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page 2 EDITORIAL the compass, May 1987 I Addicts recover without fanfare ' *Editors note: In the follow ing column. John is a ficti tious name used to protect the anonymity of a local NA member, in accordance with the 12 Traditions of NA. ‘ Remember when drugs were a big issue? Well, let’s examine what’s being done. Nationally, it doesn’t seem like drugs are in the news too much lately, with religious sex scandals ‘dominating the media’s at tention. But locally, television and radio stations have been airing anti-drug spots. WTKR-TV recently ran a weeklong series highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and where help can be gotten. Da vid Toma, a recovering ad dict and former policeman, came to Hampton Coliseum to speak about the dangers of drugs. Toma’s speech was mov ing, but the shame is that tho^ who are suffering the most from addiction were probably not there to hear him. His message may have hit home to those who don’t use drugs or to those who ar only experiementing. His message may save a few from the horrors of addiction. But what about those who are in the throes of a heavy addic tion? Sure, Toma is charis- rpatic and may reach a few, but he’s gone after one night. Who’s there to pick up the pie- cesof the shattered life of an addict? Who is there to help him stay off drugs once he has stopped? Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is there. AVhile experts argue about the causes of addiction and possible treatments; while Ipoliticians argue about how much to spend and what to spend it on; recovering ad dicts are daily helping each other stay off drugs by shar ing their experiences, strengths and hopes. Recov ering drug addictsare in the forefront of the battle every day, fighting a daily battle to stay off drugs by helping each other. They do all this and most people are not aware that the fellowship exists. A little over a year ago, there were no NA meetings in Elizabeth City. Now, there are two meetings each week. Two of the same people who were guiding lights behind the local fellowship are still there, still “carrying the mes sage to the addict who still suffers.” Sometimes there are only two or three people at a meet ing, but these dedicated few keep hanging in. They say carrying the message helps them stay “clean” so they look at it as a privilege. *John says he sometimes get frus trated because new people come in, go to a few meetings, don’t find what they want and leave. He also said he realizes that when an addict really wants to stop he can, but breaking through the denial of the existence of addiction is a tough process. The members of NA in Eliz abeth City stress that the pro gram helps them leam to live life and accept life on its own terms and not their own. They say recovery is often a very humbling and painful proc ess, but they all say it is much better than using drugs. The members of this groups don’t look any different than you or me. They don’t look like the stereotypical junkie with the needle h^ging out of his arm. They do, however, seem to have a certain view of life - a resignation that they are exactly where they belong - helping addicts and asking for no recognition. They seem to sincerely be lieve that no matter what, if they stay drug free, things will work out for the best in the end. After the hell they’ve been through, this view seems quite justified. Like John says, “Any life is better than the one I lived when I was us ing drugs.” So the world goes on. The media finds a new crusade - another sensational story. Drug abuse experts and ott ers are grabbing headlines in the fight against drug abuse. Young adults who don’t know anything about drugs telling people who know just about everything about them to “just say no” is not a pana cea. It’s one approach, but for the addict who is still using drugs it is not reaUy effective. They’ve already said “yes,” and for many of them “no” can only be brought about through treatment and a sup port group such as NA after treatment. While all these methods and “cures” are getting head lines, th« members of NA in our community quietly 50 about their business of “help ing the addict v/ho still suf fers.” Those who are recov ering in this program say it works and most of them say it is the only way they can stay “clean.” Let the headline grabbers grab headlines. Let the poli ticians and experts argue. Let the young adults say “no.” Just leave the sharing of the message of recovery (living life drug-free) to those best qualified to share it - the ad dicts recovering through NA. Feedback “What are you doing this summer? by Johnny Reid staff writer “I will go to New Jersey.” Den- tral Jennette. Freshman “I will go to my loved one.” Li onel Reynolds. S^homore "I plan to travel to Louisiana to attend a NAACP and SCLC conven tion.” Darrell Roche Roberson. Sophomore “WmIi and chill out." Dexter Moore. Junior "This summer I am going to summer school, the whole sum mer.” Gregory Cross. Junior “I plan to go home to Harris- bur>‘. Pa. and work. I also plan to attend the Greek Picnic in Phila delphia and hang out at the Balti more Harbor.” Deborah Carr, Ju nior “My plans for this summer are to work and enjoy each day as I relax and take a vacation to pre pare for my return in the fall.” Lori Perkins. Sophomore. “I plan to attend summer school, wM^ out. and get a job while I'm here. I also plan to enjoy m>-self to the fullest, and meet new people.” Sbelia Johnson. Freshman. “I am going to marrj- a great young man, but unfortimately I also have to attend summer school. ”Renae Mallor>-, Sopho more. “I plan to attend summer school, have a part-time job. and...Be a beach bunny!” Michele WatsMi. Sophomore. “I plan to attend summer school and hold down my position at a lo cal retail store. I will also do some extensive traveling thereafter.” Lisa Gregorj-, Sophomore. “I plan to relax and ease my mind, and recuperate from the last two semesters at ECSU.” Wilshavnida T. Sirmans, Fresh man *‘I hope to go to Williamsburg, ^ Va. to Busch Gardens to see the* dance show , especially one of the dancers. If not. I pray I'm em ployed and making more than $3.K.” M.D. Johnson. Freshman "This summer I jrian to work with the N.C. Government Intern Program.” .