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November 5, 2003

Host: Michael Grant
Topics:
· Special legislative session;
· ASU hosts national education conference
In-Studio Guests:
· Le Templar, East Valley Tribune;
· Dr. Eugene Garcia, Vice President University Partnership and Dean of the Arizona State College of Education

MICHAEL:
TONIGHT ON "HORIZON", ARIZONA'S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. WE PROFILE A PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS STAY IN SCHOOL AND WE TALK ABOUT A NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE TOPIC. AND, LAWMAKERS ARE IN THE THIRD WEEK OF A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AND OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK. PLUS, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE. WE LOOK AT RESEARCH GOING ON HERE IN OUR STATE. GOOD EVENING, I'M MICHAEL GRANT. FIRST UP, IN THE NEWS -- STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN MEETING IN WORK GROUPS THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THE TWO MAIN ISSUES OF THIS SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, CPS AND PRISONS. MEANTIME, MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX VISITS PHOENIX ADDRESSING ISSUES SUCH AS IMMIGRATION, CRIME AND DEMOCRACY. PLUS, PROPOSITION 414 TO FUND MARICOPA COUNTY HEALTH CARE PASSES AT THE POLLS. HERE TO FILL US IN ON SOME OF THOSE STORIES, LE TEMPLAR, REPORTER WITH THE EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE. LE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>>Le Templar: THANKS, MIKE. MICHAEL: BUSY DAY YESTERDAY.

>> Le: VERY BUSY, WITH THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT FOX AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL AND THE SHOOTING, PROBLEMS POLITICALLY AND TRAFFIC-WISE NEAR CASA GRANDE. MICHAEL: TALK ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF IRONY THAT WOULD OCCUR ON THE FIRST TRIP BY A MEXICAN PRESIDENT TO ARIZONA.

>>Le:
GIVEN THAT HE CAME HERE WITH THE INTENT TO EXPAND THE DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BORDER ISSUES. WHAT HAPPENED IN CASA GRANDE APPEARS TO BE TWO COYOTE GROUPS FIGHTING OVER A GROUP IMMIGRANTS, WHO WAS GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO BRING THEM ACROSS THE BORDER HIGHLIGHTED THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM, I THINK, AND WHY FOX WANTS TO GET THIS ISSUE BACK TO THE TOP OF THE UNITED STATES AGENDA AFTER SINKING AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS. I'M NOT SURE HOW SUCCESSFUL HE WAS.

MICHAEL:
HE CAME, HE TALKED, HE LEFT. DID HE ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> Le:
PARTLY IN THAT HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY DURING A SERIES OF MEETINGS AT THE BILTMORE TO TALK WITH REPRESENTATIVE JEFF FLAKE. IN THE PRIVATE MEETINGS, THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT IT, HE DID MAKE REFERENCES TO IT IN THE AFTERNOON, MIGRANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUT IN THE OPEN AND PROTECTION, LEGAL PROTECTIONS WHILE THEY'RE HERE, GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND COUNTRYMEN AT HOME. NOT A LOT OF SPECIFIC DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF BEYOND THAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM, MIGRATION FOR WORKERS TO CONTINUE, HOPEFULLY PROVIDE FOR SECURITY AT THE BORDER.

MICHAEL:
DID THE ISSUE OF AMNESTY COME UP? THAT'S THE BIG FLASH POINT FOR MANY.

>> Le:
APPARENTLY NOT MUCH DISCUSSION BEYOND AWARENESS THAT THAT'S OUT THERE IN DIFFERENT FORMS. MOST PEOPLE SAY OR CRITICS OF THE GUEST WORKER PROGRAM ARGUE THAT'S AMNESTY IN DISGUISE. NEARLY ALL OF THE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN FLUSHED OUT OFFER LOTS TOWARD PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN THIS COUNTRY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER A WORK VISA AND EVENTUAL CITIZENSHIP WHICH CRITICS CLAIM IS THE EQUIVALENT OF OFFERING AMNESTY TO PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE ILLEGALLY.

MICHAEL:
MEANWHILE, AT THE LEGISLATURE, I UNDERSTAND THE ROMLEY PROPOSAL AND GOVERNOR'S CPS PROPOSAL WENT MANO A MANO IN FRONT OF A COUPLE OF HOUSE COMMITTEES TODAY?

