Parents learn new drug awareness tools Published Aug. 23, 2011 By Connie Hempel 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It may be the last place a parent would look because it's laying out in the open, but youths these days are ingenious, especially when it comes to hiding things from mom and dad. It's not under the mattress or in the sock drawer anymore, they're Hidden in Plain Sight. On Sept. 2 starting at 11:30 a.m. in the base theater, the Parent Advisory Board, Drug Demand Reduction Office, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Concho Valley CARES Coalition and the San Angelo Police Department will team up to provide parents insight to the latest drug trends facing children today and ways to prevent use. The group will remain at the theater until 3 p.m. for parents who are unable to make it at 11:30 a.m. The Concho Valley CARES Coalition Hidden in Plain Sight demonstration will show parents the innovative hiding spots youths have these days, and drug use indicators they may have laying around. With furniture donated from a local business, the group will set up a typical teenager's bedroom and test parents' skills. First, parents will "snoop" through the room identifying items they believe to be indicators, and potential hiding spots. At the end, Concho Valley CARES staff will discuss places and indicators they may have missed, and even point out any false indicators identified. Concho Valley CARES Coalition Coordinator, Angelina Osornio, said she hopes the demonstration provides parents with additional tools in the fight against drugs. "This is just one way to help parents take a closer look at what's going on in their teen's life," she said. Youth Programs Director, Shandy Scott, encourages all parents to attend to increase awareness. "I don't think parents are aware of how many drugs are in our community," Scott said. "Drugs are definitely in all of our schools." The demonstration isn't limited to parents with teenagers. Parent Advisory Board co-chair, Master Sgt. Kacy Ellsworth said parents with children of all ages, even those who plan to be parents one day should attend. "It's the type of thing that everyone should be interested in no matter what age their child is because we want to try to prevent them from becoming addicted to drugs," she said. National statistics show children as young as 10 are already being exposed to drugs, according to David Estrada, the Drug Demand Reduction Program Manager here. "If they're being exposed as young as 10, then parents need to start building a healthy, open relationship with their child early," Estrada said. "If you start early enough, then the child is more likely to be strong enough emotionally and have a strong emotional attachment to their parents to be stronger around their peers and more comfortable talking to their parents." And with the average 10-year-old being exposed, most students in elementary school probably know someone who's already doing drugs. That's another reason Scott said it's important for parents to start building a strong relationship with their children at an early age. "Hopefully we all raise perfect children who have a lot of self confidence, never give into peer pressure and we don't have to worry about drugs, but in reality, drugs are out there," Scott said. In addition to the Hidden in Plain Sight demonstration, Estrada will be there along with representatives from the San Angelo Police Department narcotics division and an AFOSI agent. The Drug Demand Reduction Office will discuss the current drug of choice among abusers - prescription drugs - and show parents how to properly dispose of it, as well as talk about other current trends. "It's important for parent's to know that prescription drugs are now the thing to do," Ellsworth said. "They don't have to hide them because they're in our cabinet." SAPD narcotics division will discuss common drugs found in the local area, and AFOSI will provide a broader perspective of what military families should be looking for when it comes to drug use.
