Maryland First Lady Kendel S. Ehrlich and State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick kicked off the 2005-2006 school year I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN anti-drinking and drug campaign at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County today. This is a statewide effort to encourage parents and students to talk more openly with each other about underage drinking and substance use, including the misuse of prescription drugs and "huffing."

"By signing the pledge, parents are saying, 'I WANT TO KNOW' everything about my child and how I can help my son or daughter make good decisions about these very important issues," said Mrs. Ehrlich, who co-chairs the Maryland Teen Advisory Council (TAC-MD) with Dr. Grasmick and two student co-chairs.

Last spring, Maryland juniors and seniors, and their parents, were asked to sign pledges that they would have open discussions about alcohol and drugs and that students would commit to living clean. Participating parents and students each received a light blue I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN awareness wristband to illustrate their pledge. This initial effort was tied to prom season and Senior Week. Schools with the largest participation rate would receive $500 grants from the Maryland State Department of Education this school year to be used toward any anti-alcohol, anti-drug activity of the school's choice.

The five winning schools, which were named today, include:

· Atholton High School, Howard County
· C. Milton Wright High School, Harford County
· Duval High School, Prince George's County
· Loch Raven High School, Baltimore County
· Maurice J. McDonough High School, Charles County

Four of the five schools were represented at today's event with students and educators accepting an "honorary" check on behalf of the schools. The five schools are scheduled to each receive a $500 grant by the end of the calendar year.

"The Maryland State Department of Education conducts a survey of 6th-, 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders every other year to gain direct student input about drinking, drug use, the influence of peers and parents, and knowledge about these issues," said Dr. Grasmick. "When we released the results of the survey this October, we were pleased that overall usage rates in the past decade are declining. However, we are seeing that students are still using, that they are using earlier, and are not necessarily receiving consistent 'no use' messages. Students are also telling us, contrary to what they may say on a daily basis, that they care about what their parents think and are less likely to use when they have a caring adult at home who they can talk with about these and other issues."

In January 2006, pledges will be distributed to all 200 Maryland public high schools. However, in the second phase all high school students, not just juniors and seniors, will be asked to participate, underscoring the importance of reaching students earlier and more frequently with messages about positive choices. MSDE is also producing a publication for parents highlighting key data from the Maryland Adolescent Survey and providing resources on where parents can go for more information.

I WANT TO KNOW/LIVE CLEAN is an outgrowth of TAC-MD, which was convened by Dr. Grasmick in February 2003 and is a partnership between TAC-MD, the Maryland State Department of Education, and the Office of the First Lady of Maryland. It ties into the Council's student-developed mission to "be a substance free community sharing a realistic teen perspective to students and the general public to help prevent destructive decisions by their peers and coordinate alternative activities for teens, including motivating students to advocate for safe and inviting community centers and teen activities." TAC-MD will continue its work, which includes public service announcements, working with parent groups, and advocacy for teens in the coming months. Mrs. Ehrlich, Dr. Grasmick and MSDE will continue to support these efforts, which complement other community and school-based efforts already in place.

For more information, log onto www.marylandpublicschools.org. Students and educators interested in learning about how they can get involved with bringing the work of TAC-MD into their schools and communities, can e-mail TAC-MD@marylandpublicschools.org