Pubdate: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN) Copyright: 2001 Kingsport Publishing Corporation Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437 Website: http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgi Author: Walter Littrell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (OxyContin) Note: Will not publish letters in print editions from online users who do not reside in print circulation area, unless they are former residents or have some current connection to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. LEE COUNTY INITIATES HIGH SCHOOL DARE PROGRAM EWING - Looking to address the abuse of prescription drugs - particularly OxyContin - the Lee County Sheriff's Department has implemented a second phase of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in the county's two high schools. Deputy Fred Rouse, who is doing double duty as senior high DARE officer, explained Wednesday the 10-lesson course is just a more advanced version of the program's offerings to fifth-graders. "There's not much difference in what we teach. It's just more appropriate for their age levels," he said. Rouse said he has added a lesson that is not contained in the DARE curriculum to address the abuse of prescription medications. This, he said, was because of the OxyContin abuse problem in the county. He did note that the high-school-level course addresses problems faced by older students such as abusive boyfriend and girlfriend relationships, and it stresses the zero-tolerance driving laws. Although there are 10 lessons, the course takes 11 days because one lesson takes two days to cover, he said. Lessons include three on drugs overall, with emphasis on alcohol, heroin and harder drugs and his added offering on prescription drugs. Other lessons touch on causes and prevention of school violence, healthy teen relationships, and how drugs can impair the ability to drive. Rouse said the course is taught as part of the school system's health education class and is designed to correlate with the Standards of Learning. With only three classes remaining before completing the course, Thomas Walker High School sophomore Nichole Barton said she is finding it helpful. She attended a private school as an elementary student and did not get the benefit of the elementary DARE program. "I think this makes you more aware of the law, and it emphasizes the consequences of everything you do. Some of the laws we've discussed, I wasn't even aware of," she said. Barton said, fortunately, she has never found herself in a position in which she would have to say no to drugs, but she believes the course will be helpful if she ever does - something with which her classmates agreed. Brittney Green, who did complete the fifth-grade course, said the current course has also taught her responsibility and awareness. "I think this class makes you more aware of things. The other one said 'don't do drugs.' This one makes you aware of the consequences if you do," she said. Besides bringing his lessons to four classes each day at Thomas Walker, Rouse said he arrives early before the first and stays awhile after the last, just to be available to students who may want to talk in private. He has been pleased that many students take advantage of the opportunity he provides. "Usually they just want to talk about general things, but it gives them the opportunity to see officers as something other than the guy writing citations. It lets them relate to us in a positive way," he said. Rouse will finish his course at Thomas Walker on Monday then start over on Wednesday at Lee High School, where he will teach seven classes per day. Sheriff Gary Parsons said the program has been offered for several years through the state, but he has been unable to obtain funding for another DARE officer. Rouse, who worked third shift as a patrol officer, volunteered to teach the course, so he decided to offer it as a way to combat OxyContin abuse, said the sheriff. "It's something I've always wanted to offer as sheriff, but I just didn't have the funds to put a full-time officer on it. Fred volunteered to come off third shift for this, and he has made it a success. He's working a lot of long hours to make this program work, and I really appreciate it. If it keeps just one kid off drugs, it will be worth it," Parsons said. The sheriff said the state DARE program funds materials used in the course, and the Virginia State Police provided training for Rouse to be certified through the Department of Education to teach the course.