to monitor children
Prosecutor urges parents
to know signs of drug use
Suggestion also issued
to monitor children’s
Internet surfing
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — The importance of parenting and the power of a parent as a role model in the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse were topics at a recent presentation in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District.
The event was called "Parenting for Prevention." More than 100 parents attended the event at the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School, Millhurst Road.
"The problem has become epidemic in this country," said Robert Weiner, assistant superintendent of curriculum. "It diminishes the quality of life of these kids as they grow through the years."
Addressing the audience, guest speaker Terrence P. Farley, first assistant prosecutor in Ocean County, said, "The illegal drug problem (alone) in the United States costs this country in excess of $160 billion a year. Imagine if that were a tax return, what all of you could share in. Or, imagine if we gave $80 billion back to states for new schools, new buildings, new teachers."
Farley said the costs are an enormous drain on society, while around the world organized crime takes in an estimated $1.6 trillion per year.
"One of the things that you have available to you is also one of the most devastating problems that you face," said Farley. "It is the greatest invention of all times, the computer and the Internet."
Farley said if every police officer in Monmouth County and Ocean County were placed on Internet squads, and each officer worked seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year, they would not make a dent in the crime that comes over the Internet.
"Much of which is addressed to your children," said Farley. "As a parent, under no circumstances should your computer at home be in a private place. That is, the computer that your child has access to."
Computers should be in the family room, in a hallway, an all-purpose room or a kitchen, the assistant prosecutor said. It should be in a place where an adult can walk by at any time.
"You certainly don’t want your children in a chat room," said Farley. "As good a product as this is, it’s just that dangerous."
Looking at societal problems, Farley focused on spousal abuse.
"Fifty percent of all spousal abuse, whether it is the husband directed toward the wife or the wife directed toward the husband, are alcohol- or illegal drug-related." noted the assistant prosecutor. "For years and years, over 50 percent of motor vehicle fatalities were alcohol- or drug-related."
Farley said groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and the Adolescent Drug and Prevention Team (ADAPT) have done a terrific job, but he
noted that they have only been able to get the number of people who have died in vehicular accidents due to alcohol and drug abuse down to about 38 percent nationally.
"More than 40 percent of child abuse (cases) are directly related to someone who is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs," said the assistant prosecutor.
Added to those statistics were figures for rape, date rape and acquaintance rape, and drugs which are associated with those crimes; and so-called body building drugs which made false claims.
Additionally, Farley said this is a generation of multi-drug users.
"Almost no one who takes drugs today takes only one," he said, explaining that years ago people would stick to one drug or another.
But today it’s not unusual, particularly for young teenagers who go to parties and teen night clubs, to find a supermarket of eight, 10 or 12 different drugs, he told the audience.
"Everything from nitrous oxide in balloons at rock concerts up to heroin," said Farley. "Kids are mixing these products willy-nilly and that’s why we see deaths."
The assistant prosecutor said Ocean County has seen a doubling of the highest number of overdoses in the history of the county in one year. This was primarily due to the quality of heroin coming into this state, he said.
Farley explained that most deaths occurred when two or more drugs were used simultaneously.
"Kids today are being inundated, not just on the Internet, but they are being told by drug dealers that there are safe new drugs," said the assistant prosecutor. "The probability is that if you start out drinking alcohol as a child or smoking marijuana you’re going to do something else."
The assistant prosecutor suggested that parents stay informed by reading newspapers, magazines and other publications because the information they need "won’t be found on the three-minute blurbs on television."
He reiterated, "Read the newspapers. You’ll know there is absolutely no difference in the use of drugs in the suburbs than there are in the inner cities."
Every recent study points to parents as the only people who will be able to stop a child from involvement in drugs, Farley explained.
"Because your kids look up to you more than anybody else," he said. "No matter what they say."
Farley offered several suggestions: Sit down as a family at least once a week for dinner without television, radio, computers or any outside influences; Set rules that are reasonable and have reasonable punishments; Let children know how you feel about drugs and alcohol; Make it clear to your children that you have access to their room at all times, and that includes locks on the door; Privacy is privacy, but locks are not part of that; Tell them you may randomly go through their drawers or closets; Parents should be aware of spray cans or aerosol cans found under beds, in the backyard, or in the woods near the house.
The assistant prosecutor also noted that arrests for certain drug-related crimes may have other effects on individuals later on, including loss of federal scholarships; missed job opportunities; decreasing one’s chance to obtain federally subsidized housing; and commercial driver license rejection; to name only a few.
Other topics covered included alcohol and its effects on driving; binge drinking; effects of alcohol on the body; blood alcohol levels; violence and alcohol; drinking and boating accidents; and liquor liability laws.
Parents were asked to sign a pamphlet, Safe Homes Network.
"The concept here was to make this a model community in its efforts to attack the problem of substance abuse amongst our students," said Weiner. "You will be signing a pledge that indicates your support of the points made in the pamphlet."
Weiner explained that parents will know that their child, when they go to the home of someone who has also signed the form, and is on the list, is visiting a safe home. He said it is hoped that the number of parents will grow and the network of parents will increase.
Also in attendance were members of the student assistance committee; student members of the ADAPT program; Dion Smith, student assistance counselor, Manalapan High School; Manalapan patrolmen Gerald Bruno and Eric Schmidt of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program; and Maureen Lally, superintendent of schools.
"What we hope when all is said and done is that we can perhaps save one life and perhaps improve the quality of many people’s lives," said Weiner.