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Release [print
friendly page] TiP Network Hosts Club Drug Conference
Teen leaders from each school-based organization (SBO) addressed the audience and featured a booth regarding the "Death and Destruction," of Club Drugs; Ecstasy; Marijuana; Cocaine; LSD; Heroin; Inhalants; Tobacco; and Alcohol. Youth leaders focused their efforts on one of the drugs listed above, conducted independent research, and designed their prevention messages in creative ways to insure a lasting impact on the audience and numerous media outlets covering the event.
To learn more about
DEA's unique TiP NETWORK and create a Regional Chapter in your area; please
visit the information management system at www.deatip.net
or contact the TiP NETWORK Coordinator, Special Agent David Monnette at
915.204.2265 |
During
May, 2002 the El Paso Division (EPD) Teens in Prevention (TiP) NETWORK
hosted a Club Drug Conference for over 200 service providers with a unique
twist. Youth leaders representing nine (9) youth-driven, community supported
organizations, addressed the audience of professionals regarding the "Death
and Destruction of Club Drugs, Ecstasy, and Raves." 
El
Paso Police Commander Robert Almonte stated, "a conference like this
is great! I like to see teens in activities like this, because when you
get down to it, teens listen to their peers, much more than they listen
to adults." DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), Larry Holifield
stated that if people knew what went into their drugs, they might not
be so anxious to use them. ASAC Holifield described a clandestine lab
in Bogota, Colombia where dirty, filthy, grimy, peasants are stomping
around in pits containing acid, cement, whatever's convenient, trying
to squeeze the juice out of coca leaves. The people preparing the product
- they're not doctors, they're not chemists, they're scumbags. If users
could see how a drug is manufactured, they wouldn't be so anxious to try
the drug."
The
afternoon session captivated the audience with the humorous and informative
remarks from Special Agent Omar Aleman from the Miami Field Division who
believes "what we're seeing at these Rave Parties is the Americanization
of Drug Abuse." Drug abuse is a subtle form of terrorism, Aleman
said. "I like the TiP Program, because it's all about the good guys.
We need to start training the trainers, because we as adults, have failed.
We haven't gotten town to our kids' level to talk to them about the realities
which we've seen. Our message hasn't gotten through. We need to capture
America's attention, and we need to start with our young people."
El
Paso Demand Reduction Assistant and TiP Regional Coordinator, Gloria Cordero
thanked all the youth and community leaders who so graciously work with
her Regional Chapter to promote drug prevention and education. The El
Paso Regional Chapter is one of seven Chapters that make up the greater
TiP NEWORK and consist of approximately 3,000 youth and community leaders.