• August 2003 Newsletter
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• July 2000 Newsletter
• January 2000 Newsletter

August 2003

President Bush’s ONDCP Deputy Director Speaks to SAFE

Last November, Mary Ann Solberg, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, spent an evening encouraging SAFE to engage all sectors of the community in substance abuse prevention. She spoke to 100 interested individuals about what coalitions can do to foster safe, healthy, substance-abuse-free communities.

Solberg divided participants into groups representing the various elements of the community (youths, parents, school, faith community, businesses, etc.) and challenged each group to come up with three actions they could take to address youth substance abuse.

She also encouraged SAFE to apply for a federal Drug Free Communities Act grant, which would bring much needed funding to the coalition. An application for the grant was filed in March. SAFE should be notified by November whether its grant application has been selected.

Change Ahead!

In response to the need to expand the membership of SAFE to include greater representation of the various sectors in our community, the SAFE Board has been working hard to implement the following changes.

Seeking Members

SAFE is presently recruiting both general members and members of its board of directors. The general membership will meet a minimum of once per year, at SAFE’s annual meeting in September. Members will have opportunities to serve on a variety of committees focused on specific activities of SAFE, such as the Youth Activities Committee (see following page). Depending on the interest of members, committees are expected to be formed to address issues relevant to parents, the faith community, athletic coaches, and the business community. SAFE will also sponsor periodic workshops for members.

The SAFE Board of Directors will meet six times a year (January, March, May, July, September, November) on the third Wednesday of the month from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Board members will be responsible for ensuring the organization stays focused on its mission, determining the activities of SAFE through strategic planning, and overseeing SAFE finances.

If you are interested in becoming a member of SAFE, please contact us at 804-796-7100 or adamss@chesterfield.gov for a membership application.

Last summer SAFE received a $15,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention through Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities funding to evaluate the Use, You Lose campaign. Use, You Lose was developed by SAFE and implemented in 1999, with additional components added each year. The campaign is designed to:
- Increase student and parent awareness of Chesterfield County Public Schools’ alcohol and drug standards for student conduct, as well as the consequences for violating those standards
- Increase awareness of legal consequences for violating laws regarding underage drinking and illegal drug use
- Foster a strong community norm of alcohol and drug-free youths.

The campaign includes Use, You lose signs in school buses and on T-shirts, stickers, zipper pulls, book covers, bumper stickers and school parking hangers.

The consultant has completed the evaluation and will report results to the SAFE Board in August.

BandFest 2003!

The young people attending last fall’s meeting with Mary Ann Solberg came up with a number of ideas for ways youths can help prevent substance abuse among their peers. During a follow-up meeting last winter, the teens decided to focus on creating a safe, alcohol- and drug-free event for teens. They are planning a BandFest where local high school garage bands could showcase their talents. The SAFE Youth Activities Committee, led by Ashley Smith, a rising senior at Bird High School, has been working diligently to turn this idea into reality.

The people at Southside Church of the Nazarene have been extremely helpful to the committee, allowing the event to be held on their property, providing the stage and sound equipment and allowing the use of their recording studio so the bands can record (in advance) a CD of the music they’ll be playing during the event. (The CDs will be sold at the event). If you know of a band interested in performing, have them e-mail their contact information to bandfest2003@hotmail.com. Auditions will be held Aug. 14.

n July, SAFE received funding from the Community Foundation for a Youth Philanthropy grant for $4,875. The grant money will be used to hold three events for young people during the upcoming school year that promote healthy lifestyles while giving teens a safe activity to enjoy. The first event will be the BandFest.

SAFE is encouraging families to participate in the first national Family Day on Monday, September 24. Research by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has clearly demonstrated that the more often a teen eats dinner with his or her family, the less likely he or she is to smoke, drink or use drugs.Family Day highlights the importance of parents' involvement in their children's lives.

The 1999 CASA teen survey revealed that children who never eat dinner with their families are 72% more likely than the average teen to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs. Children who almost always eat dinner with their families are 31% less likely than the average teen to engage in these activities.

