SCR 2-SOBRIETY AWARENESS MONTH  The committee took up SCR 2. SENATOR WARD, sponsor of the measure, explained that March has been designated as a month to honor sobriety since 1995. This movement began with the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). SCR 2 honors sobriety and holds up those people that consider sobriety to be a way of life. He has discussed this movement with many community councils and villages around Alaska and they are completely aware that the Legislature and the Governor honor sobriety. MR. ERNIE TURNER, Director of the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said DHSS strongly supports SCR 2 to designate March, 2001, as sobriety awareness month. It gives communities the opportunity to participate in activities that promote sobriety as a normal way of life. He expressed concern that SCR 2 does not include inhalants because the use of inhalants is a big problem in many communities. CHAIR GREEN asked Senator Ward if the larger sobriety awareness organization crafted the language in SCR 2. SENATOR WARD said it did. He agreed with Mr. Turner's concern about the use of inhalants and noted Governor Knowles brought that issue up when in Minto and Bethel. CHAIR GREEN asked Senator Ward if it would be inappropriate to add a separate "Whereas" clause. SENATOR WARD said it would not. CHAIR GREEN asked Senator Ward to bring an amendment before the committee on Wednesday. MR. TURNER added that National Sobriety Month occurs in October but Alaska has designated March as sobriety awareness month because of the Iditarod sled dog race. He thought that at least one musher brings attention to sobriety during the race. Number 2102 SENATOR LEMAN asked Mr. Turner whether sobriety means teaching against any use of alcohol and drugs or whether it is an effort to work toward no abuse of alcohol or use of non-medically prescribed drugs. MR. TURNER said sobriety has been defined to mean a positive and healthy way of life, free from the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs. He noted that several meanings exist. To a person in recovery, sobriety is something of extreme value. It is a way of life that is serene and allows the recovering alcoholic to be at peace with life. He pointed out there is a difference between being sober and being dry. SENATOR WARD thanked Mr. Turner for acknowledging Mike Williams' [an Iditarod musher's] efforts to support sobriety on a national and international level. Senator Ward pointed out, 25 years ago, our people on TV had a martini in their hand and a cigarette in their mouth and a lot of people grew up thinking that this was a normal thing and you had to do these things in order to be socially acceptable. As a society, it's also not only socially acceptable to rise up those leaders that honor sobriety, but this movement is encouraging rising those up. This does not say that people can't drink. It doesn't say people can't honor people that do drink. What it does - this gives permission to us - we are honoring those people that honor sobriety..... MR. TURNER noted one other month has been recognized for people in recovery - November. It is called gratitude month. SENATOR WARD said he would like to add a reference to inhalants to SCR 2. MS. PAMELA WATTS, Executive Director of the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said SCR 2 is a foundation piece for the strategies outlined in the state plan for alcohol and drug abuse services. It calls for communities and individuals to take responsibility for the negative consequences of alcohol. The Board is encouraged because it sees more of that occurring statewide. As SCR 2 suggests, the benefits of sobriety can be an improvement in the quality of life and can reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug related crime and the recidivism rate of criminals and the burden on government for funds to combat crime. She encouraged committee members to carefully consider other pieces of legislation that relate to alcoholism and offered to provide information. TAPE 01-5, SIDE B SENATOR LEMAN noted he appreciates Senator Ward's efforts.