OCTOBER TO BE PREVENTION MONTH By GEORGE H. RYAN, Lieutenant Governor Chairman, Illinois Addictions Research Institute

October will present communities all across Illinois with the opportunity to confront a force that tragically alters society — drug and alcohol abuse.

This 31-day period has been designated Substance Abuse Prevention Month in an effort to highlight and unify drug abuse prevention resources in Illinois. The focus will be multi-pronged: on alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace, among teenagers, and among senior citizens. We hope its impact will be felt long after the month concludes.

Consider substance abuse in the workplace. Experts estimate that the annual toll that chemical dependency takes on the nation's businesses is $50 billion. Studies further show that there is a direct loss of 25% of the salary of the untreated substance abusing-worker when compared to the drug-free employee.

During Prevention Month, we hope to help both employers and employees cope with this unpleasant reality. Employee Assistance Programs are excellent sources of referral for all aspects of employee health. I am currently assembling an Advisory Council on Small Business Employee Assistance Programs.

Working with the Illinois chapter of ALMACA (the Association of Labor-Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism), I will focus on installing EAP's in smaller firms. That's important because firms with fewer than 500 employees constitute 94% of all businesses in the state, and this sector employs two-thirds of Illinois' work force. Too, prevention must be emphasized in the workplace, as that is the most compassionate, cost-effective approach to the substance abuse issue.

But of course, prevention must be extended far beyond the walls of the workplace. It must also carry over into the home. Consider that the estimated 18 million problem drinkers in the U.S. have 28.6 million children. This underscores the urgency of encouraging business to consider offering EAP's: many employees are also parents, who can have tremendous impact on their offspring's attitudes about substance abuse.

Reaching young people will be another goal of Prevention Month. This office will be sponsoring a Prevention Month slogan/logo and video public service announcement contests for junior high and high school students. Winning entries that capture the prevention theme will be reproduced and distributed throughout the state.

Also during October, the state Board of Education will begin training for "Project Graduation," a program encouraging high school students to throw drug-free parties and proms. The state Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse will join the celebration of drug-free living in October when they kick off their "Families In Touch" program designed to teach children, parents, and even grandparents to prevent alcoholism and other drug abuse in the family.

Throughout Prevention Month, we will continue to lend our award-winning documentary "S.T.O.P. Substance Abuse" to schools and families. The S.T.O.P. film (a 30-minute VHS videotape format) features

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popular Illinois sports stars with a positive, drug-free message. Incidentally, I would like to add that I feel privileged to work with the S.T.O.P. athletes in making live appearances as well, before school and community groups.

Unfortunately, age offers no immunity to the substance abuse problem. Even older adults are among the victims of drug and alcohol abuse. Often, senior citizens' chemical dependency can be brought on by such pressures or changes in lifestyles as retirement, loss of spouse or friends through death, declining physical health and mental acuity, etc. It can also be the case that seniors combine their prescription drugs with another over-the-counter drug: alcohol.

During Prevention Month, special recognition will be extended to those senior caretakers — such as hospitals and health care companies — that have been outstanding in their efforts to alert seniors to the caution that must accompany drug use.

We will also be premiering two videotapes produced by this office, "Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in the Older Adult," and "Preventing Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in the Older Adult." Both are 30 minutes long (VHS format) and available for free loan by calling 1-800-252-6565.

Finally, there will be a celebration of commitment to a drug-free America during "Red Ribbon Week," October 23-30. Those who wear a red ribbon during the week will be signifying their pledge to battle alchoholism and other drug abuse. This effort is being sponsored by the National Federation of Parents, and being coordinated in Illinois by the Illinois Drug Education Alliance.

Won't you plan to join in Prevention Month activities? A calendar of events is available through my office by calling toll-free 1-800-252-6565. •

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / October 1988