>>Le:
AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF SORT OF SQUISHING AROUND, TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE ISSUE OF REFORMING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE HELD A JOINT HEARING THAT LASTED ALL DAY WHERE THEY ASKED A SERIES OF QUESTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY RICHARD ROMLEY TO EXPLAIN THE SEPARATE PROPOSALS, HOW THE TWO CONTRASTED, AND BASICALLY WENT THROUGH THE TWO SECTION BY SECTION AND HAD TWO SIDES GET UP BACK AND FORTH TO TALK IN FRONT OF THE LAWMAKERS ABOUT WHAT THE DIFFERENCES WERE, WHY YOU THINK YOURS WORKS BETTER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE, GOOD EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON THE TWO PROPOSALS.

MICHAEL:
IS THERE ANY PRICE TAG ON THE ROMLEY PROPOSAL?

>>Le:
THERE WAS NOT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRITICISMS, THERE IS NO EFFORT TO ASSESS HOW MUCH THIS PLAN WOULD COST. ONE THEORY, THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN COSTS 35 MILLION, YOU COULD SAY ROMLEY'S COULD AS WELL. HE IS CALLING FOR SEPARATING CPS OUT AS A SEPARATE AGENT, WHICH THE GOVERNOR ARGUES IS ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT MILLION. IT'S CLEAR IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION TODAY THAT CPS UNDER THE ROMLEY PLAN WOULD BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMES, REMOVING CHILDREN FROM THE HOME. THAT HAS A NUMBER OF EXPENSES IN TERMS OF PLACEMENT OF THE CHILDREN, DEVELOPING LONG TERM DEPENDENCY PLANS, WHETHER EVENTUALLY UNITED WITH THE FAMILY, PLACED WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER OR PLACED INTO FOSTER CARE. NOBODY HAS AN ESTIMATE HOW MANY CASES WOULD EVOLVE THAT WAY AND WHAT THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE MIGHT BE.

MICHAEL:
PRISONS, DO WE HAVE A PLAN YET?

>> Le:
THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WAS INTRODUCED MONDAY BY THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE SENATE, JACK BROWN. WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL. THAT IS EXPECTED AT SOME POINT BY REPUBLICANS SAYING GO AHEAD AND ATTAIN THE 1600 ADDITIONAL BEDS YOU NEED BUT THROUGH PRIVATE PRISONS AS OPPOSED TO JUST BUILDING ON ADDITIONAL STATE UNITS.

MICHAEL:
PROP 414, THE COUNTY HEALTH CARE DISTRICT PASSES YESTERDAY. FROM LEGISLATURE TO BALLOT BOX, THAT WAS ONE OF THE STEALTHIEST PROPOSALS I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> Le: IT WAS. THE COUNTY ANTICIPATED MAKING IT A PUBLIC ISSUE IN 2004, BUT A PRIVATE LOBBYIST VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. HE CONVINCED THE COUNTY AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO GET IT DONE, WHICH MEANT IT CAME UP LATE IN THE SESSION. THEY GOT EARLY SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS ACTIVE IN THE HEALTH CARE AREA. CONVINCED THEM WITHOUT THE SPECIAL DISTRICT THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND ADJUNCT CLINICS WOULD BE SHUT DOWN OR REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

MICHAEL:
GOT ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE HOSPITALS WHO ALSO DID NOT WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Le:
RIGHT NOW, THEY SEE FEWER OF THE UNINSURED PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY FOR THEIR OWN MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE THOSE ARE FUNNELED INTO THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND CLINICS. THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS WOULD BE FORCED TO PICK UP THOSE. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE, FEDERAL LAW MANDATES THEY HAVE TO GET TREATMENT AND THAT BECOMES AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. THE ARGUMENT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REIMBURSE 100% OF THE COSTS OF THAT MEDICAL CARE.

MICHAEL:
QUICK, PRESIDENT'S DAY END OF THE SPECIAL SESSION?

>>Le:
NO, TOO EARLY. MICHAEL: LE TEMPLAR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DESPITE EFFORTS BY EDUCATORS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, ARIZONA'S DROPOUT RATE CONTINUES TO BE HIGH. BUT A NATIONAL CONFERENCE WILL SOON ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. THE SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE ON ENHANCING SCHOOL COMPLETION HOSTED BY ASU MEETS HERE THIS WEEK. IN A MOMENT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. FIRST, MERRY LUCERO TELL TELLS US ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT FOSTERS RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS LEADERS AND MITIGATES THE HIGH SCHOOL RETENTION PROBLEM FACING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE.

