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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-19 Substance Abuse Prevention Advisory Council MinutesReading Substance Abuse Advisory Council Minutes October 19, 2000 Present: Bill Carrick, Sandy Michaud, Bill Griset, Leone Sullivan; Cathy Kosta, John Costigan, Lori Leland, Amy Rosenblatt, Jane Fiore, Laurie Arsenault (arrived 8:15) Called, Excused: Mike Hanifan, Marc Alterio Meeting called to order: 7:45 P.M. Introductions of New Members: The new school committee liaison,, Bill Griset, was introduced and welcomed to the council: Each council member then gave a brief introduction of himself or herself to our new member. Secretary's Report (outgoing secretary): Leone Sullivan made a motion that the minutes be revised by eliminating the use of abbreviations in the minutes. Sandy Michaud seconded the motion: Discussion of the motion centered on the thought that spelling out the words would insure -clams of meaning to all readers Themotion passed 6-0--1. The revised minutes were then approved 6-0-1. Public Input: There was no public input -at the meeting. Chairman Bill Carrick made the point that public input would be allowed if the public were to arrive after the designated period for public input was passed. Secretary's report (incoming secretary): To review the purpose of the council at the start of a new season, Sandy Michaud read the charge that each committee member receives when they are appointed to the committee by the Board of Selectmen. This was followed by Bill Carrick distributing a copy of the description of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council that is on file at the library: Section 2.7 of the Town Charter. The consensus was ghat although the wording is not identical in both documents, the meaning is the same. Furthermore, both documents refer to the council as the Reading Substance Abuse Advisory Council. Sandy Michaud also read the goals that had been set last year for the Council. The consensus was to continue to review these goals at the next meeting. Old Business: Publications: Bill Carrick reported that he is still working on the article about the drug Ecstasy. He is waiting for Nadine Wandzilak from the Reading Advocate to return his call regarding her help with the article. There is a wealth of info regarding this subject -on the Internet. Concerns regarding the use of Ecstasy in reading were discussed. Police Report,: Leone Sullivan reported that the recent article that appeared in the Chronicle about the "liquid Ecstasy" being made in Reading and shipped out of town- may have been a bit misleading. Liquid ecstasy is the -slang name for gamma hydroxybutyrate {GHB}: GHB is a date rape drug, which is a liquid and acts as a depressant. In contrast, ecstasy is formulated into a pill and is a stimulant. Ecstasy is made in "Designer Labs". There is no consistency from lab to lab. The pills are usually impure and can be loaded with such additives as-PCP and4cetamines. It was discussed-that u discussion such as this could be the first script for-our cable show. The show would consist of a pancl composed of acouncil-member, a police weer, a DEA representative, and a substance abuse therapist. Concerns regarding-the information about Ecstasy-thatis appearing on -the -Internet was-discussed as there appear to be more web sites saying that the -drug is "OK" than-those saying it is not "OK". There was Ecstasy used by some students attending the first high school dance this fall. Officer Sullivan reported that she was very encouraged that 4.1 parents from Killam and Joshua Eaton attended: her DARE parent information night. This was an increase from the 1548 that has attended in previous years. This meeting occurred two days after the Hanscom Ave. GHB seizure, which may have helped to raise parental awareness of the importance of DARE in our community. Officer Sullivan also reported that there will be banners hanging in all 5t' Grade wings at the elementary schools in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, which--is a national drug free week. The students will have an opportunity to sign the banner declaring that "I can live Drug Free". The Council -congrlat€d -Oer- Sullivan for receiving the DARE Officer of the Year Award from Cruising World magazine. School Rep In Marc Alterio's absence, Jane Fiore was able to report the Peer Mentors from the high school (RMHS) are meeting one on one with 6 graders from Coolidge and Parker who are having difficult adjusting to middle school. Barbara Padula is the coordinator for the middle schools. The Peer leaders are keeping logs on their visits, which are signed off by Mrs. Padula. There is also going to be a leaf raking day for senior citizens in October and a training session on suicide and depression in November. Athletes for Healthy Life Styles are having a Frisbee Tournament, planning to help the younger children in the Halloween Parade for the Recreation Department, and to help senior citizens with grocery shopping and raking in November. The Parker Peer Leaders are planning a bulb sale as a fundraiser for AIDS research and a Smoke Free Day in November. Sandy Michaud reported that the Coolidge Peer Leaders are organizing a drive to collect used inkjet cartridges for recycling. Jane Fiore reported a luncheon meeting is being planned for all 7 Peer Leader advisors. Health Department Report: Jane Fiore reported that the money from the Safe and Drug Free Schools grant is not in yet and will be cut back. Jane is writing several minigrants to try to make up for the cuts. One to fund the Violence Conference next Spring and also money will need to be found to support the YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) since it did not happen in the last fiscal year. The Steering Committee of the Chemical Center in Stoneham is giving $75,000 to the 8 communities it serves (No. Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Melrose, Medford, Malden, Stoneham, and Everett) to do a community assessment on isolation, dietary need, and coping skills. Problems in these areas can lead to violence. Jane also reported that the Health Status Indicators have shown that the population of under the age of 19 has increased by - 30% to 21.8% since the last statistics were gathered. This increase in the youth in town only supports our charge. The Board of Health has a Tufts university graduate student who is developing assessment tolls and three focus groups (ages 15- 21, 22-35, 36 and over) to assess the quality of the water, air, individual health, substance abuse, and personal safety in our community. New Business: Bill Carrick reported on the National Media Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking Act of 2000 - H.R. 5137. This bill is before the House of Representatives and there was discussion whether the council members should send letters of support to our congressmen. It was decided to first get a copy of the full bill and revisit the matter at the November meeting. The council will receive a copy of the quarterly RMHS student newspaper Orbit. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15. Motion by Leone Sullivan, second by Lori Leland, vote was 9-0-0. Respectfully submitted, Sandy Mic and