The River Reporter
December 5, 1985

The local drug scene

By TOM RUE
HONESDALE -- The Wayne County teenage "drug scene," including the abuse of alcohol, was the topic of a November 25 panel discussion in the Honesdale High School auditorium. The forum consisted of a half a dozen representatives of the local education, human services, and juvenile justice systems.

The lecture program, followed by questions and answers, was organized and promoted by the Honesdale Area Chemical People Task Force, chaired by Dianne Klein, Bills posted around the community advertised that "parents, teens, educators, clergy, and concerned citizens are urged to attend."

Dr. Alan Kohrt, a Honesdale pediatrician, described for parents a number of potential warning signs to watch for in adolescents, which could indicate a problem with marijuana or other drugs. According to Kohrt, these signs include prolonged and continual isolation from family (e.g., refusal to visit relatives, or go to church where this is the custom), and emotional problems which manifest themselves in such behaviors as lying, stealing, cutting school, and generally displaying an angry disposition.

Kohrt stated that physicians generally agree that marijuana is not physically addictive in the same sense as alcohol, nicotine, or even caffeine. But overuse of the drug can lead to psychological dependency and what he termed a "general loss of interest in life."

A high school student's perspective was presented by Christ Umstadter, president of the Honesdale High School class. Based on her experience and observations, Umstadter reported that while "there definitely is not a drug problem in this school," she does see alcohol problems among some of her peers.

Umstadter offered a few suggestions to parents of teenagers with drug or alcohol problems: keep the lines of communication open, let them know you care, and "get involved" by doing things together and sharing. She urged parents to "look behind" the addiction and offensive behaviors at the real person, and to let the child know about the concern.

Vice-principal Paul Edwards described the policies and values of the school administration with regard to substance use among teenagers. Youngsters who are discovered to be in possession of, or involved with the sale of drugs in school are given an automatic 180-day out-of-school suspension, but only a 30-day suspension for possession or use of alcohol. Edwards defended this disparity during the question/answer period to several parents and others who called for a stricter alcohol policy, stating that there is a legal difference between the two drugs, and that alcohol abuse is less socially unacceptable than smoking marijuana.

Attributing a great deal of teenage drug abuse to "sheer boredom," Edwards said that Honesdale's curriculum includes 17 different organized sports and a wide variety of other activities designed to serve as alternatives to getting drunk or high. Edwards identified two basic needs which he said all adolescents share: a need to excel or feel valued, and a need to feel accepted and a part of a group, with what he called "quality associations with peers."

Edwards stated that many parents "can relate to alcohol, going to Narrowsburg [to buy beer] and all that," but often react violently and irrationally when they learn about their child's involvement with illegal drugs.

Robert Conway, presiding judge, and district attorney Raymond Hamill presented their perspectives of the legal aspects of drug use and abuse, citing the frustrations police and other public officials face when they attempt to enforce the law. Conway was asked a question from the audience about how he would deal with a teenage boy, obviously under the influence of alcohol, whom he might chance to meet in a public place. The judge strongly urged citizens to take an active, concerned approach. He said he would "take the kid by the collar, put him in the car," and drive the child home to his parents.

When asked whether such an action, taken against the child's will, might not constitute kidnapping, Conway replied that his primary concern would be the welfare of the child.

In conclusion, Laurie Graham, education coordinator of Trehab, the agency funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as the "single county authority" on substance abuse, described some of the services available in Wayne County. Trehab is located at 914 Church Street in Honesdale. For additional information regarding alcoholism and drug addiction prevention, crisis intervention, or treatment services, Graham may be reached at Trehab's Montrose office at 717/278-3338.

 

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