In addition to eating dinner together, CASA research shows that other family activities can reduce the risk that a teen will use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. These include:
· Monitoring homework
· Attending religious services with teens and making religion an important part of their lives
· Praising and disciplining teens when their behavior merits
· Monitoring teens' TV viewing, music purchases and internet usage
· Establishing curfews for teens and knowing where they are after school and on weekends
· Sending a clear message of disapproval to teens about the use of cigarettes, alcohol and illegal drugs.

What can you do?
Parents can:
- eat dinner at home with their family September 24 or
- take their family out to dinner
Businesses can:
- publicize Family Day in communications with their employees
- encourage their employees to leave work on September 24 in time to eat dinner with their children
Religious congregations can:
- put Family Day on the their calendars and encourage their congregations to set aside this evening for a family dinner
Family Day highlights what should be happening on a regular basis. Make it a priority to eat more family meals together.¤

For the third year, the chairman of the SAFE Board sent a letter to the parents of all seniors in Chesterfield County Public Schools encouraging them to talk with their child about drinking issues related to graduation parties and beach week.
"Virginia Alcohol Laws and Parental Responsibility," a new brochure developed by Chesterfield Youth Services and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, was enclosed with the letter.

The letter also encouraged parents to talk with their child about drinking in college. A guide to help parents approach this issue with their child was enclosed.

Parental communication remains an important component of preventing underage drinking, even as teens move into young adulthood. ¤

A full contingent of teams from Chesterfield County high schools made the trek to James Madison University for YADAPP 2001 the week of July 23-27. YADAPP, the Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project, is a week-long leadership conference for teens committed to providing leadership with their peers for safe and drug-free schools. The conference is sponsored by the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention and the Virginia departments of Education and Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Chesterfield Public Schools provided financial support so every high school in Chesterfield County could send four-person student teams and a sponsor. Most sponsors were school resource officers.

"Student vs. Marijuana," a project developed by one of the Chesterfield teams from last year's conference, was highlighted at YADAPP. The project was a live dramatization of what happens when a student brings marijuana to school, including both school and legal consequences.Video clips from the dramatization and from interviews with the students about the development of their project were shown to the 2001 participants during a general assembly. ¤

SAFE has received a $5,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to support specially designed Use, You Lose book covers for all 3,400 7th grade students in Chesterfield County Public Schools. The book covers will be made from stretchy cloth material in the colors of the Use, You Lose logo-gold, red, black and white.The covers will inform students of the consequences for violating school standards for alcohol and drug use, for example-"Did you know if you bring drugs to school you will be expelled?"

The book covers, however, will primarily provide the positive message that most middle school students don't smoke, drink or use drugs. Many students think more of their peers engage in these activities than actually do. The book covers provide accurate information, encouraging the healthy norm of non-use.

The covers promote positive choices, such as involvement in art, music, drama, and sports. A portion of the students will complete a quiz relating to information on the book cover before they receive their cover and then several months afterwards, to determine if the book covers are having an impact.

Usage information on the covers is taken from the 2000 national PRIDE student survey. According to the survey, 86 percent of middle school students didn't use drugs in the previous year. Ninety-one percent didn't smoke and 90 percent didn't drink in the previous month.

The book covers will be distributed to 7th grade students at the beginning of the 2001-02 school year. ¤

Child safety officers from the Chesterfield Police Department will be incorporating Use, You Lose into the Success through Education and Proactive Policing (S.T.E.P.P.) program for fourth and fifth graders. Child safety officers will distribute Use, You Lose stickers to all 4th and 5th grade students when they instruct students about the program.

The 5th grade curriculum focuses on drug awareness. Students at several elementary schools will be provided with a T-shirt with the S.T.E.P.P. logo on the front and Use, You Lose logo on the back when they complete the program. SAFE is seeking additional funding to expand the T-shirt distribution to all elementary schools. ¤

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Index: Heroin Use in Suburbs - A Growing Problem?; Drug Court Update; Kmart Kids Race; "Student vs. Marijuana"; Parenting Wisely

Law enforcement authorities and drug abuse professionals nationwide and locally are expressing alarm at recent indications of increasing heroin use. There is an emerging consensus that the perceived increase is real and poses a significant threat to users and communities alike. In particular, evidence suggests that the problem is fueled by increased use among teenagers and young adults, especially in suburban localities. Here is what parents, public officials and current and potential heroin users need to know.

