Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Coalition takes action on drugs

 In any given community and in any given high school, there is a certain percentage of teens who recreationally abuse drugs, Barbara Belke, social worker, said. This simple fact prompted the LZ community to start a coalition against teen substance abuse.
 Budget cuts in the district put planned random drug testing at LZHS to be put on hold, according to Belke, allowing other ideas to be brought to the table. This extra time led to the drug seminar that took place at LZHS early last winter. 
 “There was really no [distinct] event that caused the coalition to be formed other than to address to people the problem of teen drug use,” Belke said. “We met a few times just to talk about the problems with drug use, and conversation led to more conversation, which was what led to people coming together to see what we can really do to make an impact.”
 The coalition is new to the community, as well as to the people who are starting it. Current coalition members, such as school administrators, social workers, the Health Department, and the Chamber of Commerce, met twice over the summer. The group brainstormed concerns and plan on meeting again soon to figure out ways to address some of these concerns. After the brainstorming meeting, the coalition decided to split into two committees. The Data Committee will work on collecting and reviewing information about youth drug use in our area, and the Strategy Committee will work on identifying prevention strategies and programs in hopes of raising awareness. The people in each committee are still undetermined but the organization leaders hope to appoint people to each in the coming months.
 The coalition group plans on expanding its members to students and parents  in hopes of raising awareness to others in the community. The committees plan to hold seminars to steer teens away from the pressures of drug use.
 “We know we can’t stop drug abuse,” Belke said, “but we can certainly help.”

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