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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-01-09; Narcotics and Drug Study Committee Ad Hoc; MinutesCITY OF CARLSBAD Minutes of: NARCOTICS and DRUG STUDY COMMITTEE MEETING Date of Meeting: January 9, 1969 Time of Meeting: 7:00 P.M. Place of Meeting: City Hall Conference Room PRESENT: Carl H. Neiswender, Councilman, Chairman Douglas Deeson, rep. Carlsbad High School, Secy. Wm. E. Moore, rep. Carlsbad Union School District Capt. Wallace Rossall, Carlsbad Law Enforcement Dr. E. R. Hertweck, Mira Costa College Psychology Dept DR. HERTWECK: Drug usage starts with dissatisfaction. It is defi- nitely a psychological problem, and it is going to be a matter of education. Teenagers need a sounding board. If they can have a place where they can sound off and not be criticized, the problem might lessen. We must try to get families concerned about the problem and try to determine what teenagers are dissatisfied about, namely: 1) Too young to marry. 2) Can't get a job. (3) Not accepted in society. (4) Failing or having difficulty in school. (Children have to go to school because of laws, but we are forcing them in an area that they can't succeed in.) (5) Dissatisfaction at home. We could find a way that teenagers could become apprentices, which would give them a feeling of status and respect. Kids become dis- couraged and find an easy, cheap crutch to escape reality. MR. MOORE: Teenagers are living in a drug-taking culture. There is too much exposure to pills. Believe we can make some progress by lowering age limits for entering bars. Kids can't seem to socialize in the states but can in Tiajuana. This gives them the feeling of being part of the adult world. CMN. NEISWENDER: Teenagers have too much idle time. The problem exists as there are more pupils than there are jobs. CAPT. ROSSALL: Discussed resolution re minors crossing the Mexican border; however, closing the border will not stop the drug problem as it is cheaper to buy by mail. MR. DEjISON: Suggested someone sponsor community center type thing and investigate what job opportunities are available. CMN. NEISWENDER: Counci1-Citizen News could publicize something on the subject, and groups holding meetings at the Parks and Recreation Division could be alerted to help with the problem. RECOMMENDED STEPS TO TAKE 1. On the 1 oca! 1evel , keep the pressure on the hippies. 2. Dry up source of supply; try to get the pusher. 3. Get qualified people on the Police force who can work full time with the kids and communicate with them. 4. Add few more people to the committee. 5. Have few more sessions to discuss problems. 6. Invite resource people to appear before committee. 7. Have Dr. Hertweck join our committee. 8. Invite Dr. Tuomi and Rev. Larry Dewein. 9. Determine what part parents can play in the program. 10. Determine where we are and what we can do about drug problem. Committee will read booklet "Drugs, Your Child and You" and determine whether or not to purchase a quantity of them. Next meeting will be Thursday, January 30 - 7:00 p.m. NARCOTICS AND DRUG COMMITTEE MEETING - CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1969 - 7:00 P.M. PRESENT: Carl H. Neiswender, Councilman, Chairman Douglas Deeson, rep. Carlsbad High School, Secy. Wm. E. Moore, rep. Carlsbad Union School District Capt. Wallace Rossall, Carlsbad Law Enforcement Dr. E. R. Hertweck, MiraCosta College Psychology Dept. DR. HERTWECK: We can't do anything about the influx of people coming into Carlsbad. They already have pre-conceived ideas and plans before coming here on vacation. What we can do with local residents is an- other situation. It is going to be a matter of education, and this is a big problem. Once the younger generation uses drugs, it is difficult to do anything because they have their own ideas. Drug usage starts with dissatisfaction, namely, dissatisfaction at home, failing at school, not being able to get a job, etc. The person becomes dis- enchanted and is looking for a way out. Whether or not he uses drugs depends on the environment he is in. He has to have access to them -- has a friendusing them; or perhaps there is somebody that he admires that uses them. If he goes to a party where they have drugs, this will set the stage for using them. This nagging unhappiness grows; then he finds a way out through his friends. In time he breaks down and experiments with it. Very few stop at the experimental stage. This is a symptom of dissatisfaction. I have worked with them very closely, mainly those who have used LSD and Marijuana. They will not com- municate with me when on pills, etc. They are afraid of Speed. Chronic users will use LSD at sometime or other. They are looking for an escape or a fast cure; it is definitely a psychological problem. If - 2 - a teenager is successful, he isn't interested in drugs. The chief reasons teenagers turn to drugs are: (1) Dissatisfaction and (2) experimentation. Then they have to rationalize; go into the week- ender step, and finally become a regular user. MR. MOORE: Kids are living in a drug-taking culture. Everybody is taking some type of pill today; namely, Compoze, relaxants, sleeping pills, etc. You read about it, see it on TV, and it is advertised and discussed everywhere. DR. HERTWECK: