“Say No” to Alcohol

• Alcohol is the number one drug of choice for teenagers.
• Alcohol-related car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in the United States.
• Alcohol is the number one drug problem in America.
  If you think it can't happen to you, look around. Check your school's yearbooks for the last ten years. How many were dedicated to a student who was killed in a drunk driving crash?

Ask your friends how many people they know who have had bad things happen to them when they or someone else was drinking.

You don't even have to be the one doing the drinking — most teenage passenger deaths are the result of crashes caused by alcohol-impaired teenage drivers. No matter what the situation, drinking alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal.

How Does Alcohol Affect You?

• You see double, slur your speech, you lose your sense of distance.
• Alcohol loosens your inhibitions; you make bad judgments that can result in car crashes, violence, unwanted pregnancy, sexual transmission of diseases, or rape.
• A significant portion of violent crimes and vandalism among and by youth involve use of alcohol.
• Using alcohol can cost you your freedom. You can be grounded by parents, lose your driver's license, or end up in jail.
• You can get sick or die from alcohol poisoning.
• Poor grades may be a result of increased use of alcohol.

“Say No” to Marijuana

Contrary to popular belief, not all teens smoke pot. Only about one in five 10th graders report they used marijuana within the past month. Fewer than one in four high school seniors is a current marijuana user.
Marijuana - pot, reefer, grass, joint, stick, ganja, rope, blunts, smoke, bud, weed, bhang - is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the United States and very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana.

Just because it's common doesn't mean marijuana is safe. In fact, the marijuana sold today is far stronger than it was two or three decades ago and far more dangerous.

What You May Not Know

Some people may think that smoking a joint is just a "mellow" way to relax. They don't realize that using marijuana can cause:

• memory problems
• reduced concentration and coordination
• increased appetite
• decreased inhibitions
• bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, and dry throat
• lower testosterone levels and sperm counts in men
• increased testosterone in women, which can cause acne and increased facial and body hair
• paranoia
• diminished or complete loss of sexual pleasure
• psychological dependence so that over time, more of the drug is needed to get the same effect.
• deteriorating performance at school or at work
• experiencing a "burn out" characterized by muddled thinking, acute frustration, depression, and isolation
• impaired sexual development and fertility, including production of abnormal sperm and menstrual irregularities
• damage to lungs and pulmonary system (one marijuana joint is equal to approximately 25 commercial cigarettes)
• exposure to illegal drug culture.

“Say No” to Tobacco

Smoking cool? Definitely not. Every day, we see images — on the Internet, in tobacco company advertising, and in the movies — that depict smoking as cool, sexy, professional, and glamorous. What we don't see is that every day 3,000 children become regular smokers. This youthful smoking can have severe lifelong consequences. In addition, teens who smoke are more likely to use illicit drugs and drink more heavily than their nonsmoking peers. Don't think that it's just cigarettes that can cause damage to your health — cigars and chewing tobacco also cause cancer.
Smoking can cause bad breath, permanently stained teeth, and early wrinkles — not a big turn-on when you're dating. More importantly, it wrecks your lungs. You can't catch your breath, and when you try to do anything athletic, you feel like you're suffocating. Smoking also blocks oxygen from your bloodstream. Your heart works harder but accomplishes less. You can't move as fast and you're not as strong. Not only does smoking cause many major health risks, it is highly addictive as well.

Drug Information

• Drug Enforcement Administration Drug Information
• Office of National Drug Control Policy

Gangs are not just a big city or inner city problem, nor are they a problem of a particular race or culture. Gangs cross all ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, gender, and geographic boundaries. They bring fear and violence to neighborhoods, traffic in drugs, destroy property, involve youth in crime, and drive out businesses. Gangs pull teens away from school and home into a life of violence.

One of the scariest aspects of gang violence is it's often indiscriminate and unpredictable. Gang members have been known to kick, punch, hit, or even kill their victims. People get hurt if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. If gangs or gang members are in your school or neighborhood, you know it.

What Parents Can Do To Prevent School Violence

• Recognize that keeping firearms in your home may put you at legal risk as well as expose you and your family to physical risk. In many states, parents can be held liable for their children's actions, including inappropriate use of firearms. If you do choose to keep firearms at home, ensure that they are securely locked, that ammunition is locked and stored separately, and that children know weapons are never to be touched without your express permission and supervision.
• Take an active role in your children's schools. Talk regularly with teachers and staff. Volunteer in the classroom or library, or in after-school activities. Work with parent teacher - student organizations.
• Act as role models. Settle your own conflicts peaceably and manage anger without violence.
• Listen to and talk with your children regularly. Find out what they're thinking on all kinds of topics. Create an opportunity for two-way conversation, which may mean forgoing judgments. This kind of communication should be a daily habit, not a reaction to crisis.
• Set clear limits on behaviors in advance. Discuss punishments and rewards in advance, too. Disciplining with framework and consistency helps teach self-discipline, a skill your children can use for the rest of their lives.
• Communicate clearly on the violence issue. Explain that you don't accept and won't tolerate violent behavior. Discuss what violence is and is not. Answer questions thoughtfully. Listen to children's ideas and concerns. They may bring up small problems that can easily be solved now, problems that could become worse if allowed to fester.
• Help your children learn how to examine and find solutions to problems. Kids who know how to approach a problem and resolve it effectively are less likely to be angry, frustrated, or violent. Take advantage of "teachable moments" to help your child understand and apply these and other skills.
• Discourage name-calling and teasing. These behaviors often escalate into fistfights (or worse). Whether the teaser is violent or not, the victim may see violence as the only way to stop it.
• Insist on knowing your children's friends, whereabouts, and activities. It's your right. Make your home an inviting and pleasant place for your children and their friends; it's easier to know what they're up to when they're around. Know how to spot signs of troubling behavior in kids - yours and others.
• Work with other parents to develop standards for school related events, acceptable out-of-school activities and places, and required adult supervision. Support each other in enforcing these standards.
• Make it clear that you support school policies and rules that help create and sustain a safe place for all students to learn. If your child feels a rule is wrong, discuss his or her reasons and what rule might work better.
• Join up with other parents, through school and neighborhood associations, religious organizations, civic groups, and youth activity groups. Talk with each other about violence problems, concerns about youth in the community, sources of help to strengthen and sharpen parenting skills, and similar issues.

