news event – september 7, 2005

Today, local leaders released important data showing that Lane County parents have much more control in preventing their children’s alcohol or drug use than they think. The leaders issued a call for parents to “Get Involved” right now! Attending were Dr. Martin Klos, chair of the Lane County Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse;  Gillian Leichtling (of RMC Research); Judy Newman, Co-Director of EC Cares, Parent advocate and Chair of Success by Six; Lane County Commissioner Faye Stewart; and Dr. Martin Klos, Chair of Lane County Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse.

The study, completed by Lane County Health and Human Services and the Lane County Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse, shows there is a notable percentage of Lane County 8th and 11th grade students who are drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes and marijuana. A strong majority of adults disapprove of high school youth drinking and smoking and want/expect parents to guide their children not to use alcohol or drugs. While the majority of adults believe young friends have more influence on adolescents’ decisions to use alcohol or other drugs than parents do, the majority of youth know their parents would be disappointed if they were to use alcohol or other drugs.

“The survey shows that parents either are not aware that they have powerful influence over how to guide their children, or they don’t have the tools to effectively influence their children not to use alcohol and other drugs,” said Dr. Martin Klos, Chair of Lane County Coalition to Prevent Substance Abuse. “The truth is parents have enormous power over a child's well-being, but too many fail to appreciate and use this power.  Parental involvement makes a critical difference in children's lives. Parents can influence their children if they reach them early and if they continue to reinforce strong values and positive messages throughout their teen years.” 

Here are some tips on how all caring adults can “Get Involved” right now:

• Learn to communicate
• Walk the walk
• Lay down the law
• Set limits
• Praise and reward

To find out how to get involved as a parent, neighbor or community member, call 682-3817.  Find out how you can help turn your child away from the drugs that seem so prevalent today.  Find out how you can help to bring your neighborhood and community to a better place of health. 

Additional survey information: The data release is from the Lane County profile assessing “Attitudes about substance use and other risk behaviors.”  This profile, conducted in April 2005, surveyed a random sample of 350 Lane County adults ages 18+. Results are generalized to the target population.  Additional reliable and valid survey data are included in this report.  Call 682-3817 or click onto www.lanecounty.org/prevention to find out more. 

Additional information:

This event is being held at Oakmont Park to exemplify how parents can make every moment matter to conduct important and meaningful conversations with their children. 

Oakmont Park was recently updated and upgraded from an abandoned field into a state-of-the-art park to which hundreds of families and children flock every day to have fun.  Eugene citizens passed a bond measure to enhance local parks in order to provide meaningful and fun places for families and young children to thrive in good health.  The City of Eugene designed the park along with input from neighbors.  These are all great examples of how good policy and good community involvement can change the conditions in our community to promote healthy community.  This is how prevention works!

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Lane County Government provides for the safety and security of Lane County’s 333,350 citizens through public safety, public works, human services, elections, vital records and other systems.