Law

Seventh-grader Zach Guiles of Williamstown, VT, was suspended in 2003 from his local middle school for wearing a T-shirt that called President George W. Bush a “Chicken-Hawk-in-Chief” who was engaged in a “World Domination Tour.” The school principal said the shirt wasn’t allowed because it had pictures of a martini glass, a marijuana cigarette, and cocaine, and such images promoted drug and alcohol use. Zach said the images were protected political speech – he had a right to make a statement about the president’s alleged former substance abuse problems as well as the president’s foreign policies. He went to the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont for help. Zach looks back on what it’s like for a 13-year-old to fight for his rights.

Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Young adults increasingly are joining the ranks of people in recovery. The needs of young adults (ages 18–25), an age group sometimes called “the Millennial Generation,” differ from the needs of older and younger generational groups. This show will focus on the particular needs and preferences of young adults as they engage in treatment for mental and substance use disorders and follow their journey of recovery. Effective strategies for preventing young adults from initiating substance use, escalating their substance use, or developing mental disorders will also be explored. Young adults have been raised in an era in which the Internet provides vast quantities of information with rapid access to this information facilitated by mobile technologies. Also, these lifestyle factors—which have strong implications for prevention strategies, treatment approaches, and recovery systems for this age group—will be examined.

If you have questions or comments about this program, please contact Richard Kemp at rtkemp@aol.com.

Attorney Carolyn Raffensperger, Executive Director of Science, Environmental and Health Network (SEHN), advocates our government has two functions to defend and protect rights. It is the government’s responsibility to be the steward and trustee of the commonwealth and public health. She states that future generations have rights and responsibilities too.  Ms. Raffensperger proposes the creation of new institutions as part of a vision for the future that brings us back to life and health, and extends beyond our own generation. She suggests these new institutions will have the mission to protect our commonwealth and public health. She says, “imagine before a pipeline can be installed it has to get approval from this new institution”.  For more information, SEHN’s web link: http://www.sehn.org/about.html

Judge Ben Joseph speaks with Elizabeth Truscott on a new offender program.