by Giles Morris - Daily News Staff

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Rhinelander High School administrators held a forum on Wednesday night to educate parents about the dangers their children face from using alcohol and prescription drugs.

Counselors, health professionals and law enforcement officials attended the event to offer information and guidance, but not a single RHS parent not involved with the event attended.

Principal Mike Werbowsky acknowledged that he had anticipated a low turnout due to the busy schedules of parents during the last weeks of school, but he also noted that parents underestimated the importance of the information at hand.

“There’s a lack of seriousness towards prescription drug use in particular. The kids who have the prescriptions will not take them in some cases and they’ll sell it or trade it. As hard as we work to keep it out of the building, it does get in,” he said.

Yvette Hittle, a medical social worker with Ministry Health Care, said she and other counselors are beginning to see the ravages of prescription drug use on young patients.

“What we’re beginning to see is the rashes, the extreme weight loss and the depression associated with methamphetamine use in young patients who are abusing prescription amphetamines. The kids think it’s safe because a doctor prescribed it,” she said.

The healthcare professionals in attendance were prepared to deliver parents some sobering news. According to the most recent studies of brain development patterns, teenage drinking dramatically affects a person’s chances to abuse drugs and alcohol in the future.

Patrick Dugan, a counselor at St. Mary’s Hospital, says parents need to understand that the teenage brain is not fully developed.

“The teenage brain is still very fragile. An addiction is a biochemical brain disease. If a child has a genetic disposition to alcoholism and then drinks at a young age, that becomes a double whammy,” he said.

A person is four times more likely to get addicted to drugs or alcohol if they begin drinking as a teenager. Over a third of middle school-aged children in the Rhinelander Area School District have already tried alcohol, according to information provided by Rick Lodholz, an AODA case manager at the Oneida County Human Service Center.

The same type of parent outreach forum has been successful in the past, drawing crowds in excess of 200 people in other districts and attracting over 60 parents to a presentation at the VFW Hall last year.

“I’m disappointed in the turnout as I know you all are, but it’s important we keep working to get the information out there to parents,” said Werbowsky.

Rhinelander police chief Mike Steffes attended the event because he believes it is important to remind parents of the potential risks associated with graduation season.

“You’re going to have the parties and with that comes the good and the bad. Parents need to realize that there are civil responsibilities and legal obligations associated with throwing a party where alcohol is served,” he said.

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Pam wrote on May 22, 2008 12:22 PM: " I was not even aware there was an AODA forum being conducted. Maybe more exposure was needed? " The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.

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