Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do

As economic pressures force parents to work longer hours or travel further for work, the Petaluma Youth Commission wants to open a new teen center, to help combat growing drug and alcohol use among teens, while giving others a safe place to go to after school.

"You hear more and more about parents working nights, both parents working or having more than one job," said Shannon Rogge, a counselor with Project Success, a program run by Petaluma People Services Center that focuses on behavioral health and reducing substance abuse among students.

"The physical presence of parents in the home has decreased significantly because of economic pressures," she said.

The most recent Healthy Kids Survey, conducted for the California Department of Education, shows that 30 percent of students in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District have been "high" on drugs seven or more times.

Another 20 percent have blacked out or passed out while on drugs or alcohol, 25 percent have experienced cyber bullying and 18 percent have seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, according to the survey.

Many teens agree that a center would give Petaluma kids a much-needed place to go to after hours.

"There's nowhere to go Friday nights," said Kayla Henderson, 16, who attends Petaluma High School. "We go downtown, but they make you buy stuff." Grant Davis, 14, who plays the guitar and sings, said his band could use rooms in a future center for practice.

"I think it's really needed," he said.

The Phoenix, a dual music hall and teen center already offers peer counseling, tutoring and health services. But because it hosts rowdy shows and is open to adults, some parents are worried, especially after a shooting following a show in 2008.  Some teens say the center is not as nice after couches were taken out following a fire.

"There is nothing for the young community if you discount the skateboard park, Phoenix Theater and the ," said Ray Johnson, a commission member. "There are outlets but they're not necessarily easy to get to...Teens need a place to get info and seek advice anonymously." 

Another worrisome trend is a rise in homelessness among students already in drug and behavioral counseling programs through Project Success, say counselors. People who are homelessness are more likely to partake in high risk behaviors and less likely to have health care. A site that's open in the evenings with supervised recreation, counseling and free health services would be crucial for at-risk teens, Rogge said.

The proposed teen center depends almost entirely on private sector funding and the commission is looking around for a vacant building where it could be housed. Among its objectives is a location near the proposed SMART train, to make the project central and easy to get to for those without cars.