Abuse prevention training ongoing

Representatives from different agencies gathered yesterday morning at the Hyatt Regency Saipan to participate in a seminar intended to decrease substance use and abuse in the CNMI.

The training session, called the Community Organizing Coalition Development Training, gave particular focus during its first session on underage drinking and ways to prevent this in the community.

Prevention Application Management coordinator Joshua Phillip conducted the training. He is with the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention of the Western Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies in Reno, Nevada.

Phillip is responsible for assisting prevention programs in the Pacific Islands jurisdictions, using the latest research-based knowledge on substance abuse programs, practices and policies.

The goals and strategies of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention are to build, maintain and enhance substance abuse prevention programs and capacity, and to enable all communities and providers to deliver effective prevention.

On the issue of underage drinking, Philips said this is dangerous to the young adults’ developing bodies, and impairs physical and mental orientation, leading to violence and crime.

Several community-based strategies that Phillips said are effective in reducing alcohol abuse include restricting access to alcohol, increased supervision of young people, and establishing community laws and norms that disapprove of underage drinking.

School based strategies include policies that encourage an alcohol-free lifestyle, classroom curricula that develops good interpersonal skills and social competence, and positive behavior management, he added.

Participants in the training included representatives from the Department of Public Health, Community Guidance Center, Private Schools Coalition, Ayuda Network Inc., Garapan Youth Learning Center, 6th CNMI Youth Congress, Department of Public Safety, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Division of Youth Services, and the Office of Women’s Affairs.

Sessions will continue today with discussions on community organizing and coalition development, International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, and Prevention Knowledge Application Plan. (Cassie DLG Fejeran)