>> Jeanine Aguilar:
WE HAVE ONE HALF A NEGATIVE SECOND. WHAT'S MY SHORT CUT. 1111 REPORTER: THESE TOLLESON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TYPICAL MATH. IT ISN'T. THESE STUDENTS ARE PACKING TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES INTO ONE, A UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT PAIRS HONOR STUDENTS WITH PROMISING LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS WITH HIGH DROPOUT RATES. PROGRAM DIRECTOR RAUL CARDENAS.

>> Raul Cardenas:
HOW DO WE IMPACT THE UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS STUDENTS TO HAVE A GREATER SENSE OF CIVIC UNDERSTANDING. THE BEST WAY WE FELT WE COULD DO THAT IS TO GROUND THEM IN THE SKILLS THEY KNOW. THEY KNOW BUSINESS. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO A LESSON PLAN AS AN EDUCATION MAJOR MIGHT. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO OTHER SKILLS BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO DO A BUSINESS PLAN.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH MONEY - REPORTER: ASU RODEL SCHOLARS DEVELOP BUSINESS PLANS ADDRESSING STUDENT RETENTION. THEN WORKSHOPS AND A SUMMER PROGRAM.

>>Jeanine:
MOST KIDS WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE, THEY HAVE GOALS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO. ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, A LOT OF COUNSELORS ARE OVERWHELMED. THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME SAYING THIS KID WANTS TO GO TO NURSING, I'M GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT HOUR WITH THE KID. THEY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. IN THE PROGRAM, THEY LOOKED AT IT. REPORTER: USING THE RODEL BUSINESS PLAN, TOLLESON CREATED AN ADVISING PERIOD ON COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES. WITHOUT THAT, STUDENTS CAN LOSE THEIR WAY DESPITE EFFORTS OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

>> Jeanine:
I THINK EVERYBODY HAS A STORY WITH A KID, PUT ALL THE EFFORT, WENT THE EXTRA MILE, YOU CONTACT THE PARENTS, TRY TO MOTIVATE THEM, SHOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES. SOMETIMES THERE HAS BEEN TIMES IT BECOMES OVERWHELMING. REPORTER: JOSH ESPINOZA IS A RECIPIENT OF THE PROGRAM. HAS HE THOUGHT ABOUT DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?

>> Josh Espinoza:
YES, THERE IS SO MUCH PRESSURE WITH ALL KINDS OF HOME WORK AND STUFF. IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WORK AFTER SCHOOL AND ALL THAT STUFF. I FELT THAT PRESSURE AND, BUT I GET HOME AND I REALIZE THAT IF I DON'T FINISH HIGH SCHOOL THEN THERE AIN'T GOING TO BE THAT MANY BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

REPORTER:
DAVID WAHLS IS A RODEL SCHOLAR.

>> David Wahls:
WE START WITH THE RELATIONSHIP AND THEY TRUST US.

>> Raul:
OUR STUDENTS PROVIDE THE WHY, WHY DO I HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO ALGEBRA, SIT IN MS. AGUILAR'S CLASS. THIS IS WHY WE DID IT, AND WHY YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DO IT. REPORTER: TOLLESON IS ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ALL INVOLVED.

>> David:
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PARENTAL SUPPORT MAY NOT BE THERE. WE FOUND SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND WE FOUND THE EXTENT IT WAS. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TEEN PREGNANCY, THOSE REALLY WEREN'T THE FACTORS, THE STUDENTS NEED THE SUPPORT. THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE BEHIND THEM, TO TELL THEM THEY CAN SUCCEED.

MICHAEL:
HERE TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOL COMPLETION AND THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE, DR. EUGENE GARCIA, VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND DEAN OF THE ASU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Dr. Eugene Garcia:
GOOD TO BE HERE, THANKS. MICHAEL: GIVE US SOME NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ON THE DROPOUT.

>> Eugene:
MOST RECENT NUMBERS WE HAVE INDICATE IN ARIZONA, ABOUT 70% OF STUDENTS WHO BEGAN IN THE 9TH GRADE IN ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOLS ACTUALLY COMPLETE. THAT DIFFERS BY DEMOGRAPHICS aCROSS THE STATE, BUT ONE THING IMPORTANT IN ARIZONA, THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM. IF YOU LOOK AT MARICOPA COUNTY, YOU THINK IT'S JUST THE INNER CITY, RURAL AREA. IT'S EVERY COUNTY, PIMA, NAVAJO. ALL OF THOSE ARE RUNNING ABOUT 70% HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS CLOSE TO 89 TO 90% HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION. ARIZONA LAGS IN THIS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT MEASURE. MICHAEL: WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST OR ARIZONA SPECIFICALLY?