National Data

Last year 1.5% of high school seniors used heroin at least once, compared to 1.1% the previous year (source: the national Monitoring the Future study, which has systematically tracked teen drug use since 1975). While the percentage of users seems relatively small, the increase over the previous year is substantial, and last year's rate is higher than any previous year.

Furthermore, heroin overdoses for all ages increased last year nationwide (source: the national Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) which monitors drug overdose data in 21 major metropolitan areas).

Local Indicators

If we extrapolate the Monitoring the Future results locally, we can estimate that 60 or more county high school seniors have used heroin in the past year. Assuming that some, but fewer, younger students have also used, a conservative estimate would be that at least 100 county students used heroin last year.

Most alarmingly, heroin overdoses for all ages locally have increased dramatically, often with fatal consequences. In 2000, Chesterfield police recorded 31 drug overdoses, 26 attributed to heroin. The previous year there were only 21 overdoses (we don't know how many of this 21 can be attributed to heroin since the data was not tracked that specifically until 2000). A conservative estimate is that heroin overdoses increased by at least 40%. Tragically, 11 of this year's overdoses were fatal, compared to 4 overdose deaths the previous year. Heroin was responsible in 4 of the deaths, and is believed to be the contributing factor in the other 7.

Among last year's 26 heroin overdoses, 8 victims were 20 or 21 years old and 10 others were in their mid- to late 20s. Of the 11 fatalities, 3 were 20 or 21 and 5 were mid- to late 20s. The 26 overdoses were predominantly male (23 individuals) and white (23).

Heroin Availability & Purity

It is clear that heroin is now plentiful enough and cheap enough in East Coast metropolitan areas that it is readily available to young people, including teenagers, who seek it out. Some years ago heroin was combined with or "cut" with other substances to yield a drug with maybe 30% purity. Today, street heroin is often very pure, even in the 90% range or higher. In fact, heroin is now pure enough that users can get high by smoking or snorting the powder instead of injecting it. It is likely that most of the recent increased use among young people and in suburban areas is due to the availability of this more pure, "snortable" form. The danger, of course, is that users quickly build up tolerance and need to "graduate" to injecting heroin to achieve the same effects.

Community Response

Local Chiefs of Police recently collaborated to alert the media to the seriousness of this emerging problem. The Chesterfield Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse and the Chesterfield Police Department are collaborating to monitor local trends and serve as a clearinghouse for accurate information. Steps are being taken to warn heroin users of the increased risk of overdose and death due to the high purity of heroin and to urge them to seek treatment. Through a new Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Drug Court, non-violent offenders who have heroin or other drug addictions can be ordered into an intensive, highly structured treatment program. And treatment services for the public are available on a priority basis for anyone with a heroin problem.

Most importantly, parents should recognize that heroin can not be thought of as an inner-city, poverty-related drug. Middle income, suburban neighborhoods and young people are affected now more than ever before. Most kids will not use heroin, but many will, and those who do are putting themselves at high risk. Treatment is often effective. If you know or suspect a family member is a heroin user, please seek help.

The Chesterfield Drug Court began operation in September and has been very successful so far. As of January 2001, 30 persons were in treatment. They have been actively invested in the treatment process. By May there should be 50 participants. Additional funds to expand program staff should be available from the General Assembly in July. The Drug Court will have a capacity of 60-65 persons at any one time.

Several participants have already "graduated" to the second, less intensive phase of treatment due to their success in staying drug free so far. Only a couple of participants have had to leave the program for noncompliance with program requirements.

Drug Court is held each Wednesday at 8 a.m. in Circuit Courtroom #4. The session lasts from an hour to ninety minutes. Visitors are welcome.

