Power against drug, alcohol use

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol and drug use among youths and teens is at an all-time high, and has been linked to physical fights and bodily harm, academic and occupational problems, illegal behavior, and, in many cases, death by vehicular accidents or overdose.

“This problem is totally out of control,” said April Rath, director of crafts at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

“Parents are not taking responsibility for their children’s actions. Many times they don’t even know where they are or who they’re with.”

That’s why Rath has implemented two new programs at the club, Girl Power and the Zoo, which aim to educate youth and parents about responsibility and healthy lifestyle choices.

Girl Power, which will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 18, is designed to equip young women with the necessary tools to resist unhealthy influences and promote positive lifestyle choices.

The class discusses topics like peer pressure, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, healthy relationships and self-esteem.

“Girls will learn about these topics through interactive and fun case scenarios,” Rath said. “Participants will learn the value of listening to their feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong, emphasizing that their inner strength and self-esteem can help them stand firm, walk away and empower them to make safe and healthy choices.”

The program will be sponsored by “Brain Power,” a nonprofit founded by Rath and Coleen Wollach four years ago, whose mission is to educate about the issues of drugs and alcohol among youth on all levels at all local schools.

“Unfortunately, these problems don’t just exist in the high schools,” she said. “They start in grammar school.”

The Zoo, a DVD class that works with students in third through fifth grades, will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 11. Sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the class will provide kids with the tools they need in order to say no to alcohol, and notify a trusted adult if someone offers it to them.

The course will be taught by MADD member and Brain Power volunteer Mary Beth Griffin, who will later hold a course for seventh- to 12th-graders called the Broadband, another DVD course that will explore topics like underage drinking, teen driving safety, media and ad influences, law enforcement, substance use and abuse, consequences, choices and empowerment.

Griffin will show DVDs, which each deal with a different topic, and will then hold discussions afterward so that kids have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas.

Rath’s idea for Brain Power was inspired by the discovery that a group of “great” kids she had at the club 10 years ago are now heavily involved with alcohol and drugs in high school.

“I started to research the subject and found out just how [prevalent] this problem is,” she said.

“I want to prevent kids from overdosing, harming or killing someone else or themselves, which is why I created these programs.

“I will be holding similar programs for adults and parents.”

Fore more information about Brain Power or programs at the Boys & Girls Club, call April at (949) 768-2645.