MEETING SET TO DISCUSS DRUG-USE SYMPTOMS

If school-age children want to use illegal drugs as marijuana, crack cocaine or methamphetamine, they can probably find a source, police say.

"They may have to seek out some contacts, but those drugs are out there," said Patrolman Ike Hammonds, a community service officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department. "If they network, they can get them."

Most parents are surprised at how accessible illegal drugs are for children, said Jim Watkins, community coordinator for Safe-Drug Free Schools.

He has organized an informational meeting on Saturday for parents, teachers, community members and others who work with youth.

The meeting is to inform people of the problems of substance abuse and violence in the area and develop ways to deal with such problems. There will be speakers from the city police department, Cape County Juvenile Office and Community 2000.

"If we're not on top of these problems, if we are not aware they exist, we can't counteract all the messages out there that's it OK to abuse drugs," Watkins said. "Remaining unaware just leads to bigger problems."

"Drugs are prevalent in our society, in the United States, in Missouri, in the city of Cape," said Hammonds, who teaches the GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program in local schools.

However, in the last few years he's seen changes in younger students who are not as likely to see drugs as "cool."

"You can see the effects of the many prevention classes," Hammonds said, referring to school programs like DARE that emphasize the dangers of substance abuse.

While illegal drugs are around and a problem, Hammonds said he doesn't think children are under as much peer pressure to do drugs as they were in the mid-1990s.

"Kids today are blasted with the anti-drug, anti-alcohol message from an early age," he said. "It's been ingrained in them that that's not what they want to do."

With such messages making a positive difference, Hammonds said now is not the time to let up on these efforts.

Watkins said he would like to see those at Saturday's meeting express interest in setting up school teams like the ASAP (Alcohol Substance Abuse Prevention) teams that were prevalent in area schools several years ago.

He thinks such teams could serve as parent awareness and support groups.

"Parents have a responsibility to and can make the most impact on their own children," Watkins said.

But parents may need help recognizing the symptoms of substance abuse, knowing what to do if they suspect it and, perhaps most importantly, developing good parenting skills that can reduce the likelihood their children will become involved in drugs and violence.

An area of discussion at the meeting will be the importance of family involvement and parenting, Watkins said.

"The thing you can never do enough of is listen," Watkins said, noting how important open communications are in learning what is going on in your children's lives.

Also important is getting to know your children's friends and their parents.

Parents should also be willing to intrude into their children's lives and rooms at times, Hammonds said.

"Many parents say they would never go into their children's room because it would be an invasion of privacy," Hammonds said, "but it's not a matter of trust but of unconditional love to get to the root of what may be causing problems."

Such knowledge and skills are needed to prevent or deal with children becoming involved in violence and substance abuse, both of which can destroy their lives, Watkins said.

But to deal with such problems, parents must be aware of the symptoms, Watkins said. These include children isolating themselves from other family members; changes in their friends, habits, dress or grades; becoming more combative.

MEETING INFORMATION

what: A free informational meeting about the problems of substance abuse and violence among youth for parents, teachers, community members and others who work with youth.

When: 8 to noon Saturday

Where: St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1913 Ritter

Meeting Saturday to discuss symptoms of drug use