wfn.org | Dispelling drinking myths best way to prevent abuse, educator

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Dec. 1, 1998	Contact: Linda Green(615)742-5470 Nashville, Tenn.
{705}
  
By Shanta M. Bryant*

Harstaad, NORWAY -- A Norwegian educator told Northern European United
Methodist youth
and adults that dispelling myths related to alcohol drinking may be the
most effective way to prevent substance abuse among children and
teenagers. 
 
A common myth about drinking is that it increases self-esteem and makes
drinkers more sociable, said Arne Bygstad on Nov. 21 during a three-day
conference on substance abuse and youth, conducted primarily in
Norwegian and Swedish languages.  That drinking is a an "escape from
reality, was cited as a another myth along with the notion that drinking
makes one happier or relieves nervous tensions. 

"Scare tactics don't work; it will only get them to try it more,"  said
Bygstad, who is the director of a primary school in Norway.    He
emphasized that the most effective strategy in drug prevention is to"
pick a hole in these myths." 

 The conference, organized by the United Methodist Northern European
Conference's Committee
on Drugs and Alcohol, involved United Methodist youth and adults from
Norway and Sweden.
Students from Norwegian United Methodist-related Soltun Folk School
attended several
conference sessions.  Soltun, a fine arts school for Norwegian and
international young people,
was the venue for the conference.

Bygstad, suggested that if drug prevention educators focused on removing
the myths related to drugs and alcohol, young people would be less
inclined to overindulge in alcohol.  

"Some people think of alcohol as magical," said Bygstad, who has worked
with alcohol- and drug-related issues clinically and psychologically for
20 years. He added that youth think alcohol is "magical" because they
believe it alter will their behavior.

The conference, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries,  is part of the ongoing drug prevention work of the Northern
European Conference Committee on Drugs and Alcohol. It  was held to
assist churches in developing an appropriate response to substance abuse
among young people in their communities. Experts believe that parents
influence the future drinking habits of their children and youth.

Annegret Klaiber, a German doctor who treats substance abusers and is a
member of the
Committee on Drugs and Alcohol stressed that a breakdown in the family
contributes to substance abuse among teens.  "Children will take drugs
because there are problems in the family," she said through a German
translator.

Klaiber, also the wife of United Methodist Bishop Walter Klaiber,
Frankfurt, Germany, insisted that children need to feel they are
important and loved.  If the family is dysfunctional, she said, a
responsible family member must create a balanced and supportive
environment to openly address
the problem. "If the problem is put under the carpet, the problem will
not go away, but will create
more problems for the abuser," she said.

The prevention of substance abuse for children and teens involves
providing a supportive
environment for children to be themselves and trust people, positive
friends and a strong faith, the German doctor stated. 

The Northern European Committee on Drugs and Alcohol and staff from the
Program on
Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV) and the United Methodist
Board of Church and Society served as resource persons. The SPARV is an
initiative United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in collaboration
with other United Methodist agencies to respond to the global drug and
alcohol problem.

"We, as a United Methodist Church, must take this problem and tackle it
and have courage to do
something about it,"  said Walla Carlsson of Sweden, a member of the
Northern European
Committee on Drugs and Alcohol.  "We have to have the courage to talk to
our teenagers and
children about these drugs."

Youth participated in a demonstration of the "Born Free, Stay Free"
program, an interactive
faith-based educational program that can be used in local churches
involving young people and
their parents in decision-making and self-esteem building skills to
prevent drug abuse.
# # #
*Bryant is program director of communications for the General Board of
Church and
Society and associate editor of Christian Social Action magazine. 

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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