LV asked to join drug fight

Rebecca Malone

Friday, June 15, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

An organization that works to inform young people of the dangers associated with substance abuse was honored Thursday by the nation's drug czar.

Carolyn McGuire, chair of the Substance Abuse Foundation for Education and Research, asked Las Vegas elementary schools to open their doors to a new "Families for Prevention" program, which, by using take-home assignments, is designed to inform children and their parents of the dangers of substance abuse.

Edward Jurith, acting director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, presented McGuire with a plaque to honor the nonprofit organization's efforts in educating families.

The presentation was made during the annual Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association conference at the Four Seasons hotel.

Jurith outlined the goals of the National Drug Control Strategy, which included educating youths, reducing drug-related crimes and breaking the drug sources of supply.

According to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, more than 77 percent of current illicit drug users 18 and older are employed full- or part-time. An estimated annual cost of $14 billion in decreased productivity can be contributed to drug use, he said.

"We must continue to send youth consistent messages about the dangers of drug abuse and empower parents to keep their kids drug-free," Jurith said. "Early childhood is the perfect time for prevention that targets risk factors. Specially crafted education programs and prevention interventions like SAFER send effective communitywide anti-drug messages." The program is provided at no cost to the schools, and SAFER raises money and solicits contributions to fund the program, which costs about $8,000 per school.

The program requires the school to designate a coordinator to review the videos, handouts and handbook. The coordinator will then coach teachers who will participate in the program. McGuire said the program consists mainly of videos, brochures, and evaluations, which children take home to share with their parents.

Students in kindergarten, first and second grades receive the Families for Prevention of Violence video. Third through fifth graders watch the Families for Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drugs video, and sixth graders watch Families for Prevention/Common Sense Parenting. The program also offers a 24-hour hotline that is manned by professional counselors.

McGuire said the program requires an eight- or nine-week commitment from the schools each year. SAFER is a relatively new organization -- it was founded in 1997 -- and is present in just eight states.

McGuire said SAFER, with the help of parents, will track results.

Karla McComb, director of Safe and Drug Free Schools for the Clark County School District, said the district requires that a program be nationally validated, or have a proven track record, for it to be implemented in the valley's schools.

McComb said district officials would consider a program that was honored by the national government.

"It sounds like a very interesting program," McComb said. "The technique is a good one."

McGuire said she recently finished installing SAFER's first fully funded "Families for Prevention" program at Tench Tilghman Elementary School in Baltimore.