School District Gets Tough On Drugs

Thursday, April 5th 2007, 7:53 pm

By: News On 6

Prue School administrators are taking proactive steps toward keeping their students drug free. The News On 6 aired a story last week about four Prue teenagers who were suspended from school. One of the girls is accused of bringing prescription drugs to school and handing them out to three other girls, two of whom took them and became intoxicated. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren reports now administrators are connecting with parents of younger kids in the district to try and nip this growing trend in the bud.

In Prue, word travels fast, so when school administrators put on a drug prevention program for parents several showed up to learn. Those parents said they're not really worried about their kids, but people like June Stubbs, who's close to a teen who did use drugs, says that's what parents need to get away from, the â€˜Not My Kidâ€™ mentality.

"A lot of people you know feel like itâ€™s not my child, my child would never do that,â€ said Stubbs. â€œYou know I always say the best thing, you know, never say never because your child is an individual."

In fact, the resources parents gathered at the meeting are from a national organization called NotMyKid. Prue parents have now become part of their nationwide initiative called Project 7th Grade. The group targets 7th graders because their research shows 44% of 7th graders have already experienced drugs.

"It just seems so young and its amazing that they could get their hands on drugs at that age," Prue Principal Deborah Tennison said.

Prue's principal says she's learned a lot about young kids and drugs recently, and hopes parents learn a lot through this program.

"Well it makes you stop and look at whatâ€™s going on," said Tennison.

The school provided several resources including a spokesperson from the Sheriff's office and pamphlets on how to spot dug users. The school has also armed parents with home drug testing kits. Any parent that felt like they needed one took one home. The kits test for illicit drugs, and some also tests for prescription drugs. Project 7th Grade claims drug testing kits are good prevention tools because they're for private use. They say they're proactive because there is a greater risk of kids being caught, and they're preventative, giving kids a reason to say no.

"Everyone wants to believe their kids, and everyone thinks not my child. But this is a way to verify that,â€ Tennison said. â€œAnd you know you can trust, but sometimes you need to verify."

To learn more about Project 7th Grade visit their website, www.project7thgrade.org.

Related story:

3/27/2007 - Prescription Drug Misuse Lands Four Teens In Trouble