>> Eugene:
THE REASON WE ARE HAVING A CONFERENCE THAT FOCUSES ON THE SOUTHWEST, WE THINK IT IS A SET OF VARIABLES COMMON ACROSS THIS REGION. WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN COMING MOSTLY FROM MEXICO BUT FROM A LOT OF COUNTRIES SO WE HAVE KIDS COMING FROM DIFFERENTIAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES. CHILDREN COME FROM FAMILIES THEMSELVES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOLING. IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SO THAT KIDS WHO COME FROM FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHERE HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS HASN'T BEEN A PREDOMINANT FEATURE IS GOING TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. ARIZONA HAS ATTRIBUTES THAT LEAD TO HIGH NUMBERS OF STUDENTS NOT FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL.

MICHAEL:
DOES CALIFORNIA FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY? THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME FACTORS INVOLVED THERE.

>>Eugene:
CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, TEXAS, NEW MEXICO. IN NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA WE HAVE THE SITUATION WITH THE AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATIONS ON AND OFF THE RESERVATION IN WHICH THEIR COMPLETION RATE ISN'T CLOSE TO EVEN THE 70% THAT WE SEE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

MICHAEL:
INCIDENTALLY, HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE ON THE DATA? DO WE TAKE A SERIES OF SNAPSHOTS? THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO DO IT WITH A MOBILE POPULATION, OR LONGITUDINAL LOOK OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD? ARE WE GETTING BETTER AT MEASURING THE DATA? FOR THAT MATTER, SYSTEM TO SYSTEM, STATE TO STATE, DO YOU HAVE CONSISTENT DATA?

>> Eugene:
WE DO NOT. PART OF THE PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS WE'RE FACING IS TRYING TO GET A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE HANDLE ON IT. WE DON'T HAVE A COMMON SET OF NUMBERS. SOME FOLKS WILL TELL US YOU HAVE A 40% DROPOUT RATE, SOME WILL TELL US WE HAVE A 10 PERCENT DROPOUT RATE, WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT WILL SAY LESS THAN 5% DROPOUT RATE. THE NUMBER THEY ARE USING CAN BE BASED ON A STATUS NUMBER, THAT IS THERE'S A NUMBER OF KIDS THAT STARTED IN THE 12TH GRADE AND X NUMBER COMPLETED AND THEREFORE WE HAD THIS MANY DROPOUTS. SOME NUMBERS START WITH 9TH GRADE AND LOOK ACROSS, SOME DO LONGITUDINAL, WHICH KIDS STARTED IN THE 9TH GRADE AND WHICH KIDS COMPLETED 12TH GRADE EVEN IF IT WAS AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL. THE ARIZONA STATE FORUM WHICH WE WILL HOLD ON FRIDAY BRINGS TOGETHER PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS FOLKS WITH POLICY AND K-12 FOLKS TO TRY TO GET SOME AGREEMENT ABOUT THE NUMBER WE'RE GOING TO USE.

MICHAEL:
WHY THE BUSINESS FOLKS?

>> Eugene:
BUSINESSES ARE CLEARLY INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ANY COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY. BUSINESS IN ARIZONA THAT SEE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THEIR OWN ENTERPRISE HAVE GOT TO COUNT ON EDUCATED POPULATION. WHEN 70% OF THOSE KIDS, SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAT IN SOME AREAS OF MARICOPA COUNTY, FOR INSTANCE, ARE NOT PRODUCING THOSE GRADUATES, THEN BUSINESSES WORRY A LOT. THEY HAVE STEPPED UP. MANY OF THE SPONSORS OF THIS COMING TOGETHER ARE ESSENTIALLY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

MICHAEL:
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME, I SUPPOSE, INCREASING AWARENESS, IF NOT INCREASING EMPHASIS, ON YOUR DROPOUT PROBLEM REALLY DOESN'T START AT 9TH GRADE, IT STARTS AT 1ST TO THE 3RD GRADE. AGAIN, ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THAT ATTITUDE OR DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA? SOUTHWEST?

