3moms helps spread awareness about the dangers of substance abuse

3moms volunteers Jane Duffey, Cindy Sierzchula and Cindy Keith.

A nontraditional approach to substance abuse education prevention and awareness is what makes 3moms unique. It brings parents together and puts a face on substance abuse through parent-to-parent contact.

“We encourage parents to spend time with their kids, talk about serious issues like substance abuse and build relationships based on trust and respect in which both the child and parent can be honest with one another,” says Kim Obert, one of the original 3moms and chair of the organization.

Obert lost her son Kent to an accidental overdose of oxycontin when he was 18. Obert, along with several other Valley mothers, approached the Arizona Affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America in 2008 to share stories of their lives and the impact of a child’s drug use on families.

“The moms, along with the Partnership, recognized that it’s not a matter of if but when children are going to be approached to try drugs or alcohol, and that we as a community must do everything we can to keep them from experimenting,” Obert says. “This unique concept of moms talking to moms is to encourage everyone who hears our message to share the information with at least three other moms or caregivers, creating a network that will make a positive impact on our community.”

It is challenging to get teens and parents to communicate about drugs.

“Only one third of teens report that their parents have had a conversation with them about drugs,” Obert says. “We’d like all parents to feel comfortable having this conversation with their children. Would you rather your kids learn about drugs from a friend or older kids? Or would you prefer to have that potentially lifesaving discussion with them? We can help.”

According to Obert, another challenge is getting parents and teens to understand the dangers of abusing medicine that is in their own homes. The intentional misuse and abuse of prescription pain relievers by teens in Arizona is nearly double the national average.

“The problem here is twofold; parents and caregivers aren’t educated on the dangers of prescription and other drug use, and they need to start talking with their kids,” Obert says. “Thankfully, statistics show that when parents and kids talk early and often about drugs, children are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs.”

Getting all of the information out may be challenging, but the heartbreak of losing a child is the real challenge that these moms face.

“I cry and I pray. Cope? I don’t think that I cope. I just live with it,” Obert says. “Since my heart was so broken when my son died, I can share a lot of the emotions — sadness, guilt, grief, anger, and frustration — that parents with drug addicted kids can go through. I try to focus outwardly on the needs of others instead of my own grief.”

To learn more about 3moms and to get involved, visit the Arizona Affiliate website at PartnerUpAz.org or the national Partnership website at drugfree.org.

Calling all unneeded cell phones

NotMYkid is collecting cell phones to help educate Valley students, parents and faculty.

“For every phone collected, Chatterbox Wireless donates $50,” says Blair Crawford, manager of public relations and marketing. “We will then give this money to schools to ensure that our program can remain in schools.”

NotMYkid is a local, nonprofit organization that inspires positive life choices by educating the community about the consequences of destructive youth behaviors. Its goal is to increase awareness of the challenges that kids face and provide information and resources to support their success.

“It all started in 1999 when Steve and Debbie Moak experienced their own child going through addiction. They thought because he was a good kid and they were an involved family that it wouldn’t happen,” Crawford says. “They realized that this is the mentality of most parents — ‘not my kid.’ But addiction doesn’t care who you are or what you are.”

The Moaks began talking to people in the community about the problem and from there the idea branched out. NotMYkid now has a group of speakers — teens who have gone through substance abuse problems, eating disorders, depression and other addictive states — who share their stories with other teens at schools around the Valley. The cell phone drive will provide funding to keep that effort going.

“So far the drive is going really well and we’ve had a great response,” Crawford says.

The cell phone drive will continue throughout the summer. To donate a cell phone, bring or mail it to the notMYkid offices at 5230 E. Shea Blvd. #100 in Scottsdale, 85254. Include your phone number, name, mailing address and email address. 602-652-0163 or notMYkid.

ICAN earns award for efforts to reduce underage drinking

The 3rd annual Eight PBS Be More Awards recognized ICAN for Outstanding Education Outreach for efforts to reduce underage drinking through community awareness.

ICAN is a nonprofit organization located in the downtown Chandler Redevelopment Area, and was one of seven nonprofits recognized.

“It was unbelievable and amazing. We were nominated last year and excited, but to receive the award was completely unexpected and humbling and inspiring at the same time,” said Christy McClendon, chief executive officer of ICAN. “It is also important that the award was based on the youths’ work. To recognize them for their work was a great test on their futures.”

ICAN helps reduce underage drinking through its peer leaders, who range from 13 to 18 years old, and the Chandler Police Department , which uses shoulder tapping, signage compliance checks, and town halls to inform the community about the dangers of underage drinking.

“The average age for youth in the Chandler Redevelopment Area to take their first drink is 12.6 years old and over 80 percent of the 10th graders identify with using alcohol in the last 30 days, so it’s a significant issue for the area,” said McClendon. “We brought together a group of kids about three years ago and asked them what we should do with the issue and those kids…founded a coalition on substance abuse which takes on the issue of underage drinking.”

ICAN will also be a top five finalist for the 2010 Non-Profit of the Year Award.

On June 30th, Eight, Arizona PBS will feature ICAN and other award winners on a half-hour primetime television special, “Be More Inspired.” To learn more about becoming involved in ICAN’s work to reduce underage drinking in the Chandler Redevelopment Area, contact ICAN at 480-821-4207.