Pubdate: Sun, 07 Oct 2001
Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2001 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp
Contact: Accepts LTEs by mail only!
Website: http://www.ogd.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689
Author:  Larry Seguin

FAULTY POLL

To the Editor;

According to a recent LCS ( Lisbon Central School ) Poll 70% of LCS 
students smoke cigarettes socially. 30% of LCS students are addicted to 
nicotine. 80% of LCS students drink alcohol socially. 85% of LCS students 
have tried a drug, with marijuana being the most popular. 45% of LCS 
students use drugs daily. The Student Assistant Counselor is available 
every Wednesday in room 155.

This was posted in the halls of Lisbon Central School on Wednesday 11 
October 2000.

A meeting with Seaway Valley Council for Alcohol / Substance Abuse 
Prevention revealed the poll was based on verbal questions asked of 15-20 
students " what they thought the other students were doing."

Can you judge 100% of the students from answers 2% give? How truthful were 
answers? Did one want to look "cool" or "hip" with answers? Did one want to 
"get even" with answers? I suggest parent involvement in the new study.

What is the motive for new study? Is there a connection between drug study 
and federal funds? More counseling, more tax dollars needed?

We have deputized school faculty members. One's personal judgement can 
determine if a laugh in class is ok or disruptive, words on a t-shirt is ok 
or not, if a strip search is needed! What's next, ordered to the nurses 
office for a urine and / or blood sample?

The Office of National Drug Control Policy spends $1 billion per year on 
anti-drug ads. The ads are in all major news papers, magazines, on TV and 
radio. Even on channel one in schools. Sometimes at a rate of 4 per 
hour!  $700 million to $1billion is funded to DARE nationally. All this is 
paid for by tax payers. Is ONDCP's anti-drug media campaign ineffective? Is 
there no positive outcome associated with receiving the DARE intervention? 
Could it be a $2 billion a year failure?

320 copies of Safety first: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens, Drugs, and 
Drug Education by Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D. were sent to Lisbon Central 
School free, at Mr. Wayne Chesbourgh's request. They were turned over to 
the Student Assistant Counselor. Why weren't the books ever passed out to 
students and parents?

No, I don't believe kids should use drugs. I believe zero tolerance is a 
failure. " Zero-tolerance policies in schools don't work well." Joseph 
Califano the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Thu, 06 Sep 
2001.

Larry Seguin
Lisbon, New York
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MAP posted-by: Beth