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Columbiana Co. takes aim at drugs, alcohol
One official said parents don’t want to be parents.
SALEM — Columbiana County authorities are frustrated by rising alcohol and drug use, but aren’t sure how to stop the problem.
A survey of seventh- and 10th-grade county pupils showed that 22 percent had been drunk in the past two weeks, according to Michele DeCola, who works at the Family Recovery Center is Lisbon.
DeCola was one of the speakers Wednesday evening at the Oxford House in Salem, where people from different fields discussed the problem.
The survey also showed that 18 percent had ridden three times with a driver who was drunk, DeCola said.
Also, a survey of 6,300 youths about the top commercials at the Super Bowl showed that the top six were all alcohol-related.
“This is a major problem that is affecting our community,” said Dr. John Dawson of Salem Community Hospital. “There is no doubt that alcohol makes more innocents suffer that any other drug.”
In one case, a woman came to the Salem hospital after husband “sliced her up with a piece of glass.”
The bad news, he added, is “our society does nothing about it.”
The county had 46 drug-related deaths in 2006 while only one local serviceman died while fighting in Iraq, he said.
The medical community considers heavy drinking as more than two drinks a day, but Dawson said that many people drink a 12-pack or case of beer a day.
He was also pessimistic about rehabilitation programs, saying that few people truly want to be in them.
Salem Policeman Brad Gallo, one of two officers in the department’s juvenile diversion program, said the most difficult part is that parents fail to follow through on recommendations.
“It’s not money,” Gallo said. “It’s just laziness and ‘I don’t care.’ The kid is 10 or 11, and got drunk.”
He added, “I don’t know if it’s an epidemic, but we do need help.”
Other problems are broken homes and parents who also abused drugs and alcohol when they were young.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Craig Monte works with local high schools. He also works with the county sheriff’s office on the STOPPED program. Parents can put a sticker on a car that allows officials to stop it, which may show youths are not where they are supposed to be.
Scott Washam, magistrate at the county’s juvenile court, said, “I see parents who don’t want to be parents. They are afraid of their kids and of laying down the law.”
The magistrate said that when he sees youths in court who are not listening, “there’s not much I can say that will make people change.”
The information will be part of a program from 7:45 to 10 a.m. April 25 at the Dutch Haus in Columbiana sponsored by the recovery center and the county Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.
Officials hope to find ways to reduce drinking and drug abuse.
wilkinson@vindy.com