>>Eugene:
WE HAVE A HUGE INITIATIVE IN ARIZONA. ARIZONA'S UNIQUE IN THAT IT HAS MADE IT CLEAR WE WANT CHILDREN TO LEARN TO READ BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE. WE KNOW READING IS ASSOCIATED WITH ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL COMPLETION. WE JUST HAD A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SCHOOL COMPLETION AT 12TH GRADE? WE KNOW ACTUALLY IT HAS A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN A COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT AND, THEREFORE, SCHOOL COMPLETION. MICHAEL: ISN'T IT THIS SIMPLE, IF YOU ARE DOING WELL AT SOMETHING YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO PURSUE IT? IS IT MORE MYSTICAL THAN THAT?

>> Eugene:
WE DO HAVE HIGH MOBILITY. WE DO HAVE MOVEMENT FROM, AMERICAN INDIANS MOVE BACK AND FORTH FROM THE RESERVATION, IN THE URBAN AREAS, MOVING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE KEY TRANSITION POINTS, ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOME KIDS CAN HANDLE THOSE BETTER THAN OTHERS, TRANSITIONS, THOSE ARE THE LEAKING PLACES IN THE PIPELINE. IT DOESN'T START IN 11TH GRADE, 9TH gRADE, IT STARTS MUCH EARLIER, AND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

MICHAEL:
CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY?

>>Eugene:
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. GENE GARCIA, THAT YOU FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.

MICHAEL:
AN ESTIMATED 120 MILLION AMERICANS TAKE WHAT ARE OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, BOTANICALS, AND VITAMINS. MANY MILLIONS MORE PRACTICE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR ILLNESS OR WELLNESS, FROM YOGA TO ACUPUNCTURE. OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, EVEN MAINSTREAM MEDICINE HAS RECOGNIZED THE BENEFITS OF SUCH THERAPY. STILL, LITTLE HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY STUDIED THOUGH THAT IS CHANGING. TED ROB BEEVES REPORTS ON RESEARCH GOING ON NOW IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND THE NEED FOR MORE.

REPORTER:
MANY PEOPLE THINK HERBS AND BOTANICALS ARE TESTED FOR SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS THE SAME AS PHARMACEUTICALS. THEY ARE IN EUROPE, IN THE U.S. THEY ARE NOT.

>> Barbara Timmerman:
IN EUROPE, CONSIDERED A DRUG, HERE IT'S A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT. IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND HEALTH EDUCATION ACT THAT ESTABLISHED THE BOTANICAL PRODUCTS ARE FOOD PRODUCT AND NOT DRUGS. REPORTER: DR. BARBARA TIMMERMAN IS ONE OF A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS PUTTING BOTANICALS TO THE TEST. SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES AT THE ARIZONA SCHOOL OF PHARMACY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIVE YEAR LABORATORY STUDY OF GINGER, TURMERIC AND BOSWELLIA. THE THREE HAVE BEEN USED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, GINGER AND TURMERIC IN ASIAN COOKING, FOR INSTANCE. THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE NATURAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES. NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE WORKS OR FOR THAT MATTER EXACTLY WHAT WORKS.

>> Barnara:
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION, THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THESE BOTANICALS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHEMICALS. YOU LOOK AT THE CHROMATOGRAM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEAKS. THE MAJOR PEAKS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT THERE ARE MANY MINOR ONES. MY QUESTION IS, DO THOSE MINOR COMPOUNDS CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL ACTIVITY, ARE THEY NECESSARY IN THE PRODUCT TO MAKE THE MAJOR COMPOUNDS MORE ACTIVE? IS THERE SYNERGY AMONG THE CHEMICALS? WE DON'T KNOW. REPORTER: DR. BELL IS RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S PROGRAM IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE. SHE SAYS RESEARCH IS DIFFICULT. WHILE DRUGS TARGET ONE RECEPTOR IN THE BODY, SOME ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS DON'T APPEAR TO ACT THAT WAY.

>>Dr. Iris Bell:
IN SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AREAS, MANY TIMES THE WHOLE PERSON CLAIMS THE MOOD IS BETTER, LIFE IS FUNCTIONING BETTER, THIS IS PARTICULARLY REPORTED IN CHINESE MEDICINE AND HOMEOPATHY. IN THOSE AREAS THE PERSON, THE RECEPTORS ARE NOT BEING TARGETED.

>> Dr. Victoria Maizes:
YOU'RE RECOMMENDING GREEN TEA, WHOLE SOY FOOD.

