HEALTHY LIFESTYLES CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE ANTI-DRUG THEME

A symposium scheduled for Cape Girardeau in April will focus on the efforts of rural communities to combat drugs and will feature an anti-drug rally at the Show Me Center.

Organizers of the 6th Annual Healthy Lifestyles Conference in Cape Girardeau anticipate this year's event will surpass any previous conference in attendance and quality.

Ed Leoni, director of the department of health and leisure at Southeast Missouri State University, said a large contingent of people from several agencies are working in concert to plan the conference, which this year will be funded with a $42,000 federal grant.

The conference, scheduled for April 15-16, is titled "Networking in Rural America: Strategies to Reduce Substance Abuse Among High Risk Youth."

Leoni said the rally will enable the public to become active in the fight against illegal drugs.

"It's an ugly issue, but it comes down to one question: Either you're for drugs or against them, and if you remain silent, you come down on the side favoring drugs," Leoni said.

He said the rally will be an opportunity for the public to learn about drugs and their permeation of society. But participants in the rally also will receive practical ways to fight illegal drugs locally.

"When you talk about zero tolerance, this gives the community the opportunity to do more than talk about it," Leoni said. "It's an opportunity to say either we're united as a community against this problem or we choose to ignore it and perpetuate the problem.

"When they get there, they'll learn a lot about how to be a part of the solution."

The rally will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 15 at the Show Me Center in conjunction with the appearance of one of the keynote speakers for the Healthy Lifestyles Conference.

Ken Davis, a motivational speaker from Arvada, Colo., will address the rally. He's given thousands of presentations in seven different countries and the United States, has appeared on TV talk shows and has entertained top U.S. corporations.

Also, local musician Paul Richey, who has written music for well-known national artists, will perform. Many other activities are planned.

Abbie Crites, a student in the health and leisure department, said participants in the rally will have an opportunity to sign a proclamation of "emancipation" from drugs.

She said the conference itself will appeal to a diverse audience.

"With the subject matter, we're reaching a wide spectrum of people, not just the care providers," Crites added. "This is our opportunity in Cape Girardeau to say we are against drugs and for a drug-free America."

Another student, Stacey Smith, said, "I think the most exciting aspect is the great magnitude of national speakers. At other conferences we've had maybe two, and we've got six national and two regional speakers. That's exciting."

The anti-drug rally is free and the fee for the two-day conference will be about $25. Leoni said the conference typically draws people from throughout the region, including Illinois and Kentucky.

The event will be funded with a grant from the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Leoni said the grant money for the conference was an unexpected surprise.

"Typically, they don't come to rural America," he said. "We're privileged to have them come. But we're not exempt from the reach of drugs just because we're rural."

Other speakers at the conference include Carla Wills-Brandon, an expert in the field of co-dependency, eating disorders, alcoholism and other addictions.

Carl Eller, a former football great with the Minnesota Vikings who played in four Super Bowls, will discuss "My Fifth Super Bowl," an account of his own experience with drug abuse.

Also, Lloyd Johnston will talk about ways to make drug-free schools and communities a reality, and Shirley Armstead, an officer with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, will discuss drugs and their effects.

Several other regional and local speakers also will participate in the conference. Crites said the conference will showcase exemplary regional, state and national anti-drug efforts.

Leoni said about 600 people attended the largest Healthy Lifestyles Conference a couple of years ago. He said the anti-drug focus of this year's event should draw even more people.