The Five W's 

Be prepared to answer these questions when you report suspicious activity:

• What is happening?
• Who is doing it?
• Where is it taking place?
• When did you observe it?
• Why are you suspicious?

Tips on Giving a Description

For a Person:

• Sex
• Race
• Age (approximate)
• Height (approximate; use 2 inch blocks)
• Weight (approximate; use 10 lb. blocks)
• Build (medium, heavyset, thin, etc)
• Hair (color, length, include facial hair)
• Complexion (light, dark, ruddy, olive)
• Eyes (color, glasses)
• Peculiarities (scars, tattoos, missing limbs)
• Clothing (from head to toe, style, defects)
• Weapons (if any)
• Method of escape (direction, vehicle, etc.)

For a Vehicle:

• Year, Make, Model
• Body Type (2 door, 4 door, van, SUV, etc.)
• Passengers (number of people in vehicle)
• License Plate (most important)
• Damage or anything unusual (logos, etc.)

Seven Signs of Terrorism

Terrorist operations begin with extensive planning. You can help prevent and detect terrorism - and other types of crimes - by watching out for suspicious activities and reporting them to the proper authorities. Terrorists are trained to "blend in" and assimilate to their surroundings. Typical patrols may miss something suspicious to you, because unfortunately, Officers don't know the daily routines of your area as well as you do; it's impossible. Most terrorist's acts are well organized and well planned. Terrorists will conduct training, surveillance and "dry runs" prior to commission of a terrorist act. Although it is the intent of the terrorist to instill fear in you, it is your vigilance that the terrorist fears most. No one knows your neighborhood and local business better than you.

1. Surveillance
   If terrorists are targeting a specific area they will most likely be watching activities in the area during the planning phase of the operation. They will attempt to determine the target's strengths and weaknesses and the number of personnel that may respond to an incident. Routes to and from the target are usually established during the surveillance phase. Note suspicious actions such as someone using a camera (still or video), drawing diagrams or making notes on maps, using vision-enhancing devices, and having floor plans or blueprints of places such as high-tech firms, financial institutions, or government/military facilities.

2. Seeking Information
   Terrorists often attempt to gain information about a target - a place, person or operation - through inquiries. These elicitation attempts can be made by mail, fax, phone or in person. Examples would be someone inquiring about critical infrastructure like a power plant or water treatment plant. Terrorists may attempt to research bridge and tunnel usage, make unusual inquiries concerning shipments or look into how a facility such as a hospital operates. They may also attempt to place "key" people in sensitive work locations to gain intelligence.

3. Tests of Security
   "Probing" is a technique terrorists use to attempt to gather data about a target's security. These tests are usually conducted by driving past or even penetrating the target, moving into sensitive areas, and observing security or law enforcement response. Specific areas of interest to terrorists would include how long it takes security or law enforcement to respond to an incident, the number of responding personnel, or the routes taken to a specific location. Terrorist may also try to penetrate physical security barriers or test the response procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. Vehicles may be parked for unusually long periods of time, sometimes in a no-parking area, as another test of security.

4. Acquiring Supplies
   There may be a case where someone is purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons or ammunition. It could be the unusual purchase or storage of fertilizer or harmful chemicals. Terrorists would also find it useful to acquire law enforcement equipment and identification, military uniforms and decals, as well as flight passes, badges or even flight manuals. Terrorists often use false or stolen identification documents including passports and driver licenses. They may try to produce counterfeit identification by photocopying. Any of these items would make it easier to gain entrance to secured or prohibited areas.

5. Suspicious Behavior
   Another pre-incident indicator is the presence of suspicious people who just don't belong. This could include individuals in a workplace, building, neighborhood or business establishment who do not fit in because of their demeanor or unusual questions they ask or statements they make. Being alert for people who "don't belong" doesn't mean we should profile individuals, but it does mean we should profile behaviors.

6. Trial Runs
   Before an attack, terrorists will usually practice with a trial run to work out flaws in their plan and unanticipated problems. This is especially true when planning a kidnapping, but it can also pertain to bombings. A dry run may be the heart of the planning stage of a terrorist act. If you find someone monitoring a police radio frequency and recording emergency response times, you may be observing a dry run. Multiple dry runs may be conducted at or near the target to gain intelligence.

7. Getting Into Position
   The final sign to look for is someone deploying assets or getting into position. This is your last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs. Pre-incident indicators may come months or even years apart, so it is extremely important to document every fragment of information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, and forward this information to the proper authorities.