SAFE participated in its third successful Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs at the Kmart at Hull Street and Genito Roads. Nearly 650 children participated in the race, generating $3,400 for SAFE from the Kmart Family Foundation. Fifty-seven youth and adult volunteers provided at total of 357 hours of service at the event. Unfortunately, the Kmart Corporation is discontinuing this special event. SAFE is proud to have generated the greatest number of participants in the Richmond area at the Kmart site it has partnered with all three years.

"Student vs. marijuana"

A team of four high school students from three Chesterfield County high schools developed a real-life drama to educate their peers about the consequences of drug use. They contacted persons from the school system and the county to develop a dramatization of what occurs when a student is found with marijuana on school property.

The drama begins with the discovery of marijuana on a student and his arrest by the school officer; the second scene highlights the school disciplinary process, including expulsion; the final scene demonstrates the juvenile court process. The actors played their real-life roles, including the juvenile court
judge, Commonwealth's attorney, defense attorney, vice principal, school resource officer, and coordinator of student conduct.

The dramatization was presented at Meadowbrook, Manchester, Bird and Clover Hill High Schools.

A follow-up quiz demonstrated that the dramatization was an effective learning tool. Students' answers showed that they learned the consequences for possessing drugs at school.

Effective parenting is a critical component in preventing youth alcohol and drug use, but parenting an adolescent isn't easy. Most parents admit they could use some assistance.

Now a new resource is available that helps parents deal with the challenges of raising adolescents. Parenting Wisely is a computer-based program that parents use at their convenience and at their own pace. The program presents nine typical problems facing parents, such as getting your child to do chores, to turn down loud music, to do homework, or to stop fighting with siblings. A short video dramatizes the problem. The user then chooses one of three possible responses to the problem. The video resumes, playing out the user's choice and demonstrating whether or not it solves the problem. The program then gives feedback on why one solution is better than another.

Parenting Wisely has received national recognition for its effectiveness. More importantly, parents like it, finding it easy to use, practical and helpful.

Parenting Wisely is available at all Chesterfield County libraries (except LaPrade and Chester until their new libraries are ready). A parent simply goes to the reference desk and asks to use the program. They don't have to be familiar with a computer to use it. A free workbook is available when the parent completes the program.

SAFE has supported Parenting Wisely by providing funds for printing a brochure and poster about the program.

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For the second year, SAFE mailed a letter to the parents of all high school seniors reminding them that graduation parties should be alcohol-free celebrations. The letter also provided suggestions for parents whose teens attend a "beach week" to help ensure the safety of their teen.

Finally, parents were encouraged to talk with their child about college drinking issues. A brochure titled "Parents, You're Not Done Yet . . . Have You Talked With Them About Drinking in College?" was enclosed with the letter. The brochure provides suggestions to parents for approaching the topic of college drinking with their child before they leave for college.

Many thanks to the Meadowbrook JROTC for labeling and stuffing the 3,400 envelopes that went to parents.

Chesterfield County is embarking on an exciting new venture to help reduce addiction-related crime in the County. In October, Chesterfield County and the City of Colonial Heights will begin an adult drug court.

Why drug courts?
Drug courts have been proven to be a very effective approach to reduce crime caused by non-violent drug addicts. Drug addicts tend to have high rates of recidivism because their addictions fuel their crimes. The major premise of drug courts is that if addicted offenders are able to conquer their addictions, they will not need to commit further crimes.

The first drug court began in Miami in 1989. Roanoke established the first Virginia drug court in 1995.

Drug courts have an excellent track record. Approximately 70% of participants graduate from drug court. The recidivism rates of drug court graduates are half, and often less than half, the recidivism rates of addicted offenders who have not graduated from drug court.

Drug courts are also cost effective. Incarceration costs $37/day, while drug court only costs $10.95/day.

Who is eligible?
Eligibility in the Chesterfield drug court is limited to non-violent drug addicts. They are not first-time offenders (there are existing programs for these offenders), but typically may have a series of minor offenses related to their addiction. Only offenders charged with possession or attempted possession of a Schedule I or II drug (such as heroin, LSD, cocaine) or prescription fraud or forgery will be accepted during the first three months the drug court is in operation. Later, offenders whose crimes are related to their drug addiction (such as stealing or forgery to support a drug habit) may be referred to drug court.

