HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-30 Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council MinutesReading Substance Abuse Advisory Council
Minutes
November 30, 2000
Present: Bill Carrick, Sandy Michaud, Leone Sullivan, Cathy Kosta, John
Costigan, Lori Leland, Laurie Arsenault, Jane Fadden, Marc Alterio,
Michael Lucey, Jane Fiore, Bill Griset (arrived 8:15)
Called, Excused: Amy Rosenblatt, Dale Merrill
Meeting called to order: 7:40 P.M. Chairperson Bill Carrick thanked all
those in attendance for making it to the November meeting, which had to be
rescheduled from the usual third Thursday due to Town. Meeting. Because of
the forced change in meeting date to so late in November, the December
meeting, which is usually poorly attended, will be cancelled.
Introductions of New Members: The new Reading Clergy Association
representative, Jane Fadden, was introduced and welcomed to the council.
Each council member then gave a brief introduction of him or herself to our
new member.
Secretary's Report: Cathy Kosta indicated that the minutes for the
September meeting were revised to reflect the changes approved at the
October meeting. Sandy Michaud asked the council to review the minutes of
October 19, 2000. Lori Leland made a motion, seconded by Cathy Kosta,
that the minutes of October 19, 2000 be approved as written. The motion
passed 8-0-2.
Public Input: There was no public input at the meeting.
Old Business:
Publications: Lori Leland lalked..to.the RMHS Orbit staff abouta
subscription for the council. However, there is no mechanism for
subscriptions, so Lori will obtain a copy of the Orbit as it becomes available
and bring it to the council. Bill Carrick reported that he has spoken with
Nadine Wandzilak from the Reading Advocate regarding the article about
Ecstasy. Nadine has suggested that Bill be featured in "Conversations" in the
Advocate as a segue into a potential article focusing on whatever substances
that the council deems appropriate. The article would potentially come out in
December towards when the kids come home from college. The Council
discussed what substances should be included in the article. The consensus
was that the article should discuss not only the new drug on the scene,
Ecstasy, but also the "old" drugs, such as alcohol and marijuana. Also, it was
felt that the connection between holiday depression and increased drug use
should be pointed out to the whole community. Marc Alterio, Laurie
Arsenault, Leone Sullivan and Bill Carrick will form a subcommittee to
meet with Nadine Wandzilak about the article.
Police Report: Leone Sullivan reported that she had met with the
Lieutenant of detectives prior to the meeting to check on substance abuse
issues in Reading. There is concern about the use of Ecstasy added to that of
alcohol and marijuana.
School Report: Marc Alterio reported that two pharmacists, one from
Osco Drug Store and one from Northeastern University's School of
Pharmacy, recently made a presentation to the 9f Grade Decisions classes
regarding "good" and "bad" drugs. Marc also reported on a video entitled
Ecstasy-When the Patty's Over. This video shows scenes from a RAVE
party without a lot of fake acting. It is informative about Ecstasy but
respectful of the kids participating in the video. This 28-minute video will be
shown prior to the start of the January meeting. Jane Fiore was asked to
check for the availability of the library for potential opportunities to show
the video to the community. However, further discussion was tabled until the
council has an opportunity to see the video. There was discussion about the
prevailing attitude of "party" at the high school, as well as an increased
emphasis on healthy ways for the students to destress. Marc has applied for a
grant entitled "Getting to the Families! Part II A Community Health and
Wellness Approach to Teen Pregnancy" from the Department of Public
Health Teen Challenge Fund. Among other things, this grant would fund
Health and Wellness seminars similar to those offered last spring.
Health Dept. Report: Jane Fiore reported that the local pharmacies
will conduct a survey between Nov 15 - Jan 15 on the sale of Robitussin
DM (an over the counter medication that is frequently misused). John
Costigan, wearing his pharmacist's hat, informed the council that
dextromethorphan (the DM in Robitussin) is a distant cousin of opiates. Jane
also reported that Dec. 1st is World Aids Awareness Day, but there will be
no candle light ceremony on the common this year. This year is a
reformulating year for the high school Peer Mentors. As for community
health, there has been an increase in sexually transmitted diseases;
chlamydia and vaginal warts in 15 and older age range, Hepatitis C cases in
the 35-40-age range, and two syphyllis diagnoses in the age range of 58 -69.
Bill Carrick brought the council more information on the National Media
Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking Act of 2000 - H.R. 5137. The full bill
can be seen through the Internet at www.cspient.org/booze/HR5137.htm. The
goal of this bill is to put funds into a Public Service Act for a National Media
Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking.
Dale Merrill reported via Bill Carrick that she is still interested in
producing a cable show for the council.
Bill Carrick reported that the Superintendent of School's office had
sent him, as Chair of the council, a copy of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey
for review. The survey is to be administered the week of Dec. 4t` and input
on the survey was required before the next scheduled meeting of the council.
Bill Carrick reviewed the survey as an individual member of the council and
read to the council two letters (enclosed) that he had sent to the
Superintendent regarding this matter. There was discussion regarding the
value of the numbers obtained from the survey and its margin of error and
statistical validity. It was put forward that the value is to give numbers to the
problems, point out trends, and provide a comparison from year to year of
the attitudes and behaviors in our youth.
New Business: The week of March 9h, 2001 was put forward for next year's
Drug Free Week. The council discussed items to be put on the agenda for the
next meeting, which will be January 18, 2001 at 7:30. Further discussion of
Drug Free Week will occur as part of January's agenda.
Adjournment: Leone Sullivan, seconded by Laurie Arsenault, made a
motion to adjourn. The motion passed 11-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at
9:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Michaud
