Alcohol Abuse

Sober Living by the Sea, which has a headquarters in Cannery Village, applies for permit after seven years of operation.The Newport Beach planning commission will be faced with an unusual request Thursday: whether to classify the hub facility for a collection of drug and alcohol recovery homes as a social club. The debate that's flared among neighbors and the recovery homes -- which do business as Sober Living by the Sea -- over a simple permit has revived old complaints about the effect drug-treatment facilities have on city residents.

Girls Inc. program teaches about preventing drug abuse, pregnancy.Girls Inc. of Orange County, the Costa Mesa office of a nationwide nonprofit group for young females, plans to expand its services this week with a program at Orange County Juvenile Hall. The program, called Girls Inc.: Taking Care of Business, features classes about pregnancy prevention, preventing drug and alcohol abuse, communication skills and financial literacy for incarcerated girls ages 13 to 18. Staff members from the Costa Mesa office, which serves all girls in Orange County, will lead the courses at juvenile hall.

Elise Gee COSTA MESA -- They had come by the dozens from recovery communities to Monday night's council meeting. They had come to speak about celebrating their new leases on life. And then they were given another reason to rejoice when council approved an application for Newport Harbor Recovery. Council chambers were overflowing with recovering alcoholics and drug addicts as others stood outside and watched the meeting on a television screen. Most who spoke in support were current or former residents of the Hamilton Street drug and alcohol recovery facility.

Several years ago, when my older son was in seventh grade, he casually mentioned that a girl who sat next to him in one of his classes was "always high. " We had spoken previously about drugs. I had warned him before he started middle school that in the years to come drugs and alcohol would be prevalent, and I discussed with him how to respond. But when he made the revelation, I couldn't help thinking, "Already?" I put aside my shock at his disclosure — and the nonchalant way he had announced it — and used the opportunity for a deeper conversation.

Parked, occupied vehicles containing one or more persons are especially significant if observed at an unusual hour. They could be possible lookouts for a burglary in progress, even if the occupants appear to be lovers. Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive is suspicious. Occupants may be casing for places to rob or burglarize. Apparent business transactions conducted from a vehicle, especially around schools or parks and if juveniles are involved, could mean possible drug sales.

A few weeks ago, Cay and I received some very good news that had been years in the making. We had a series of small celebrations, one of which included a fine cigar that I smoked in our backyard. This was the first cigar I'd had since February, when we were on a long weekend in Monterey. There, I smoked my cigar on an oceanfront balcony overlooking Monterey Bay while Cay and the kids hunted for crabs on the rocks below. I had purchased the cigar the night before, while our family was strolling down the streets of Monterey's shopping district.