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Home My WebLink About2001-03-15 Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council MinutesReading Si" Abuse Advisory Councils ULER Minutes ..,."j. MASS, March -1-5, -2001 2001 KAY 2 S A 97 41 Present: Bill Carrick, Sandy Michaud, Cathy Kosta, Mike Hanifan, Lori Leland, Marc Alterio, Bill Griset, John-Costigan, Dale-Merrill; David LeBassi, -Jane Fiore Called, Excused: Leone Sullivan called in sick. Meeting called-to-order: 7:40 P.-M.-by-chairman Bill-Carrick. Membership Update: Michael Lucey sent in his resignation last month. He was complimentary to the counpiHn-his resignation-statingtlrat-he-is-resigningbecause-e is-in the-midst-of-a.-new position and does not feel that he can give enough time to the council. John Segalla and David Stamatis have al so-officially-resigned. There -are -currently-threexTenings -on-the-Council. Secretary's Report: Sandy Michaud asked the council to review the minutes of February 15, 2001. The minutes of February -15, -2801-were-approved-as-written 7-0-2. Public Input: There was no public input at the meeting. Old Business: Publications/Correspondence: The grant can support one council member going to the AdCare Prggrarn-on-Inhalants-in May.-Marc Alterio can also-support-the-Atendaneex&zouncit members. One teacher from each of the middle schools and Leone Sullivan are also attending. It was noted thatthe-information-m-ourpackets about Ecstasyzuas-very helpful. Police Report: Leone Sullivan was out sick. SchQo12eport: Marc Alterio reported that Respond --a--Battered Women)s-prograrn in Somerville- will be coming to the High School to talk to Juniors and Seniors about Teen Dating Violence. The-Food-Service Director at the High School and-a eauplE~nemhers~ofthe°i~igh School Health Department will be attending a State Comprehensive Workshop in Worcester to facilitate th~-Food Service making connections with the nutrition-Lessons taught to-the-studwits by the Health Department. The f rst three seminars supported by the Teen Pregnancy grant, aimed at the-Elementary-Schoulparent population, were a big success-with-90, -95, and 90 attendees, respectively. In response to a question, it was noted that although full-term teen pregnancies-are-not a big-problem-in Reading, the number ofreported cases-of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (up to 19/year) would not be considered low for the size of the adolescent population in-our-town. Marc reported that the Health and Wellness website is up and runmp~. There was a discussion regardin the Health education offerings at the High-School. Currently, Decisions, which is-offered in-9 grade, is the only definitive offering in Health:Educationatthe High School. There are some Junior and Senior Health Initiatives, but otherwise, health issues are handledin-smaller bitsand-pieces in the _physical education classes. The-need for-m-ure Health Classes is seen at the high school but funding for staffing is the issue. In response to a question reprding-avenues at-the-high school for students-in-trouble, it-was-noted-that-there-van be individual teacher referrals, or a student can go themselves, to the Guidance Department, the Assistant Principals; -or Pupil Services. The role of the Guidance-Department-was--defined-as working with the students for college applications as well as offering help with teacher, personal, or student relationship problems.4nformative pamphlets on avari-ety of subjjects-are-avaffabiM the students and both Mike and Lori noted that the guidance office is a comfortable, welcoming place. , Health Dept. Report: Jane-Fiore reported that -thee Grade Girls Sexuality- Workshop had S2 attendees, flown slightly from last year's -96.-The 5"' Grade Boys-Workshop, hic-h usually-has30 --60 attendees, was postponed until April due to the storm. The 6h Grade Girls and-Boys Workshops had the same number of attendees as last year, -75 per each class. The town will be offering meningitis immunization to high school seniors for $75.00 each. This immunization is-especially important-for seniors going off to college as there have been numerous outbreaks of meningitis on American college campuses. The vaccine works well at preventing the -disease, butis-na"-state mandated vaccination as of yet. If the vaccination were state mandated, then there would be no charge for the immunization, as the Health Department would get the vaccine from the state Student Liason Report: The Peer Mentors (Leadership) program at the high school had a good turn out for a presentation