Forum to Help Families Talk About Teen Drinking, Drug Use

“Just Say No.”

Hmm. Has that worked? Recent research has substance abuse experts concerned that young people’s softened attitudes about alcohol and drug use may be leading to increased use.

A community forum to help students and families address underage drinking issues and current drug trends will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at . The forum features a panel of experts, including Phil Hubbs, executive director of the Proactive Network Against Substance Abuse. Hubbs is a retired police veteran with 32 years of experience; Eloisa Orozco, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving San Diego; students who work to reduce binge and underage drinking through the East County Youth Coalition; and students from Vista La Mesa Academy.

The program is a family event; dinner and childcare will be provided.

Speakers will make presentations on preventing teenage alcohol and drug use, and breakout sessions will be formed for youth and parents to discuss the information.

Results from the California Healthy Kids Survey 2009 showed past declines in substance abuse among young people has leveled off. Locally, nearly 43 percent of emergency room visits by youth ages 12 to 26 in the East County between 2006 and 2008 were due to binge drinking, according to the East County Community Change Project, one of the forum’s sponsors.

Statewide survey results showed 37 percent of 12th graders reported having used an illicit drug in the previous year, 15 percent of 8th graders reported drinking alcohol in the previous month, and 27 percent of 10th graders reported using marijuana in the previous year.

Nearly 70 percent of the minors surveyed said they got alcohol from family or friends.

Results from the Lemon Grove School District show children in 5th and 7th grades are experimenting with smoking, drinking and using drugs such as marijuana and inhalants.

In 5th grade, 24 percent of the students surveyed said they’d used alcohol at least once, 4 percent said they had tried smoking tobacco, 2 percent reported using an inhalant to get high, and 1 percent had tried marijuana.

Among 7th graders, 32 percent said they had had at least one whole drink of alcohol in their lives, 14 percent used marijuana at least once, and 14 percent said they’d used an inhalant at least once.

Vista La Mesa Academy, the Institute for Public Strategies, the District PTA Council, the Lemon Grove Collaborative and the Lemon Grove School District are sponsoring the community forum.

For more information, call Chris Walsh at 619-825-5645 or Joyce Moore at 619-938-2942.