risks," said Janet Williams, co-chairman of the Illinois Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking, which wrote a letter to parent-company Claire's.

It appears that youth are gravitating towards hard liquor like rum and tequila in an effort to get drunk faster, according to Elizabeth Nelson, a community health specialist at the Lake County Health Department."Anything that promotes the perception that alcohol use is acceptable with young people is really disturbing," Nelson said.

Oregon Partnership announced that Icing by Claire's said it will continue selling the flasks at its 3,000 stores, but will post signs at store counters supporting "responsible" alcohol consumption. -->

Next Meeting

2009-01-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

Task Force Meeting February 10 at 12 noon
Burlington's Drug and Alcohol Task Force will hold it's bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, from 12 noon to 1:30pm at the Burlington High School guidance department conference room. We are expecting to be visited by Vincent Piro, Chief of Probation for Woburn District Court and by Jeanine Flaherty, Tobacco-Free Kids. We will be planning for our March parent education collaboration with the Marshall Simonds MIddle School PTO as well as this year's 6th Annual Alcohol-Free Weekend in May. Please join us for a lively discussion--and if you come, we will feed you!

Social Host Liability

2009-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Mother sent to prison for hosting son's underage drinking party

By Jill Harmacinski, Eagle Tribune (abridged)
January 08, 2009

LAWRENCE — Modesta Brito knew her teenage son was having a party on the night of Nov. 24, 2007. She was aware he and his friends were drinking beer in her home. And she knew they were playing the drinking game quarters, even giving them a plastic cup to bounce the coins into, a prosecutor said.

Allowing the underage drinking party in her Hampshire Street apartment was a risk Brito took. That risk became harsh reality when Ryan Bourque, 17, left the party and was killed in a car crash, prosecutor Jennifer Kunsch said.Brito, a 42-year-old mother of three, will spend the next three months in prison after yesterday admitting to violating the state's Social Host Liability Law and allowing the party in her home.

After Bourque's death, both Brito and her son Edrian Brito Mendez, were charged with violating the state's Social Host Liability Law. It was the first time ever, in Essex County,such alcohol charges were filed against both parent and child.

"You were the responsible adult. You were the one who should have been looking out for your son and the other kids," Judge Thomas Brennan said. "In this case, the consequences were tragic and for that, you bear some responsibility."

Mendez, 18, now a student at Northern Essex Community College, also was charged with two counts of providing alcohol to minors. All of his charges were continued without a finding for a year in a plea agreement reached and approved by Brennan earlier yesterday.Brennan noted that the primary responsibility for supervising the household rested with Modesta Brito as her son was then 17. However, the teen is still "responsible for his actions."

A police investigation revealed that Mendez charged friends $5 to drink beer from a 30-pack he had in a refrigerator in the apartment.Brito was formally sentenced to one year in jail with 90 days to be served and the balance suspended for two years. She also will have to serve 200 hours of community service and pay fines.Mendez must undergo alcohol evaluation and treatment, attend alcohol education programs and perform 100 hours of community service. He also must speak to youth groups about the dangers of alcohol and pay fines.

Speaking generally about underage drinking, Blodgett said he hopes parents understand "there's no gray area. It's a black and white law."