Red Ribbon Month - October - Youth Summit.

Gordon Clay here. We're in the middle of Red Ribbon Month which serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to make a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives.

Curry County has been plagued with declining industries, the highest median age in the state, high child abuse rates, high unemployment and a per capita income 22% lower than the State median. Over 32% of our adult population has not attained a high school diploma or its equivalent and half of the people in Curry County are at or below the poverty line. Furthermore, per capita rates of alcohol related arrests of youth are typically twice as high in Curry County as in the rest of the state and parental involvement in crime and drugs in Curry County is above the state average by 25%.

In Curry County, child abuse and neglect cases show that 44% have suspected drug and/or alcohol abuse and 21% have parental involvement with a law enforcement agency while 18% of our eighth graders are at high-risk for depression and 13% have seriously considered suicide. The overall suicide death rate for the state is 15%, in Curry County it is 25%

Our youth are working to change this. They present drug awareness puppet shows in elementary schools and on October 28, they are holding a Youth Summit in Gold Beach. Also, Brookings-Harbor High School seniors have told their stories for several years as part of the Through My Eyes essay contests. Pick up a copy from Words and Pictures and help support this program and let's stop the stream of drugs and alcohol to our youth in Curry County.