Thursday, March 28, 2013
A column on how a community working together can better fight the influence of drugs and alcohol.
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Thursday, March 28
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: The Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force was originally established in 1982 in response to then Governor Ed King’s pledge to reduce underage drinking and teen drug use. After creating the Governor’s Alliance Against Drugs, he encouraged communities in the Commonwealth to created their own groups to work on the problem at the grassroots level. Burlington became the first town to form a prevention coalition to deal with teen substance abuse. What are community coalitions? Community coalitions are comprised of parents, youth, school professionals, law enforcement, businesses, religious leaders, health providers and other agency leaders who …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
A look at drugs that tout the ability to increase thinking abilities.
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: When you hear the term “Performance-Enhancing Drugs”, you probably think of sports. But students are now using prescription drugs to compete for better grades. These “smart pills” are being touted as common-place and acceptable in news articles in many well known publications. A group of scientists in a 2008 editorial in Nature encouraged the use of "cognitive enhancers" to produce a nation of people performing at their best. Are they doing our children a disservice by taking this casual attitude about this form of drug abuse? If we accept this behavior as normal, are we breeding a generation of winners? Or cheaters? Children are …
Friday, October 12, 2012
A look at marijuana dispensaries and effects in states with legalization.
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Friday, October 12, 2012
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: Marijuana Dispensaries In those states that have legalized marijuana for self-reported medical use, any resident can obtain marijuana for almost any symptom because the state laws are not written to confine marijuana only for the seriously ill. The wording of the laws list cancer, glaucoma and HIV but also list “any other illness” which leaves the law open to interpretation. The process of obtaining “medical” marijuana is fairly simple. First, patients need to find a doctor who will recommend marijuana. Marijuana is not a prescription drug, so doctors can only recommend the use. Most doctors do not recommend marijuana for their patients…
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A survey shows that female high school students are more likely self-medicate to escape the pressures of life.
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: Female high school students are more likely than male high school students to perceive self-medicating as reasons for teen drug use, according to a national survey of high school students conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Female students feel that teens use drugs to deal with the pressures of school, problems at home and to help themselves feel better about themselves. In contrast, male students were more likely to claim that having fun and relaxing as reasons for drug use. According to the Partnership President, Steve Pasierb, “Parents can help prevent alcohol and drug abuse by recognizing and addressing their daughters…
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Marilyn Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force is inviting the community to participate in this year's Alcohol-Free Weekend, which begins with a fun gathering on the Town Commons.
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: The Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force would like to invite the community to help us celebrate our 30th anniversary reducing underage drinking and youth drug abuse. This year’s “Alcohol-Free Weekend” kickoff ceremony will be held on the Burlington Common on Friday April 27, 2012 from 5-7pm. Free pizza and beverages will be served. Musical entertainment will be provided by Fab4Ever, retired police chief Fran Hart’s band. Bring chairs or a blanket and enjoy the music! During Alcohol-Free Weekend, we ask adults in our community to pledge to stay alcohol-free for one weekend just before proms and graduation. By making this pledge, we send …
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Saturday, April 7, 2012
Marilyn Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force invites readers to celebrate the force's 30th Anniversary.
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: The Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force would like to invite the community to help us celebrate our 30th anniversary reducing underage drinking and youth drug abuse. The Burlington Drug and Alcohol Task Force was formed in 1982 in response to former Governor Ed King’s request for community support concerning legislation to combat the problem of drunk driving. Concerned citizens and professionals in Burlington formed the first local volunteer prevention group of its kind in Massachusetts. This spring’s events begin with the “Alcohol-Free Weekend” kickoff ceremony on the Burlington Common on Frida,y April 27, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. Each …
Friday, March 2, 2012
Marilyn Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force takes a look at rising marijuana use among young drivers.
- AWARENESS
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Friday, March 2, 2012
The following is a guest column by Marilyn G. Belmonte of the Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force: According to a recent study reported in USA Today, nearly one in five of teens say they have driven a car after smoking marijuana. The national study of 2,300 11th- and 12th-graders was completed by Students Against Destructive Decision (SADD) and showed that more and more teens do not see driving while high on marijuana as a problem. Although drinking and driving has dropped because teens understand the harm of alcohol on driving safely, teens do not understand how marijuana impairs safe driving. According to a study done by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), marijuana causes more fatal and non-fatal car …
Rose Johnson
9:45 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
This is frightening.Do we really want to teach our kids that the best way to accomplish anything is to pop a pill? more ›