Drug Abuse

COSTA MESA — Many of the 600 Costa Mesa Middle School students wore red shirts Thursday in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, an anti-drug movement born in the Just Say No 1980s. The annual demonstration fell days before voters will decide on Proposition 19, which would decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults older than 21. "They can legalize it," said Nabeel Salamen, 12, a seventh-grader, "but it's going to be people's choice then to [make] their life worse.

Amy R. Spurgeon NEWPORT-MESA -- As the school district's Red Ribbon Week begins today, one Newport Beach mother is hoping her son's story will stop other's from making the same mistakes he did. "I cope because I know he is free from this," Judy Davis said. "But I still cry every day." An honor student and award winning artist, Robert "Bobby" Davis was 21 when he was found dead, apparently of a heroin overdose, by his fiancee in the home they shared in Southern California.

Deirdre Newman Victoria Fry had to grow up fast. Taken away from her parents when she was 2 because of their problems with alcohol and drugs, Victoria, now 11, was raised by her grandmother in Newport Beach. Last year, her father succumbed to his heroin addiction, leaving Victoria with an indelible impression of the devastating effects of drug abuse. So when Victoria's sixth-grade class was asked to write essays about why they should lead drug-free lives as part of the DARE.

AIRPORT SECURITY: "You deserve the right to privacy. You deserve the right to be left alone." Cobb said sweeping new security measures in place at airports are too restrictive. However, Cobb said he supports arming airline pilots as a way to deter terrorists. Cobb also supports eliminating other laws that limit gun ownership. WAR ON IRAQ: "I don't see the imminent threat to the United States. Containment is a policy that worked against the Soviet Union.

o7Here are a few of the issues the council will consider Tuesday night. f7 SPECIAL COUNCIL ELECTION The council will consider ordering a special election to take place to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilwoman Stacey Murphy. The nomination period would take place during the month of October with an anticipated election date of Jan. 24, 2006. The clerk's office is asking for $150,000 to pay for election costs. WHAT TO EXPECT The council will likely order the special election take place.

Deepa Bharath SANTA ANA -- A 41-year-old Newport Beach woman who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing her husband by running him over twice with their car was sentenced Thursday to six years in state prison. Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey denied defense attorney William Kelley's request to sentence his client to probation or three years in prison. Leslie Van Houten, no relation to her namesake involved in the Charles Manson trial, was arrested Feb. 2, 2000, on suspicion of murder.

Jessica Garrison NEWPORT-MESA -- The prevalence of eating disorders and the use of Ritalin as an appetite suppressant among some Corona del Mar students are "cultural" and "societal" issues, school officials said Monday. And, officials said after a Daily Pilot special report Saturday, the district must do everything in its power to help students overcome such issues. Ritalin is an amphetamine-like substance commonly prescribed for attention deficit disorder.

Local teens and parents on Wednesday were given a sobering look at issues involving teenage driving, cyberbullying and drug abuse. Dozens of families attended the free evening at Corona del Mar High School, which featured a series of guest speakers and information booths from local organizations. Attendees heard from parents of two young people who died prematurely; one from an accidental drug overdose, and the other from a car collision caused by a distracted teen driver.

B.W. Cook Deborah Harrington chairs the upcoming 1999 Women of Excellence awards and luncheon in Orange County. On Sept. 15 at the Irvine Marriott Hotel, nine exceptional local women will be praised for their community service. "It is the mission of learning for life to instill values through education that enhances the self-esteem, motivation, and personal responsibility of America's youth." This is the motto for the organization set to honor Newport's Judie Argyos for philanthropy, Lynne Pierson Doti for education, Ruth Ko for arts and entertainment, Pat McCormick for sports, Trina Roberts-Rosen for social services, Haydee Velazquez Tillotson for government and law, Julia Ellen Weaver for business and Betty Teller Werksman for health.

While most parents think to check the liquor cabinet or smell their teen's breath after a party, some are realizing that youths are turning to a much more elusive drug. Without a thought, you see it everyday when you open the medicine cabinet and brush your teeth: prescription drugs. "Behind The Orange Curtain," Brent Huff's first documentary to hit the big screen, examines the abuse of prescription drugs by chronicling the stories of 15 Orange County families, and speaks to addicts and parents.

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.

COSTA MESA — Many of the 600 Costa Mesa Middle School students wore red shirts Thursday in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, an anti-drug movement born in the Just Say No 1980s. The annual demonstration fell days before voters will decide on Proposition 19, which would decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults older than 21. "They can legalize it," said Nabeel Salamen, 12, a seventh-grader, "but it's going to be people's choice then to [make] their life worse.

On top of the traditional concerns among parents that their children might abuse alcohol or illegal drugs, police and county health officials are saying prescription drugs are becoming a third avenue of abuse for kids. In a seminar for community parents Tuesday night in Newport Beach, child experts, doctors and police profiled issues facing today’s kids and how parents can protect them. “They need to make sure they keep an eye on their social activities. Know who their friends and parents are,” said Irene Umipig, a health educator with Orange County’s Community Services Program Project PATH.

Local teens and parents on Wednesday were given a sobering look at issues involving teenage driving, cyberbullying and drug abuse. Dozens of families attended the free evening at Corona del Mar High School, which featured a series of guest speakers and information booths from local organizations. Attendees heard from parents of two young people who died prematurely; one from an accidental drug overdose, and the other from a car collision caused by a distracted teen driver.

“One unguarded moment — a lifetime of regret.” How often have you seen or heard about an example of that situation? In the heat of the moment, all of us have done some thoughtless, harmful and even dangerous things. Some of us have been fortunate to have escaped our behavior without many adverse consequences, and others have emerged with only a bit of embarrassment. But all too often many of these spur-of-the-moment explosions have resulted in injuries to others, and the loss of friends, family and jobs.

o7Here are a few of the issues the council will consider Tuesday night. f7 SPECIAL COUNCIL ELECTION The council will consider ordering a special election to take place to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilwoman Stacey Murphy. The nomination period would take place during the month of October with an anticipated election date of Jan. 24, 2006. The clerk's office is asking for $150,000 to pay for election costs. WHAT TO EXPECT The council will likely order the special election take place.

AIRPORT SECURITY: "You deserve the right to privacy. You deserve the right to be left alone." Cobb said sweeping new security measures in place at airports are too restrictive. However, Cobb said he supports arming airline pilots as a way to deter terrorists. Cobb also supports eliminating other laws that limit gun ownership. WAR ON IRAQ: "I don't see the imminent threat to the United States. Containment is a policy that worked against the Soviet Union.

Deirdre Newman Victoria Fry had to grow up fast. Taken away from her parents when she was 2 because of their problems with alcohol and drugs, Victoria, now 11, was raised by her grandmother in Newport Beach. Last year, her father succumbed to his heroin addiction, leaving Victoria with an indelible impression of the devastating effects of drug abuse. So when Victoria's sixth-grade class was asked to write essays about why they should lead drug-free lives as part of the DARE.