Sobriety also celebrated on '4/20'

By: Aaron Byzak | Wednesday, April 19, 2006 6:05 PM PDT ∞

Many parents will wake up this Thursday morning, get ready for work, converse briefly with their children, and set about on their day unaware that April 20 is widely recognized as a pot-smoking holiday for many youth in our society.

The term "420" (pronounced four-twenty) is also used in popular culture as a reference to the use of marijuana and is popularized by certain businesses and media that cater to the Generation X and Generation Y crowd.

While the origins of the term "420" may be debated, the importance of parents having accurate information about drug use and discussing this subject with their children is very clear. Parental disapproval of youth alcohol and/or drug use is the key reason children choose not to drink or do drugs.

The fact is that most kids do not smoke marijuana, but far too many do.

According to the 2005 Carlsbad Healthy Kids Survey, by the time they are high school juniors, approximately 44 percent of teens have tried marijuana, and 20 percent report using it in the past month. Marijuana is the drug of choice for 62 percent of drug treatment clients under 18, according to the San Diego County Alcohol and Drug Data System.

Community involvement is also very important in influencing teen behavior.

Several years ago, when an on-campus student assistance program in Carlsbad noted that many young people relapsed or began to use marijuana on April 20, they decided to change the campus culture. For the past three years, the Carlsbad Village Academy has hosted a celebration of sober and drug-free life choices on April 20 for all middle- and high-school-age youth in the district.

The purpose of the event is to provide an alternative activity for students to counter the pro-marijuana influences that are common in mainstream media and in our communities, as well as to educate parents about the risks of youth marijuana use and the "code of 420."

From its small beginnings, the event has grown to include many community partners, and has expanded to the Oceanside Unified School District as well.

Hundreds of students will enjoy free food, games, rock-climbing, live music, and an opportunity drawing for great prizes.

The event is sponsored by North Coastal Prevention Coalition, the Carlsbad and Oceanside unified school districts, Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth, Phoenix House, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additional support and donations are provided by Chick-Fil-A, Chili's, Wal-Mart, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, American Medical Response and the office of Sen. Bill Morrow.

For more information, contact Erica Leary at North Coastal Prevention Coalition at (760) 407-1220, Ext. 150.

Aaron Byzak is secretary for the board of directors of the North Coastal Prevention Coalition and a district representative for the office of Sen. Bill Morrow.