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Butler County's great daily newspaper

Fighting drugs, state

Pennsylvania wants only “the best” in drug prevention for families. Yet its best and only parent and child prevention program:

- Is 30 years old.

- Doesn’t talk about drug trends.

- Requires attendance for seven weeks.

- Reaches just 15 families in only 12 locations statewide.

- Costs an average of $2,000 per person.

- Has difficulty attracting 15 families.

- Spends the first 30 minutes eating a meal.

- Isn’t coming to Butler County any time soon.

Has it been effective? The legacy is that Pennsylvania has the highest overdose rate for young males in the nation.

The state clearly doesn’t want citizens to get involved. None of the state critics, who dismiss Reality Tour’s research, has ever attended the program. Yet their “scientific” minds have clairvoyantly branded it as scare tactics. They are not curious as to why parents seek out this program and why it is replicated in seven states and Canada.

The grassroots Reality Tour does break Pennsylvania rules — it talks about the consequences and teaches simple family coping skills.

Staffed mainly by volunteers, it has reached more than 35,000 Pennsylvania residents and was found to be effective via research by the University of Pittsburgh in 2007. In 2008 a federal researcher was engaged for further program development. From 2007 to 2015 that research was accepted by the state.

Newly imposed standards at the federal level now require more research.

To maintain status, Reality Tour has study people who never attended the program. It is a costly endeavor and whether or not we can attract the resources, Reality Tour will strive to serve families with the education they need for today’s environment.

Butler County District Attorney Rich Goldinger supports Reality Tour’s message in a letter urging public and private schools to advocate attendance, because all families are now at risk. Parents must be informed.

The Reality Tour on May 9 in Monarch Place will be presented in memory of Steven Saeler. Register online at www.RealityTour.org. Schools may call 724-679-1788 to arrange for a customized access plan.

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