PINE GROVE - Addressing issues of drug and alcohol use in students, Pine Grove Area administrators, students, the county district attorney, two county commissioners, a state representative and others attended the first annual Cardinal Community Drug Task Force meeting at the Pine Grove Area Middle School on Wednesday.
Superintendent Brian Uplinger said the idea for forming a task force came from a student attending a series of meetings last year on the vision for Pine Grove. The student said issues of drugs and alcohol need to be addressed in the community.
With that in mind, about 20 people attended a 90-minute meeting in the library of the middle school.
"Every district in every state in this entire country has issues related to drug and alcohol," said Diane Rowland, prevention services coordinator with the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Program.
Rowland discussed the results of the 2009 PA Youth Survey. The survey, given every two years, is taken by students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades and is sponsored by the state Commission on Crime and Deliquency. Rowland did not have the 2011 results with her Wednesday.
Among the many findings, the survey shows 6.7 percent of Schuylkill County students reported the use of any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past 30 days; overall 9.5 percent of Pine Grove Area School District students reported the use of any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past 30 days.
Other results show alcohol use by grade level increases for those taking the survey from the sixth- to 12th grades.
Cigarette use increases dramatically from 4.2 percent for sixth-graders to 21.3 percent by the time they are in eighth grade for those who say they have smoked at least once.
"Tobacco use is an issue we have here in Schuylkill County," Rowland said.
Rowland said four other school districts, North Schuylkill, Mahanoy, Minersville and Pottsville, have their own task forces.
"Each group has really enjoyed a lot of success in doing this," she said.
Information provided at the meeting lists the benefits of a coalition including having the community involved, creating partnerships between different entities such as the school and the community, better use of resources and raising awareness of issues within the community.
The president of the Students Against Drunk Driving, Amanda Kemmerling, 17, a senior, said the district, like others, has students who use drugs and alcohol.
"I find it's a big problem here," she said.
She said students sometimes attend parties where alcohol is provided, sometimes by parents or other adults.
Uplinger said after the meeting he was not surprised parties occur and all-around effort could alleviate that.
Students can just disregard messages by others, the students said, saying it can be hard to change the "mindset" of others.
Schuylkill County Commissioners Gary Hess and George Halcovage said students can be a role model for others.
"Coming from you (it) means a lot more," Hess said about influencing peers.
Efforts by everyone can produce results, Rowland said.
"It's amazing the little things you can do to affect change," she said.
Dr. Richard Russell, a family doctor, said finding out the motivating factors are important.
High school principal Mike Janicelli said students might be good at hiding any drug or alcohol use and it's important to find out to help the student.
"I think the community needs it and is ready for it," state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said about the task force.
District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon said efforts like the task force are important.
"I want less cases in my office. This is the way to do it," she said after the meeting.
Uplinger said the next meeting could be in November.
Anyone interested in being a member can call the district office at 570-345-2731.