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News, Arts and Leisure
Monday, October 26, 2009
Westporter Joseph Califano Brings Home Drug Abuse Message
By Dave Matlow
At age 78, Westporter Joseph A. Califano, Jr. could be taking it easy, remembering his days as a successful lawyer, former U.S. cabinet secretary, and best-selling author.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr. addresses a Bedford Middle School audience tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
But instead of an easy retirement, he was at Westport’s Bedford Middle School tonight talking to his neighbors about what he has been doing for decades—trying to keep America’s youngsters healthy and away from drug and alcohol abuse.
Less than a month ago, Bedford’s parking lot and adjacent Staples High School grounds were the site of a homecoming celebration that saw at least five teens become intoxicated, prompting a plea from the Staples principal to parents to help him do something about it. (See WestportNow Sept. 30, 2009)
In an event attended by several hundred persons and co-sponsored by the Westport Public Library and Positive Youth Development, the Brooklyn-born Califano talked about his new book, “How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents.”
Parents are the key in the battle, said the founder and chairman of the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1977-79) under President Jimmy Carter, and former aide to President Lyndon Johnson.
“Getting a child past 21 years without smoking is a central challenge” Califano said. Telling your child “don’t drink” is not sufficient guidance, he said.
More important, he said, is the need to “get involved with your child, get to understand their lives.” He said the influence of parents is the most central influence, adding, “Kids are most likely to drink if they see their parents drink.”
Califano, who perhaps is associated most often with his efforts with the U.S. government to launch the nation’s antismoking campaign, shared his almost 20 years worth of insight and research on what really prevents children from using drugs and alcohol.
Westporter Elliot Cooperstone was one of many parents who posed questions to Califano on practical issues related to children’s potential for drug abuse. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The audience was silent when Califano said that “every child in America will be offered drugs before they leave high school.”
He said there are many influences on children’s judgments such as that “one-in-five TV alcohol ads are geared to 12-20 year olds.”
The four drugs most abused by teens are alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and prescription drugs such as oxycontin and other pain relievers, Califano said.
He brought attention to the status of drug abuse at the college level too.
“Twenty-three percent of college students meet the criteria for drug addiction or alcohol abuse as compared to 10 percent of the general population,” he said.
Ths summer, CASA released a survey that took a close look at teen drinking. It found that 65 percent of 12- to 17-year olds who drink monthly report that they get drunk at least once in a typical month.
The survey also found that one-third of teen drinkers usually drink with the intention to get drunk.
Of those teens who do not set out to get drunk, 33 percent find themselves drunk at least once a month, according to the survey.
Califano, who noted that all of his book’s proceeds go to CASA, has been talking around the country about the book and his efforts.
He seemed pleased with the opportunity to try to get his message across to his friends and neighbors in his hometown--especially at a location that could be called a ground zero in the fight to keep teens away from drug and alcohol abuse.
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