REPORTER:
DR. VICTORIA MAIZES IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PROGRAM.

>> Victoria:
THERE ARE MANY THINGS FOR WHICH WE DON'T HAVE DATA. FOR EXAMPLE, DIGITALIS WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 1776. THE FIRST TRIAL WE HAD THAT IT WORKED WAS 200 YEARS LATER.

REPORTER:
TIMES ARE CHANGING.

>> Victoria:
TAI CHI IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO ENHANCE BALANCE. IT'S WHEN YOU FALL THAT YOU TYPICALLY BREAK A BONE.

REPORTER:
THE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE PROGRAM USES A NUMBER OF SO-CALLED ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES.

>> Victoria:
YOU NEED TO SHOW YOU'RE PREVENTING EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, SAVING MONEY ON PHARMACEUTICALS AND HOSPITALIZATION. IT'S HARD TO PROVE, SO IT'S A COMPLICATED KIND OF RESEARCH THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND WE ONLY HAVE IT IN LITTLE BITS.

REPORTER:
AN $11 MILLION GRANT, BARBARA TIMMERMAN'S LAB HAS FOUND GINGER AND TURMERIC DO INDEED SEEM TO HAVE SOME OF THESE HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES. BOSWELLIA MUCH LESS SO. AS SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND THE HOW AND WHY, THEY HAVE FOUND THAT CONSUMERS MAY NOT BE GETTING WHAT THEY PAY FOR.

>> Barbara:
SOME PRODUCTS HAVE THE COMPOUNDS THAT YOU EXPECT TO FIND, SOME PRODUCTS HAVE VERY LITTLE OF IT. SOME PRODUCTS HAVE NOTHING. AND THAT DEPENDS ON BRAND TO BRAND.

REPORTER:
WHAT SHOULD A CONSUMER DO?

>> Barbara:
THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW. THE CONSUMER GOES TO THE PRODUCT BASED ON ADS OR BASED MAYBE ON GLOSSY BROCHURES AND TELEVISION ADS, BUYS THE PRODUCT, AND PERHAPS THE CONSUMER IS SPENDING MONEY ON THE PRODUCT AND THROWING MONEY AWAY.

REPORTER:
THE PROBLEM THE EXPERTS SAY IS ALONG WITH THE LACK OF RESEARCH IS A LACK OF REGULATION.

>> Barbara:
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OFFICE, REGULATORY OFFICE THAT MAKES THE INDUSTRY MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND SOME OFFICE THAT COULD CERTIFY THAT THE PRODUCT CONTAINS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN.

>>Iris:
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS THE WAY TO GO. THE RISK IS YOU START TO REGULATE ACCESS, YOU REALLY WANT TO MAINTAIN QUALITY. YOU WANT IT TO BE PURE AND YOU WANT IT TO BE SAFE. REPORTER: TWO BILLS ARE CURRENTLY BEFORE CONGRESS. ONE WOULD INCREASE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AND ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAW. THE OTHER WOULD BROADEN AUTHORITY FOR THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO REGULATE SUPPLEMENTS.

MICHAEL:
FOR MORE ON ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, TUNE IN TO FRONTLINE TOMORROW TONIGHT AT 9:00. THE PROGRAM EXAMINES THE CONTROVERSY OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL TREATMENTS. MICHAEL: FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF THIS PROGRAM AND RELATED LINKS, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE. THAT ADDRESS IS WWW.KAET.ASU.EDU. CLICK ON "HORIZON" AND FOLLOW THE LINKS. YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHAT'S ON UPCOMING "HORIZON" PROGRAMS.

Michael:
HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW ON "HORIZON". REPORTER: PRESIDENT FOX WAS IN TOWN THIS WEEK FOR A VISIT IN ARIZONA, AND GOVERNOR NAPOLITANO WAS BY HIS SIDE THE ENTIRE TIME. WE'LL TALK TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES SHE AND FOX ADDRESSED, INCLUDING THE VOLATILE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION. TOPICS FOR FIRST THURSDAY, THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON "HORIZON". MICHAEL: BY THE WAY, YOU CAN SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR BY E-MAIL. THAT ADDRESS IS HORIZON@ASU.EDU. AND ON FRIDAY, JOIN US FOR THE JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE EDITION OF "HORIZON". WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE WEEK'S NEWS EVENTS. I'M MICHAEL GRANT. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT ONE. GOOD NIGHT.

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