Drug distributors are ineligible for drug court. Offenders with prior convictions for violent offenses, sex offenses or more than three prior felony convictions are also ineligible.

What is the process?
Eligible offenders are offered the opportunity to participate in drug court. The point of arrest presents a "teachable moment," providing the addict a choice between incarceration or drug court and treatment. Defendants have 30 days from the time of arrest to enter drug court. They must surrender their right to a jury trial and plead guilty.

The defendant signs a plea agreement before their entry to drug court and sentencing is deferred. Defendants who successfully complete the program have their charge dismissed. If they do not complete the program, their sentence will be imposed (a minimum of six months in jail). The Drug Court Judge hears all violations and determines the sentences.

Clients remain in drug court a minimum of 12 months. Clients appear frequently in court (once a week during the initial phase). They receive frequent drug testing and are required to participate in a specified program of treatment. Non-compliant behavior is immediately sanctioned. For example, a failed drug test or failure to appear for a treatment session or for drug court may result in a weekend in jail. The ongoing judicial interaction and supervision increases the likelihood of participant sobriety.

Offenders fail drug court if they are noncompliant four times (four strikes and you're out). They are then convicted and sentenced to jail.

Drug court is an interagency, collaborative effort. The Chesterfield County/Colonial Heights drug court team involves the drug court judge, a prosecutor, defense attorney, treatment provider (through the Chesterfield Community Services Board), Community Corrections case manager, police officer and administrator.

SAFE is a collaborative community initiative governed by a Board of Directors representing its supporting organizations: the Chesterfield Drug and Alcohol Abuse Task Force, Chesterfield Alliance for Drug Rehabilitation and Education (CADRE), Chesterfield County Youth Services, and the SAFE Resource Committee. For additional information about SAFE, call (804) 796-7100.

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Index: Educating Parents; Educating Students; Special Events; Use, You Lose - a Family Tragedy

Educating Parents

One of SAFE's objectives is to educate parents about alcohol and other drugs. SAFE is committed to finding better ways to reach parents with pertinent information.

Last fall, with the support of the middle and high school principals, SAFE began contributing short articles to the newsletters sent to parents from each middle and high school. The articles contain information about alcohol and other drugs and encourage parents to talk with their children about the topics covered.

Providing schools with drug and alcohol news reaches a wide audience of parents with important and useful information. Topics covered to date have included inhalants, marijuana, cocaine and heroin.

SAFE appreciates the cooperation of school newsletter editors in publishing this information.

Educating Students

Youth hear many messages through the media that may make alcohol and drug use seem attractive. SAFE sponsored "Chances and Choices," a powerful big-screen multimedia presentation, at assemblies in nine middle and high schools this fall that challenged these messages.

SAFE arranged for "Chances and Choices" to be shown in Chesterfield. It utilizes clips from contemporary movies, popular music, sports and comments from peers to address critical decisions facing youth. It stresses the importance of making positive choices, including avoiding alcohol and other drug use.

SAFE covered half the cost of "Chances or Choices" for the participating schools.

Feedback from youth and school administrators about the program has been very positive.

Special Events

Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs

SAFE participated in the Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs October 30-31 at the Victorian Square Kmart on Hull Street. This was the second year SAFE and this Kmart store partnered for the Kids Race.

Children ages 7-12 drove miniature race cars around an obstacle course set up in the Kmart parking lot. Each racer received a T-shirt, hat and educational literature.
After finishing the race, each child read aloud and signed a pledge to stay drug-free.

750 children participated in the race. SAFE received $5 from the Kmart Foundation for each child who participated, thus raising $3,750 for SAFE activities.

Youth from the Meadowbrook JROTC and a number of other schools in Chesterfield, as well as numerous adult volunteers, assisted with the race.

