April 27, 2004

Drug/Alcohol Resource Center Hosts Opening Of Video Library May 19

(Note to editors: To interview counselors from around Idaho or teens who can speak firsthand about the powerful impact of these substance abuse videos, contact Pat Pyke at 208 426-1987.) With popcorn, balloons and all the pomp of a movie premier, the Idaho Regional Alcohol/Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Network Center will celebrate the recent opening of a video resource library that — without exaggeration — has the potential to change lives for young people throughout Idaho. From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, RADAR will host an open house at its center at 2103 University Drive, in the Health and Wellness Center at Boise State University. The festive atmosphere is intended to provide a comfortable and positive way to offer educational material and resources on challenging issues. The resource library’s collection of more than 1,000 videos includes topics ranging from tobacco prevention and drug addiction to parenting issues and school violence. The event is open to all members of the community, as well as educators and professionals working in substance abuse fields. Free parking will be available across the street in the parking garage at the corner of University Drive and Brady Street. Inhalant use. Teasing and bullying. The attraction of tobacco. Date rape drugs. Rampant binge drinking. The pressures today’s youth and adults face aren’t easy. Educating people, especially kids, about these issues has proven effective in empowering them to turn away from risky behavior. One Idaho teacher who showed her students Surviving High School, a documentary on the harsh pressures teens face as they try to fit in, wrote, “Never, and I emphasize NEVER, in my [20]-year teaching career have I seen student reaction like I did from this video. Many students obviously fit into one of the groups — many were students who were suffering and others were inflicting emotional pain. I observed tears on many of the cheeks of my students.” Videos may be checked out free of charge via mail or in person by any Idaho resident, including teachers, families, clergy, counselors or individuals. Videos can be mailed to schools, offices or individuals in any part of the state. The complete list of available videos may be viewed online at hs.boisestate.edu/RADAR. To request a video via mail, contact RADAR video manager Dottie Blackwell at 208 426-2946, fax 208 426-3334 or e-mail dottieblackwell@boisestate.edu. “These videos have a place in a variety of settings: the classroom, counseling sessions, even in your own family room,” said Blackwell. “Our teenagers are looking for their parents to understand the stresses and challenges they are facing.” With hosts such as Matt Damon and supermodel Tyra Banks, many of the videos appeal to teens, although there are videos for everyone from younger children to adults. Videos with titles such as Acquaintance Rape: The Ultimate Betrayal, Smoking: The Truth Unfiltered and Crack Street USA give straightforward information about serious issues. When a middle school counselor showed The Truth About Drinking at an Idaho school, the counselor reported that “one sixth-grade male approached me after watching the movie and requested help from me to stop drinking. …He came promptly to my office and informed me about how much and how frequently he drinks, as well as who his supplier is. I was able to immediately place him in our Drug and Alcohol Education class.” RADAR partners with the College of Health Sciences at Boise State University and provides many other services and community materials in addition to the video library. The Idaho RADAR Network Center, part of a national network of substance abuse education centers, is funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. Additional support comes from Health and Welfare’s Tobacco Prevention Program, the Department of Education’s Safe & Drug Free Schools Program, and the Department of Juvenile Corrections. For more information about the video library or about RADAR, call (208) 426-3471 or visit hs.boisestate.edu/RADAR. -30- Contact Dottie Blackwell RADAR video library 208 426-2946 dottieblackwell@boisestate.edu Media contact Pat Pyke Boise State communications and marketing 208 426-1987 ppyke@boisestate.edu