on Club Drugs. There will be a training at Parker on the next early release day. There is a new application for new Peer Mentors. The Peer Mentors will pull information from the packets they received about Club Drugs to include brief informative clips about Ecstasy and other designer drugs for the school newspaper. It is feit-that Ecstasy-is-a big problem in Reading (-100 kids known to use). There is use even down in--e'-grade,-but most use is in grades 10-12, with use higher in grades 10 and 11. Drug Free Week-Report: Game Night: Game Night was postponed due to conflicts with the date. It is hoped that it will be rescheduled in the future. Swim Party: The swim party was a big success thanks to Mike Hanifan. Mike will be in college next year, we must book the pool several months in advance. Skate Party: There were about 35 skaters using Drug Free Week tickets. Next year we should try to organize in advance to bring the banner and pamphlets with substance abuse prevention/health information. May's agenda should include a discussion on next year's Drug Free Week events in order to allow committees to be formed to run each event next year. Forum Discussion 3/6: The Forum was postponed due to the storm. The Council is responding to the issue of inhalant use in Reading. The Open Foram will be on Ecstasy, Designer Drugs and Inhalants. It will start with a showing of the video Ecstasy: When the Party's Over. The panel will consist of Carol Oliver from the CAB Prevention Center, a District Attorney from the Woburn DA's office, Dr. Weinberg from the MGH ER, Laurie Arsenault (yin Addiction Counselor), and Leone Sulllivan (Reading's DARE officer). Each-panel member will make a brief opening statement, starting with Carol Oliver who will present the ABC's of the subject matter. The forum will then be opened up for questions from the audience. The forum will be rescheduled for Tuesday April 2e and Jane Fiore will work on getting an appropriate meeting room in town booked for that night. Dale Merrill has already spoken with representatives from the Woburn's DA office. They are glad to send one of their District Attorneys as they can speak to the reality of illegal drug use in our community.-Dale-will-contact them to book someone for April 2e. Dale will also speak to RCTV about filming the-Forum. Bill will bring the coffee and committee members will bake (include all ingredients with baked goods, NO NUTS). Other Business: Following a brief discussion regarding the letter that the Council sent last year to parents of Juniors and Seniors at RMHS at Prom time, Sandy Michaud-made-the-following motion: " The Council send out a letter to the parents/guardians of juniors and seniors at RIMS regarding issues of substance abuse at prummgraduation-tine." The motion was seconded by-ohn Costigan and passed 10-0-0. The letter will be sent out before April 174' since the Junior Prom is April 27 h. Marc Alterio and Mike_Hanifan will work on getting it out. RMHS was again chosen at random by the state to participate in the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Reading was chosen lastyearplus we administered the 2000 YRBS-to_grades 7-12 in December. It seems as though this time around would be too soon for our students to participate again. Reading has always been cooperative about participating and Marc Alterio is working with the state to see if Reading can be excused this time. However, the initial response has been, "No participation, NO$rant money." Reading currently gets $123,900 in grant money from the Safe and Drug Free Schools, Health and Wellness, and Tobacco grants plus several mini-grants that we have been successful in obtaining. The Safe and Drug Free School grant was cut back this year when we did not have the Reading Youth Risk Behavior Survey results when we said that we would. _ There was a discussion about the philosophy of a Zero Tolerance Policy. Should the Council recommend that Reading implement a true Zero Tolerance Policy and if so one with -or without Harm Reduction? It was explained that Harm Reduction refers to whether it is simply stated that drug use will not be tolerated or that drug use is not tolerated but information isgiven regarding how to protect someone's health if drug use is tried. The Council members were asked by the chair to give thought to this issue and the discussion will be continued at the May meeting. Adjournment: Cathy Kosta, seconded by Dale Merrill, made a motion to adjourn. The motion passed 10-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Sandy Michaud