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Drug use, bullying are major issues
Source:
Butler Eagle
Written by:
Ed Biller
Published:
April 14, 2010
ZELIENOPLE — A public meeting sought resident input on issues affecting youth in southwestern Butler County, including substance abuse, mental and physical health, and parenting.
The forum on Friday night, co-sponsored by the Butler County Department of Human Services and the Butler Drug and Alcohol Program, focused on ways to help improve the lives of toddlers through teens in Jackson Township, Zelienople, Harmony and Evans City.
"This is the beginning stage of trying to address these issues. The government sector of human services can't do it all so we are looking to partner with the communities," said Denina Bautti-Cascio, a consultant for the county Department of Human Services.
"We're really excited to have youth, faith-based initiatives and schools who actually represent the community as part of our panel."
Two students, a 35-year veteran police officer, a doctor and two administrators from the Seneca Valley School District discussed the issues with the 25 people at the Strand Theater.
Substance abuse
While alcohol and marijuana use continue, prescription pill abuse and heroin use are rising concerns with youth, panel members said.
"I had never heard of heroin in this community until about eight years ago," said Charles Carson, an officer with the Zelienople police.
"But now, we (respond to) seven or eight heroin incidents a week in a community of only about 4,000 people. And it's not just the heroin; the crime that results from it is a serious issue."
Dr. Jeffry Wahl, who has practiced family medicine in Harmony for more than 20 years, said painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are easy to abuse, but the drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder, like Adderall and Ritalin, are increasingly popular.
"People ask for them all the time now. It's frustrating for me as a physician. People come in with a sore throat and want Vicodin," Wahl said.
"Heroin is readily available and cheap," he said, "but what's cheaper than rummaging through your parents' medicine cabinet?"
Alex Taylor, an eighth grader at Seneca Valley Middle School, said alcohol use is popular in school because it's easy to find in students' homes and some parents simply don't notice or care that their children are drinking.
"Walking through the halls, you hear a lot of students talking about smoking marijuana or drinking on the weekend," said panel member Julia Belechak, a Seneca Valley High School sophomore.
Carlson said not many high school students are arrested for drug abuse, but many arrests involve recently graduated students, and they always say their addictions started with marijuana and alcohol.
Ashley Klamer, a probation officer in the school district, said marijuana and prescription pills are likely the two biggest problems.
"The kids nowadays, it's all about their peer interactions, what their friends think is cool," she said.
Physical, mental health
Mental and emotional bullying, not physical, was the focus of a discussion about mental health.
Bautti-Cascio said that topic is particularly timely because the area recently has had several teen suicides, a warning sign of mental health issues in the youth community.
"I think the biggest threat facing our children's mental health is bullying, which leads to social anxiety and depression," Wahl said.
"Cyber bullying is a big issue we have to face. It takes bullying beyond the schools."
Belechak said because physical bullying can be easily captured on the school district's numerous cameras, cruel words and head games are bullies' weapons of choice.
"It reflects society as a whole," Carlson said. "Society is, in general, meaner than it used to be, it seems."
Panelist Sean McCarty, principal at Seneca Valley Middle School, said computer technologies such as text messaging and social networking Web sites create an anonymous "faceless courage," giving youth the confidence to say horrible things they might not realize will be online for a long time.
Amy George, owner of George Financial, extended that blame to all digital media.
"The murder, rape and mayhem that passes for entertainment has us losing track of our humanity," she said.
"My children are 22 and 24 years old, and I'm embarrassed to watch TV with them because of the things that are done and said."
Panelist Reid Moon, pastor of the Church of Christ in Zelienople and a bus driver for the school district, said insecurity and self-doubt run rampant in youth, waiting to be exploited.
"If you want to quiet a busload of kids, talk about self-loathing. A lot of our kids hate themselves," Moon said.
Matthew McKinley, assistant superintendent with the Seneca Valley School District, said the school attempts to create an atmosphere in which students feel comfortable coming to adults with their problems.
He and McCarty, though, accept the truth that most youth simply don't want to talk to adults.
"Kids may not want to talk to adults all the time, but they talk to their friends," McCarty said. "It's our job to educate these children on what to do if a friend approaches them about abuse."
Belechak and Taylor agreed that text messaging is the most common, brutal form of bullying.
Parental influence
In a night filled with many negative topics, organizers also wanted to accentuate ways to be a positive influence, as well as solutions to the problems.
Wahl offered an explanation for the drug use and bullying as well as a concise solution.
"Kids get bored. Even with sports, you're only involved a few months a year," he said.
"If you're going to be a parent, you must be a parent, not a buddy."
That statement drew applause from the room.
"There's no better way to know what kind of person your child is than to know their friends," George said.
"It's our responsibility to be a part of our kids' lives. Not just to tell them what we expect, but to be there with them to show them."
McCarty said expressing an interest in children's lives starts a conversation, which in itself is a positive thing.
Moon also pointed to social media as a tool that isolates individuals in the same way it draws them together.
"You are in a building with 1,200 other students, but how many of them do you actually know? How do you feel that personal connection to the community?" he asked.
Wahl wrapped up the presentation by saying parents should include children other than their own in family activities and conversations, echoing McCarty's point that encouragement and a kind word go a long way.
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