State-Journal.com - County plans to tackle spike in marijuana use

Community leaders expect new efforts to keep teens drug free may be underway soon in the wake of a new study that says local teens are using marijuana younger and more often.

The study, commissioned by the Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Franklin County, said a fifth or more of high school sophomores and seniors reported using marijuana in the past 30 days.

And a quarter of teens who use start between the ages of 11 and 14, the study found. Additionally, nearly 80 percent of local teens said pot was easy to obtain.

While the numbers don't look good for local drug use among teens, community leaders believe that alleviating the problem is within reach.

County Judge Executive Ted Collins, a former Franklin County sheriff and D.A.R.E. teacher, attended a breakfast sponsored by the coalition Tuesday.

"I was very encouraged by the [coalition's] presentation," Collins said.

Collins said he is interested in working with schools, families and the health department in the coming weeks on the issue.

"It's very speculative," Collins said, "but after hearing the presentation, I see us coming together here in the next few weeks and formulating a plan to move forward."

Collins said that federal funding for local drug prevention programs through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which participated in Monday's town hall meeting on local drug abuse, could be very beneficial.

The issue does start with parents, Collins said. "Parenting classes will certainly make a difference," Collins said. "We should look toward that type of education."

And while the numbers are also troubling to educators, efforts already underway can help make a difference.
According to Western Hills High School Principal Rita Rector, the coalition's PSA's, which are already airing locally have valuable information for teens.

The coalition is broadcasting three PSA's, two featuring Louisville addictions expert Burns Brady and a third featuring Frankfort police officers.

Marijuana's effects on teens in the classroom is virtually palpable, Rector told The State Journal Tuesday.

"Of course we see a lot of that with kids and their motivation toward school," Rector said. "Often you'll see kids who are poor performers, but they're capable and that's associated with their marijuana use."
Rector said she has been talking with school administrators about the problem. She agrees, she said, that the issue largely falls on parents' shoulders.

"Honestly, when kids are in high school they need as much if not more supervision [than when they were younger]," Rector said.

"Unfortunately, kids don't come with a rulebook," Rector said. "They need to be directed to productive activities."

According to Rector, teachers can frequently spot kids who are using. Students who use, she said, are typically capable of performing and don't have learning disabilities, but might underachieve and have attendance problems.

And the issue is a concern to local law enforcement.

Frankfort Police Chief Mark Wilhoite told The State Journal Tuesday the studies reflect a "disturbing trend" he says has been on the rise in the past few years.

"Unfortunately, this reflects society's ever increasing relaxed view of marijuana usage," Wilhoite said.
"What concerns us most for the younger users is pot becomes a gateway drug which, for some, leads to experimentation with other drugs."

3.	Posted by jimidan November 21, 2008
	Where are these programs for tobacco use and obesity? It is apparent that if thye exist they are failures as well. I agree that if your kid is high on most anything and you don't know it, it is your fault as the parent. Hell, if anybody you know (real relationship, not casual) is high you will know it within a few minutes of being around them if you have any awareness at all. The law is the wrong tool for drug abuse problems, period. Law enforcement officers are totally inexperienced with psychocative substances, so how can they possibly relate to someone who has a substance abuse problem? Most have a real problem with drug users, unless it is their drug of choice, which could be alcohol, tobacco or anabolic steriods (drugs that I have seen cops use). DARE is a failure nationwide...like I said, look it up. These officers are laughed at by the kids because the kids know a lot more than they do. All that DARE teachers know is the program that was given to them by someone else that has no personal experience. They come off as preachy and arrogant, and not real. I know a DARE officer who used to work for the City and he was a nicotine addict. He would take his breaks with coffee and a cigarette...talk about mixed messages. I think that church with its emphasis on punishment and obedience through guilt, not counting its right wing political agenda, is not what makes kids like themselves very much. Nobody needs to excape from happiness. It is strange that you talk like you know so much about what kids need, but you never mentioned love. Hmmm...

2.	Posted by Generous George November 21, 2008
	There are programs for teenage tobacco and obesity, as well as alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse in teens is probably the worst situation of the three. I also knew many academically acheived students who liked the use of marijuana, and more in college than high school. The real issue in addressing these problems is enforcement, but not from the law. Being a proud parent, I believe the prevention of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse comes from parenting skills and in general kids will obey their parents more they will a police officer (i.e. DARE) but not to say these programs aren't effective. Positive activities keep kids off drugs and alcohol and may help them from becoming obese. Video games, boredom, and lack of discipline is why kids lean to drugs, alcohol, and fast food. Get them involved in sports, model airplanes, painting, air hockey, wake boarding... anything to give a child a chance to excel and be good at something they like to do. Anybody can be good at alcohol and drug use with enough time to develop a hell of a tolerance. I would know. I think any child should turn his or her parents in to law enforcement if they have a real drug problem that affects the child. If the child has wonderful parents who happen to use drugs or alcohol, then be it. The trend will probably pass to the child, unfortunately. But, if the parents' use causes a problem for the child, law enforcement should be notified. Children need academics, but they need parenting, guidance, and discipline even more. And even most, church and God in their lives - my personal opinion.

1.	Posted by jimidan November 21, 2008
	Typical hysteric reaction to a "study" that supports the Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Franklin County's agenda. I would question this groups methodology as you can make studies say anything that you like. After seeing the commercials that ol' coot and self-proclaimed "addictions expert" (what the heck is that?) Burns Brady, I'd say that this effort is doomed to the same fate as Ted the Cat Collin's (what the kids called him) D.A.R.E. program had...failure. The kids are smarter than these guys...lots smarter. That is why D.A.R.E. has been a national failure as well. Don't take my word for it, look it up...you have a computer and access to the WWW. Next thing ya' know, they will be trying to get the kids to turn in their parents for their late night pot smoking before they make whoopie. The country will be a lot safer then. As far as pot smokers being poor performers, when I was in college all of the smart kids used pot. The best people I have known were pot smokers at one time or another in their lives...they knew how to think out of the box. Sure, some of these kids who have real issues also smoke pot to self-medicate, but they already had the issues long before they used. You aren't going to get to these kids with a DARE type program...it will take years of therapy. Why don't these folks turn all of that misplaced concern towards the real scourges in KY...teen use of tobacco and teen-aged obesity. There are some topics that they can really make a difference in.