If kidd can have a place where they can sound off and not be criticized (they need a sounding board), the problem might lessen; or if they could have a kids forum or a place where they can have somebody to talk to and listen to them. CLMN. NEISWENDER: There is not enough for a student to do these days; they have too much idle time on their hands. Idleness and lack of con- structive things to do breed these drug problems. There are not enough jobs and there are more pupils than outlets. If you can keep a child busy, even on a part time basis, you will have less problems. The May Company will be hiring a total of 2400 people which should alleviate the employment situation. CAPT. ROSSALL: Discussed the resolution about minors crossing the Mexican border without an adult, or parent permission. It was noted that the Mexican border is being closed all across the U.S. except at Tiajuana. However, closing the border will not stop the drug problem as it is cheaper to buy by mail. MR. MOORE: Kids can't seem to socialize here in the States, but can - 3 - by going into Tiajuana where they can buy a beer and cigarettes and feel they can do things that adults do. This gives them the feeling of being a part of the adult world. Believe we can make some progress by lowering the age limits for entering bard, etc. DR. HERTWECK: For the past 30 years there has been a weakening in the family structure, and we hope the pendulum will swing back. Get the families concerned so they function as a unit. Drugs kill teenagers' initiative, their desire to achieve, work, or do anything constructive with their lives. Closing of the border and stopping importation of drugs, or lowering the age limit is not the answer. Trying to dry up the source does not solve the problem of why they want the drug. We have to determine what they are dissatisfied about, namely: (1) Too young to marry. (2) Can't get a job. (3) Not accepted in society. (4) Failing or having difficulty in school. (Children have to go to school because of laws, but we are forcing them in an area that they can't succeed in.) (5) Dissatisfaction at home. Find a way that kids could become apprentices. Give them feeling of s&fctus, respect. There is a school system that actually has the follow- ing projects for students: aircraft hangae, cabinet shop, building a house, two different levels of electronics, machine shop, diesel and auto mechanic division, auto body shop, welding, drafting, chef, and many more. All of these give teenagers some mark of achievement. So many parents think COLLEGE, and the requirements are too stringent for so many of the kids. Kids become discouraged and find an easy, cheap crutch to escape reality. _ 4 - MR. DEESON: Why doesn't someone sponsor community center type thing for kids and investigate what job opportunities are available. Largest users of drugs are your college kids, but they are not necessarily the brighter ones. The brighter, more aggressive kids (achievers) are not necessarily the users. The chief reasons for use of drugs are dis- satisfaction, idleness, too much leisure time, and the fact that the supply seems to be available at a very reasonable cost. CLMN. NEISWENDER: Counci1-Citizen News that is mailed with water bills could publicize something on the subject. We could get word out to the Park and Recreation Division, and every group that holds a meeting could be alerted to help with the problem, by having something to do for the kids. DR. HERTWECK: Get a teenage group to work with kids to communicate with them. Get someone who has had the whole route of drug usage and let him answer questions that teenagers may have. Let him come to the high school and be questioned by kids. Basic thing that causes teenagers to use drugs is psychological problem and it was suggested that they start educating pre-school children. WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW? On the local level, keep the pressure on the hippies. Narcotic run-down by police is most time-consuming; very expensive, and least rewarding. WHAT CAN WE DO TO FLUSH DRUG USE COMPLETELY OUT OF THIS AREA? Dry up source of supply; try to get the pusher. Get qualified people on the Police Dept. to work with juveniles; someone who can work full time with the kids and communicate with them. WHAT STEPS ARE WE GOING TO TAKE? 1. Get few more people for this committee. - 5 - 2. Have few more sessions to discuss problems. 3. Get some additional help on the police force. 4. Invite resource people to appear before our group. 5. Have Dr. Hertweck join our group. 6. Invite Dr. Tuomi and Rev. Larry DeWein 7. Determine what part the parents can play in this program. 8. Need some help as to what direction or pattern to follow. 9. Determine where we are. 10. Determine where we are headed, and what are we doing about it? Let committee gel and formulat4eplans first. As we begin to formulate some concepts and find our direction, then we can make recommendations and take other steps toward inviting former users of drugs to talk. Each member of the committee is to read booklet "Drugs, Your Child and You" and determine whether or not we want to purchase a quantity of them. The committee will continue to study and investigate the problem. Next meeting will be Thursday, January 30, at 7:00 p.m.