HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-18 Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council MinutesV
Reading Substance Abuse Advisory Council
Minutes
October 18, 2001
Present: Bill Carrick, Sandy Michaud, Lori Leland, John Costigan, Nicole LeBlanc, Bill Griset, David
LeBassi, Laurie Arsenault, Karyn Storti, Cathy Kosta, Leone Sullivan, Marc Alterio, Dale Merrill,
Jane Fiore (liaison).
Called, Excused: None.
Absent: None
Meeting called to order: 7:35 P.M. by chairman Bill Carrick.
Secretary's Report: Sandy Michaud asked the council to review the minutes of September 20, 2001.
Cathy Kosta made a motion to accept the minutes. David LiBassi seconded the motion. The minutes
were approved: 10-0-1.
Public Input: There was no public input at the meeting.
Old Business:
School Report: Marc Alterio was coming from a Parenting Workshop at Parker aimed at
elementary parents entitled, "Mommy, I need and want this now". There were 35 attendees. Last year
500 people attended the parenting workshops offered over the course of the year.
Parenting workshops aimed at middle school parents will be given on Jan. 15 & 29 and Feb. 12,
2002. Three different topic areas will be covered:
1. Middle School Kids: Social Issues, Establishing Boundaries, Setting Limits, Fostering
Self-Confidence
II. How much is enough? Meeting challenges of a "Must Have" Society
III. Talking to Kids about Hot Button Issues
The workshops will be presented by Susan Weeks.
On Feb. 22, 2002 (snow date of March 13), Dr. Robert Brooks will present "Raising Resilient Children
and Adolescents".
The materials shared by all the speakers and recommended readings have been purchased and will be
placed in all elementary and middle schools for parents to use.
Families First will present a parenting workshop aimed at high school parents in early
December. It will focus on Teen Dating (especially aimed at 9'h grade parents but rest of school will be
invited).
The Health and Wellness web site is up and running and presents upcoming events. There was a
question of what the Substance Abuse Prevention Council wants to include on the web site. The goal is
to decide what links to include by the January meeting. In the meantime, discussion regarding what to
add to the web site will appear on the meeting agendas under Publications/Correspondence.
The Department of Public Health is encouraging work with Faith based organizations on the Teen
Pregnancy Grant. Reaching out to Austin Prep and the Reading Clergy Association were discussed as
possible mechanisms to interact with Faith based organizations.
Publications/Correspondence: Discussion of Press Release for the November 7 forum.
Police Report: Leone Sullivan reported that when she wrote the Dare Grant, money was
included for a three part Educational Series on Drug and Alcohol Awareness. Jane Fiore, Ruth Brophy
and Leone Sullivan will be heading up the series. In terms of substance abuse, the Oxycontin Task
Force has caught some suspects in the armed robberies and there has been a decrease in the problem.
There were informational forums on oxycontin for detectives in the New England area. The age group
for oxycontin use is 16 - 22, while-that-forheroinmsc-is-iatc 0 sto -Mid 40's. fn reading the, is-a
police officer at the pharmacies when they close and nursing home checks are done as deterrents of
oxycontin thefts.
Student Liason Report: The Peer Leaders went to each freshman class to discuss harassment
and get their input. Harassment is~n-iss= at the +4+-schoni-ands is increase aftcr-the-taiks. T+fe
Peer Leaders wrote the harassment booklet three years ago and it is time to update it now with new
scenarios. The bathrooms are getting-brtter.-The amtnt penalty-for smoking m-schoo - is-&tlrree=day
suspension, but a new policy is being discussed which would impose fines for violations.
New Business: There was a discussirnr rr- diiT the orcurrence of-substance-abnse-by stadrixts p, ioT
to arriving at the school dances. Bill Griset will bring the subject up with the School Committee and
Superintendent and Bill Carrick wfl-bring-flit-issue to I'V'U'--.. 's-attention.-Er mm Str}} and
Lori Leland will draft a letter to Reading Liquor Stores asking them what it is that they are doing right
to prevent underage buying in order-to educate the li t}mg-towns.
Jane Fiore reported that none of the $18,612 for the Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant has
come in yet from the Department of Education rlue-to-tht-hofdmpsirr the state-bndget.
Update on the Youth Risk Behavior Study: Dr. Harutunian wants to present the results to the
School Committee and Board of Selectmen. Marc Alterioand-JaTe+iorei=c-becn charged-witil
comparing the 1998 and 2000 responses. This will be reviewed with the middle school and high school
principals, Dr. Harutunian and De-11niS7RichwxIs-by mid-Bec;embtr.
Subcommittee report for November 7 Panel: Laurie Arsenault will present a basic forum on
November 7 h at the Coolidge Middle School l ibrarylMedia Center on Demystifying Substance Abuse.
The subcommittee's work will continue on after the first forum. Three more forums are being
discussed for January, April and possibly 3t ne.-The fonrmni1i April vy ill be pre=prom and-specificaiiy
address alcohol. The results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey will be used guide the choice of a
topic for January. There will be an-evaluatfiaTrIflnrm fafiowhM the-fi~st forum asking farsu Bested
topics for the future. Jane, Leone and John will provide handouts on substance abuse for the Nov. 7
forum.
Currently there are a few openings on the Council.
Adjournment: Dave LiBassi, seconded by bait ibfenin, matle-a-motmn to adjoulI I. Tire mtotivrrpassed
10-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, -
Sandy Micliud