WASHINGTON -- Earlier this year the Nye Communities Coalition represented the county at the National Anti-Drug Conference here.

Loyd Platson, Laura Boggs, Jacob Boggs, and the Rev. Julie Platson, of St. Martin's in the Desert Episcopal Church, attended several training workshops which addressed drug and alcohol abuse within the county.

A special address was given by Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson regarding support from and to coalitions across the country on the target issue of Sober Truth on Underage Drinking Prevention (STOP) Act.

John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy (the nation's drug czar) spoke about the federal drug programs and associated funding, as well as the development of effective advertising campaigns and treatment.

His programs, such as "Access to Recovery" treatment initiatives throughout the country, will provide vouchers to those fighting addiction.

As chairman and CEO of Communities Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Gen. Arthur T. Dean addressed concerns in diversifying coalition programs, increasing the availability of grant funding and providing strategic direction for all coalitions.

The Pahrump representatives attended several workshops that addressed such issues as rural coalitions, the "Mayberry Factor" regarding the challenges of building coalitions within rural areas, youth growing up in rural America, risk and protective factor data and tips to building and sustaining the necessary bridges within different sectors of the rural community, with special emphasis on the faith community response.

Platson, the substance abuse prevention fellow for the state, attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference, which advised attendees that funding has been cut significantly for prevention programs for the last several years.

This conference was to educate legislators and other political figures on what the prevention coalitions are doing and have done across the country.

It provided workshops which addressed prevention in the elderly population.

Platson said, "This workshop really increased my awareness of issues affecting the elderly population, such as prescription medication abuse regarding the lack of understanding when having to use prescribed medications. My ability to network with others regarding elderly issues was very beneficial to my ability to improve Nye County and state programs."

Platson and the Rev. Platson also attended workshops that emphasized the need to use faith-based community resources to become more involved in prevention efforts.

The Rev. Platson said, "Local churches that use some resources to help get the word out to kids and elderly who are at risk of using illegal or unwisely using prescriptions, will help a lot of people in the community and the county."

Jacob Boggs attended "Leadership Styles: Find Your Youth Voice," which taught him how to determine the type of leaders youth can be by using a color coded system.

Green identifies an amiable individual who is agreeable, dependable, loyal and so forth; analytical is blue, for cautious, logical, organized; red is a driver, competitive, decisive efficient; and yellow is conceptual, creative, dramatic.

These colors assist youth to appreciate differences in each other and learn how to work with other styles, and how to use their style and skills to make positive changes in the community.

Boggs also learned how social norms can change. For example, a society that accepts the use of alcohol by teens as a "right of passage" can be changed to not accept youth alcohol use.

Also, the pop culture can be a negative influence on youth as it reflects drugs as "OK."

"Our Pahrump youth group is making T-shirts that may encourage kids to not use drugs or alcohol," Bogg said.

Another issue in rural areas is the abuse of alcohol and drugs, including the problem of driving while under the influence. Taxpayers end up paying more taxes to support the treatment of those with addictions.

Laura Boggs will be working with WestCare to determine the best way to raise awareness of elderly problems in the proper use of prescriptions. Elderly individuals may not understand the instructions on the containers or see well enough to read them. Such problems can result in overuse of drugs, or even under use of prescriptions.

Changes to prescriptions can have a serious negative affect on the individual.

Boggs also attended a workshop which identified new grants available to community coalitions.

She said, "We need to host meetings that encourage conversations among members, and get people comfortable in participating in order to identify ways to make community changes. There are multiple grants available for community improvements -- we need to use them."

The coalition works to help members of the community such as the school district, the Boys and Girls Club, local faith-based organizations, No to Abuse and many more.

If you would like to learn more about what the NCC does or want to become a member of the organization, call 775-727-9970.