Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Full steam ahead on prevention

By Donna Barker - dbarker@bcrnews.com Share on Facebook Share on Twitter PRINCETON — The Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) will not rest on past accomplishments but will continue to plan programs and outreaches to help prevent substance abuse, as well as other issues, among area young people, according to CPASA coordinator Dawn Conerton. At Tuesday’s CPASA meeting, Conerton said CPASA will participate today, Thursday, in a Boys Talk Health Fair, set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley. Boys ages 11 to 15 are invited to attend with a parent, with the fair having a variety of resource information available. CPASA member John Munoz will make a presentation on peer pressure and bullying. A similar program for girls was held Nov. 10 at St. Margaret’s, with CPASA member Claudia Bachman making a presentation. CPASA members Munoz and Princeton Police Chief Tom Root will be the main speakers at a prescription drug abuse assembly Friday morning at Bureau Valley High School in Manlius. The issue of prescription drug abuse has to be taken seriously, Conerton said. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States among 12 to 25 year olds, Conerton said, adding local people can dispose of their unused or expired medications through CPASA’s P2D2 Prescription Drug Disposal Program. “When parents hear about drug abuse they might think of illegal drugs like marijuana or heroin, but often they don’t think about prescription drugs as being a problem,” Conerton said. “It’s critical for parents to become educated about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. It’s also important for everyone to monitor their medicine cabinets or lock them if necessary.” Looking ahead to coming months, Conerton said CPASA will continue to reach out to Bureau and Putnam counties through its programs and services to help impact the lives of young people and their families. Also at the Tuesday meeting, CPASA assistant coordinator Doria Martuzzo said CPASA has two goals, which are to establish and strengthen collaboration between community agencies, groups and the general public within Bureau and Putnam counties and to reduce substance abuse among young people, and in time, adults as well. If the first goal is not reached, then the second one won’t be either, she said. In its communications efforts, CPASA had 19 newspaper articles in the last six months, placed 10 newspaper ads, done a radio spot, put up two billboards and participated in several community events, festivals and walks, Martuzzo told the group. Among the programs hosted or supported by CPASA in the last six months were Project Sticker Shock, a Messages Which Are Hopeful assembly at Princeton High School, Operation Snowball, Illinois Teen Institute, Bassett Training, and bath salts assemblies, all related to various drug, alcohol or peer pressure issues. CPASA, which was organized in 2007 with 40 members, now has 69 members and operates under the umbrella of the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department. Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.

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