CONFERENCE WILL HIGHLIGHT ANTI-DRUG RALLY

An anti-drug rally Thursday will crown the first of a two-day event the sixth annual Healthy Lifestyles Conference on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The free rally is slated for 6:30-10:30 p.m. in the Show Me Center and open to the public. The event is expected to draw between 500 and 1,000 participants.

Edward Leoni, Southeast associate professor of health and leisure and conference director, said the goal of the rally is to "raise the consciousness" of area residents to the prevalence of drug abuse in rural America, including Cape Girardeau.

"It's also going to be an entertaining event and a place where people won't be using drugs," Leoni said. "We want to show the community what's available if they get involved and get their families involved that we can push the issue of drug use into non-existence."

Abbie Crites, co-coordinator of the conference, said the rally is an opportunity for people to "make a stand on the issue of drugs in their lives and in general.

"It's an opportunity for them to stand up and say, `I prefer a drug-free lifestyle, and because I support this type of activity, I'm going to participate.'

"It's a time to say, `Yes, we do have zero tolerance, and this is what it's all about.'"

Leoni said the rally also will promote anti-drug and drug-prevention programs in the area.

Participants in the rally will be invited to sign a "living scroll" acknowledging that "they are fed up with the issues associated with drug use," Leoni said. The scroll will be displayed later at West Park Mall.

Motivational speaker Ken Davis will present the keynote address. Davis uses comedy to inform people about substance abuse. Also, country and western singer Paul Richey, a recovering alcoholic, will perform.

The rally will feature several dignitaries and speakers, including state Sen. Peter Kinder, state Rep. Mary Kasten, Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. and KFVS-TV health reporter Anne Doyle.

In addition, Carl Eller, a former football player and founder of the U.S. Athletes Association a national network of students organized to promote drug-free living will speak.

Crites said many other activities also are scheduled in the Student Recreation Center, including an obstacle course, climbing wall, baseball throwing contest, dance lines and step shows.

Area students will submit "anti-drug" posters and banners, which will be displayed during the rally and judged.

The rally is part of the Healthy Lifestyles Conference Thursday and Friday. The theme of the conference is "Networking in Rural America: Strategies to Reduce Substance Abuse Among High Risk Youth."

The conference is targeted at health and lifestyle professionals, but also will include many people who simply share an interest in the topics that will be addressed. The cost of the conference is $25.

Leoni said the conference is funded with a $50,000 federal grant from the Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services.

"The office of substance abuse prevention has funded us because we've gone out on a limb and said, `Yes, there is a problem with drug abuse in small-town America,'" Leoni said. "They've sort of taken an attitude of, `We can pay you now or pay you later.'"

Leoni explained that if drug-prevention programs are successful they save taxpayers the costs of drug enforcement, prosecution, incarceration and treatment.

"If we can make an impact now, we won't be taking from the entire community down the line," he said.

Leoni said the conference will include seminars on topics other than drug abuse.

"Anybody wanting to improve their own health can attend the conference," he said. "I'll be very excited to see the reaction of the people of Cape Girardeau to the caliber of speakers we have and the variety. It's going to be outstanding."

"I'm really excited," added Crites. "The verbal response has been tremendous. The only question now is whether they will come out and respond physically."

The conference will feature a lineup of notable national speakers, including Carla Wills-Brandon, an expert on co-dependency, eating disorders, alcoholism and other addictions; Lloyd Johnston, who will talk about ways to make drug-free schools and communities a reality; and Shirley Armstead, an officer with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

For more information about the anti-drug rally and the healthy lifestyles conference, call (314) 651-2197.