PRIDE Anti-Drug & Alcohol Meeting A Real Bust
Special To The Garden City News
By William Keegan, Jr.

On February 28th, the GC High School held a school-community forum to present the findings of the PRIDE Survey. Unfortunately, speaker Cynthia Knowles gave an eye opening presentation to a near-empty auditorium. The two hundred parents who did attend received an outstanding presentation on results of the student survey on alcohol and drug use among our middle school and high school students. In addition, Ms. Knowles presented the results of the parent's survey on their lack of awareness of the strong possibility of underage drinking and drug use in their home.

The Pride Survey indicated that Garden City ranks above the national average with regard to alcohol and pot usage among high school students. Another survey finding indicated that GC teens prefer their home or a home of a friend as the ideal setting for drinking and partying. The parent's survey found that many parents turn a blind eye to underage drinking and all too many are in denial about a possible drug problem in their home.

Felicia Schneberg, a 25 year specialist in the field of chemical dependency , detailed the parent and family liability laws regarding the illegal consumption of alcohol and drugs at teen home parties. The liability lecture was a compelling example of why parents must pay attention to the problem of underage drinking and drug use in our village as well in their homes and family auto.