Police: Dinner table talks send message about teen drug use

VINELAND - Rossi Intermediate School sixth-grader Justin Fuller is sure of two things.

Drugs, they’re bad.

Pizza is good.

Justin and his mom, Judy Cheesman, were among the families supporting the Vineland police “Talk to Your Kids About Drugs Over Dinner” community outreach program Tuesday evening.

Research revealed the single most “protective factor” in keeping kids away from drugs was “parents’ disapproval,” said Mike Regenelli,  a Southwest Council Inc. project coordinator. Police officers teamed with Southwest Council Inc. to participate in a Steered Straight Inc. initiative to spread a simple message:  The best deterrent to youth drug use is an involved parent.

There is growing concern with an increase in middle and high school students noting on surveys that they believe their parents are more accepting of drugs.

“That’s gotten our attention,” Regenelli said, noting that’s probably not the message parents would want their children to believe. “This incentive is to get parents talking again.”

Dinnertime presents a great opportunity for parents to pass on their values.

“It’s important to have the conversation away from the distractions,” Regenelli said. “Being around the table, you have your kids’ full attention.”

Police Officer Jason Scalzi thanked the community for backing the project.

Local pizza vendors donated pies for a friendly “Best Pizza in Vineland” contest, which also served as dinner for the participants at Rossi Intermediate School. Scalzi declared all the businesses winners for getting involved in the campaign. Lincoln Pizza won a plaque by a secret ballot vote.

The “Talk to Your Kids About Drugs Over Dinners” program includes an informational billboard campaign as well as a sticker promotion.

Students in the Youth-to-Youth program visited local pizza vendors to urge them to put stickers on pizza boxes that encouraged family conversations. The timing was perfect, with an uptick in deliveries during Super Bowl weekend, Scalzi said, reporting the sticker message reached about 4,500 homes.

Each concerned parent helps chip away at drug use statistics, police said.

Parent Toolkit - Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

“We can’t arrest them out of a problem,” Scalzi said, referring to youth drug use. “We need to change the hearts and minds of people.”

That will take some teamwork.

Justin and his pal R.J. Thomas dubbed themselves the “Pizza Squad,” savoring samples from the dozen local pizzerias.

They enjoyed the meal and understood why staying away from drugs is important.

R.J. said he got the message loud and clear at home.

“She’ll kill me if I do drugs,” he said, nodding to his mother, Beronica Weeks, who gave him her best “mom nod” to confirm that.

He plans to keep an eye on Justin, too.

“He’s not going to do it,” R.J. said.

The Southwest Council offered the following tips to parents:

• Establish clear, consistent expectations and enforce them.
• Get involved in your teen’s daily life, including where they go and what they do.
• Find time to spend with your teen.
• Set a curfew and enforce it.
• Encourage positive friendships and interests.

Deborah M. Marko: (856) 563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com