Posted: 3/25/04
Editorís Note: This is the first in a series of articles that will address the issue of juvenile drug and chemical use in Chisago County.
By Barbara Brown
The funny thing about talking to kids and adults about drug and alcohol use in North Branch is that both sides seem to say the same things; only they donít say them to each other.
Thatís what programs like the Community Connections Forum, Citizens in Action, try to facilitate ñ real conversation about the truth on drugs, crime and sex among youths in the community.
During the Citizens in Action forum, held March 16 at North Branch High School, the group of about 50 people was divided into youths and adults.
The two groups were taken to different parts of the building where they talked about their concerns about drugs, tobacco and alcohol among their peers.
Helping to facilitate the conversations were student improvisational actors who presented skits about different scenarios involving drugs of all kinds.
In the adult group, attended by parents of children of all ages, police officers, judges, teachers, community leaders and business people, most of the discussion centered around how to approach youths in a realistic, caring way that will get them to continue the conversation on other occasions.
In the youth group, discussion focused on the realities of drug use and education in the North Branch schools.
The students were well informed about the ill affects ñ health-wise, socially and financially ñ of drug use.
At the end of the meeting, the groups came together and the youths presented their ideas about what they want from the adults in their community.
Topping the list was less emphasis on statistics and other peoplesí stories and more sharing of personal stories from their parents and other adults about their experiences with drugs or alcohol.
The youths want a place to hang out that is safe and fun.
The adults want a community center in North Branch that would offer a nurturing, entertaining environment for the youths in the area.
Tom Koplitz, director of the local Community Partnership, helped disprove myths and talked honestly with parents at the forum about how to face the fact that drugs are in Chisago County and how to talk to young people about it.
Koplitz said the conversations that took place at the forum was a high point for him. He said he is always interested to hear what the community thinks of drug and alcohol activity among young people and prevention of underage consumption.
Keeping tabs on whatís going on in the community is Koplitzís and Community Partnershipís mission.
Community Partnership is a federally funded grant program that has been placed in 565 other communities across the country to create plans for steering communities toward non-use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.Each Community Partnership unit received $100,000 in federal money as part of a project to engage the entire community.
Nearly all the focus of the agency is drug and alcohol prevention specific to Chisago County.
To that end, Koplitz uses forums like last weekís to keep adults and youths in the community thinking about how they can contribute to a society that does not use, provide or condone use of illegal drugs or overuse of legal ones.
ìPeople are usually split between believing there is nothing wrong to believing that the problem is worse than it really is,î Koplitz said.
One of the greatest challenges faced by Community Partnership and other organizations like the Youth Service Bureau and Community Education is getting people to the events because there are so many commuters in the area
ì ëWhy waste our timeí is the mentality of some parents because itís not going on in their circle, in their lives,î Koplitz said.
ìThe problem that could come, if something does happen within their circle or they step out of their circle is that itís like they get hit with a brick,î he added.
Community Partnership, YSB, the county sheriffís office and public safety groups have found that methamphetamine and inhalant use in Chisago County have become the biggest drug problems here.
ìThe beauty of engaging kids in these dialogues is that they tend to be more honest and open than even the adults,î Koplitz said.
ìWe donít hear a whole lot of people saying children should not be involved.î
A main focus of those community groups that hold forums and open conversations about drug activity in the county is to get people to step forward and be part of the solution, Koplitz said.
He said parents are the most important influence on young people, although that may not appear to be the case all the time.
Youths want to have a comfortable, open relationship with their parents and a key to that is starting early.
Start talking about tobacco and drug use early in young peopleís lives, be a positive influence and parents will find their children have less of a chance of starting to take drugs and use alcohol before they are out of high school.
Carol Geisler, a local psychologist and registered nurse, told parents at the forum that an important factor in what youths do about drugs and alcohol relates directly to the age of first use.
ìIf we can push first use of tobacco, marijuana or alcohol off until 18, 19, 20 if they try it at all they have almost no chance of that becoming a problem in their life,î Geisler said.
Other adults in the community also must send out positive messages to the young people who look up to them.
Influential people can range from ministers to teachers, friendís parents to aunts and uncles.
If young people have at least one stable and encouraging adult involved in their lives and activities, that young person stands a good chance of growing up healthy and drug free.
Having children is not a prerequisite of being involved in the community conversation about drug use and young people.
ìThere are many people in our community who donít have kids or their kids are gone or are too young to be involved in drug education,î Koplitz said. They can play a heck of a role by being one of those positive adults.î
Blended families are such a way of life these days that making sure both sets of parents are on the same page is very important.
More than 50 percent of the elementary school kids in the county come from blended families, Koplitz said.
If a young person is receiving similar messages from mom or dad, teachers, friends and employers, that teen-ager is much more likely to listen to that message and follow that message.
Koplitz said he was encouraged by the number of business owners that were on hand at the community forum last week. Another aim of Community Partnership is to educate businesses about their responsibility in sending those positive messages to their employees and patrons.
He said a business seminar on methods for that will be held this summer.
Koplitz said parents and other adults who are involved in childrenísí lives need to get out of that uncomfortable place that the awkwardness of starting a conversation about drugs leads most of us.
Jeanne Walz, director of Youth Service Bureau, said talking to children is easier when it is situational.
ìYou need to find a teaching moment,î she said during the forum. ìIf a situation comes up during a TV program or if you see something in the paper, start talking to your kids about it.î
Early exposure to the dangers of the world of drugs and alcohol can only help youths build the character needed to stay away from them.
ìTwelfth grade is a little lateî to start talking to teens about drugs and alcohol, Koplitz said. ìBy then theyíve already made up their minds.î
Starting in elementary school, parents should use ìteaching momentsî to build the trusting relationship kids look for with their parents.
ìIn my opinion,î Koplitz said, ìit is not optional for parents to talk to their kids about these things.î
ìUltimately it comes down to giving people the opportunity to make the right choice by giving them the best options instead of assuming they will make the right choice,î Koplitz said.
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com