New Year's Eve Celebration at Chesterfield Towne Center

SAFE provided volunteer support for an alcohol-free family New Year's Eve Celebration at Chesterfield Towne Center. The Towne Center sponsored a wonderful evening of entertainment and activities for families with children. The event, which ran from 7-10 p.m., was free.

Twenty-six youth and adult volunteers gave up part of their New Year's Eve to assist with this event. They spun cotton candy, filled bags with popcorn, handed out soft drinks, and monitored spin art, laser tag, basketball tosses, a moon walk, karaoke and more.

SAFE volunteers also provided a packet of alcohol and drug literature to parents as they left the event.

Chesterfield Towne Center donated $2,500 to SAFE for assisting with this event.

Use, You Lose

Use, You Lose signs were installed in the back of all 500 Chesterfield County school buses prior to the beginning of the school year. School parking privileges continue to be revoked for alcohol/drug violations. The elementary and middle school components of the Use, You Lose program are being developed.

It is important to remember that Use, You Lose is more than a slogan or penalties imposed by the schools or courts. It refers to the reality that alcohol and drug use has significant negative consequences on the user and his or her family and friends.

Those who have experienced the havoc and suffering alcohol or drug use can cause bring a special passion to prevention efforts. Mr. Chris Lewis, a member of the SAFE Resource Committee, shared the tragic story of his brother-in-law's alcohol and drug addiction with members of the Resource Committee at their annual meeting last summer. With Mr. Lewis' permission, a summary of that story follows:

They were the average educated upper middle class American family. The father was a dentist, the mother a homemaker for their six children. The family was close, eating meals together regularly, camping and sailing together.

Ed was the oldest child-intelligent, creative, articulate and incredibly active, with an insatiable appetite for adventure. As a youngster, he was kind and gentle with his siblings.

In school, however, Ed was different. He was seen as stupid, disruptive and undisciplined and labeled as difficult. Teachers found him hard to teach and didn't take time with him.

In middle school, Ed cut classes to rob houses and would sell what he stole for cash to buy cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. He received counseling to no avail. By the time he was in high school, he was an alcoholic. For detox purposes, his parents sent him to a school located on a ship that sailed around the world. Ed excelled academically, but even in the middle of the ocean, he managed to find access to alcohol and drugs. He left the boat at the end of his junior year, but his low self-esteem and attitude hadn't changed. His senior year at a Chesterfield high school was a disaster, full of alcohol and drug use.

Ed was accepted at Ferrum College, but he was expelled his first year for dealing drugs on and off campus.

Ed came home from college to live. When drunk, he was very violent and mean. It was a tumultuous time for the family. Many nights he would come home drunk and pass out on the sofa. Or he wouldn't come home at all. One night, high on alcohol and drugs, he tried to strangle his mother. His father and two brothers had to knock him out before they could get him to release her.

Ed was told to leave the house and not return. He robbed his own home twice that summer and was arrested many times over the next years. No one knew where he lived or what he did.

In his late 20's, he tried to clean himself up. He moved in with his grandmother, found a girlfriend, and attended and graduated from James Madison University. He wanted to go to law school, but was rejected. His drug use had robbed him of his ability to articulate well.

After college, he married; they had a child. But Ed was never employed for any length of time and his problems with alcohol and drugs continued. After several years of marriage, his wife left him and moved to her parents' home. Ed got drunk and high, took his gun, and shot at the house. He was arrested and the court sent him to rehab.

During his rehab, Ed was diagnosed with depression, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia and other learning disabilities.

After 26 years of addiction, Ed found life without drugs very difficult. Facing the reality of what he'd done to so many people was both humbling and humiliating. He attended church, accepted God and tried to be a good citizen.

Ed managed to stay clean for about 6 months, then started using heroin again. He said it calmed him. He begged, borrowed and stole to support his habit. He cleaned out his wife's bank account, then disappeared for two weeks. On July 4, 1998, he was found dead-a suicide.

A family lost a son and brother. A wife lost a husband. A daughter lost her father. Ed lost himself to drugs and alcohol for 28 years. When you use, you lose. And all those around you lose too.

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