\ngela Bell. Seniw “I plan to attend a summer pro gram in one of the following places: Mexico, Hampton or Cali fornia if I am excepted. If not then I will get a summer job in my hometown. Elizabeth City and I will also work on some readings and scientific papers to enrich my knowledge.” ^nnie Cuffie. Sopho more. “I plan to work in a business oriented en\-ironment and to pre pare myself for the upcoming school year by \isiting different business firms. I will also be taking a break from the hustle and bustle oof the 1986/87 year.” Tammie Lee. Sophomore. “I hope to obtain an entrj" level accounting position with the gov ernment in the ver>’ near future. In the mean time I'm c^n to ciny ac counting position.” Reba Twine. Graduating Senior. "Sleep on the Beaches of S.C. and pretend that I'm in Jamaica.” Norman Currie. Sophomore. “I plan to gather my thoughts about graduate or MED school, while participating in one of the many research programs I have applied for.” Tracey Green, Ju nior. CWK) i5L“0KTfcR ^KiHPcf5>6tA TMIKe U«P- Sex Ed is needed by Robin Sawyer Associate Editor “Every thirty seconds an other teenager in the United States becomes pregnant.” According to research, “of the 29 million teenagers be tween the ages of 13-19, 12 million are estimated to have nad sexual intercourse.” The AIDS (Acquired Im mune Deficiency Syndrome) epidemic and the problem of ceenage pregnancy are forc ing educators tb take another look at the me its of sex edu cation. Realizing the serious ness of the AIDS virus and the magnitude of the teenage pre gnancy problem, it becomes obvious that it is no longer ra tional for legislators, educa tors and parents to deny the benefits of sex education. In fact, sex education is the first step in eliminating these threats to the young people of this country. Scientists predict that within five years the AIDs cases in the U.S. wUl rise from the 25,000 recorded to day to 270,000. By 1991 there are projected to be at least 179,000 AIDS-related deaths. Furthermore, the American Social Health Association predicts “at least 2.5 million teenagers in the U.S. will con tract a sexually transmitted disease this year.” While these facts are star tling and frightening, they are only the beginning. According to Facts on File, a 1986 study done by the House Select Committee on Chil dren, youth and families re ported that teenagers in up- coming years will “experience an annual one million pregnancies, 400,000 abortions and half a million births.” Experts are con cerned that sexually active teenagers wiU be the next AIDS ‘high risk’ group.” Considering these facts and others. Surgeon (General C. Everett Koop and Secretary of Education WiUiam Bennett issued a joint statement. “Education has a funda mental role to play in teach ing our yovmg people how to avoid the threat of AIDS.” According to experts what brought Dr. Koop and several other health groups, which joined the crusade at about the same time, to that point is the ‘pandemic’ nature of the AIDS problem for the future. “Only a massive educational campaign and considerable investment in medical re search will prevent a cata strophic AIDS epidemic in the U.S.,” according to a lengthy report issued by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine'. “AIDS will definitely change the nature of sex edu cation as we know it” accord ing to Harvey Fineberg, dean of Harvard School of Public Health. “It will lead to more open, explicit discussions about condoms and other strategies for safe sex.” “Though some people will be shocked, we are at a point where sex education is no longer a matter of morals-it is a matter of life and death, ”he said. Unfortunately, the question of morals is one reason that sex education has drawn op position in the past. The big gest problem facing sex edu cation today is the subject of values and this cannot be so easily evaded or resolved. Another area of concern for sex education opponents in volves the belief that sex edu cation encourages young peo ple to try sex and toat it does not belong in the schools. Re search shows that those who have had a course in sex edu cation are no more likely to be sexually active than those who have not, that females are less likely to become pre gnant, and that they are more likely to use contraceptives. “Eighty-three percent of Americans favor sex educa tion in the schools,” accord ing to a 1983 Roper Poll. Yet, less than 10 percent of Ameri can school children are ex posed to anything ap proaching a good sex education. All it takes is three or four opponents in almos any community and the sex education program is fin ished, because school boards are overly responsive to these extremists. While opponents of sex edu cation are quick to find fault with placing the burden of teaching sex in the schools, these opponents have not yet foimd another viable solution. A 1986 Time Magazine poll showed that “Adults do not think they are doing a very good job teaching their chil dren about the facts of life: 6S percent of 1,015 Americans polled... “said parents are nd doing as much as they shoul( to educate their childra about sex: 39 percent of the parents w’ho were polled ad mit they have had ‘frank ani open’ discussions about sej with their teenagers on a fei times or not at all.” Clearly, the time has com for educators to take the leai in protecting the young peo pie of this nation. The trage dies connected with AIDs a0 teenage pregnancy are lif« threatening and life-chang ing. Without sex educatioo young people are forced t face these problems unpre pared. Teen pregnancy an AIDs are high prices to pa; for ignorance. The Solution pu2zle on p.7 Editor Steve Smith Associate Ekiitor....Robin Sawyff Photography Oiuck Berry Wchard McIntyre Reporters Mar\- Haitiy Tasey Taylor Valerie Williams L>’nne Chapman Deborah Carr Lavette Washington rvil Nancy Pwter The Compass Monique lijomas The Compass has been published by ECSU students smce 1959 under the Department of Language, Uter- and Communication; Dr. .\nne Henderson. Chairperson, Questions and comments should be sent to The Compass, P.O. Box 815, Elizabeth Qty State University, Elizabeth Qtv, N.C. 27909
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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May 1, 1987, edition 1
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