224 CONNECTION Group to discuss drug, alcohol issues

Experts will be on hand to speak with parents.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Parents in Boardman, Poland and Canfield will get a lesson on drug and alcohol issues, as well as some needed information on Internet safety.
The 224 Connection -- a group made up of Boardman, Poland and Canfield public and parochial schools, police departments and public officials -- is inviting community members to a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Boardman High School, to address substance abuse and Internet and safety issues.
Experts from the Ohio Attorney General's office and other organizations will address both topics.
Beyond statistics
Jennifer Gray, Boardman juvenile diversion officer, said the 224 Connection group is determined to give parents more than statistics and clich & eacute;s to address problems with drug use in young people.
"We are not going to give [parents] blanket statistics from a national database," she said. "We want to give them the most up-to-date, honest information we can regarding issues in this community."
A panel of experts will be available to answer any questions from parents. Gray said children can attend with their parents, but the information will be geared toward parents. St. James Episcopal Church on Glenwood will offer free baby-sitting for the event.
According to Gray, an example of the problems with alcohol can be seen in what many teens call "pregaming" -- where teenagers gather to drink and party before a sports game or social event. She said the party will often continue after the event.
"A lot of the drinking that goes on with these kids is in one of two places, at an underage party or in an automobile while they're driving around. That is certainly a danger to everyone," she said.
Parents, Gray said, must understand the serious threat posed by underage alcohol consumption. She said many teen drinkers progress to other substances such as marijuana, cocaine or prescription drugs. Many, she said, will "drug seek," using whatever substance is available.
Internet safety
There will also be discussions about Internet safety.
Gray said the program will offer solutions to parents who are dealing with drug, alcohol or Internet safety issues, and inform parents how to ward off any potential problems. Representatives of various organizations that deal with young people will be in attendance.
Parents with children who seem perfectly fine might still want to attend, said Gray.
"Every child is exposed to the things that we are going to talk about. You hope your child makes the right decision, but they are kids. Parents need this information, so if a child makes the wrong choice, [parents] can recognize the signs," she said.
Those signs, Gray said, include drastic changes in behavior such as mood swings, new friends, isolation and unexplained money or missing money.
If the behavior "makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you'd better talk to someone because something's going on," she said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com