Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2002
Source: Carteret County News-Times, The (NC)
Website: http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/
Address: P.O. Box 1679, Morehead City, N.C. 28557
Contact:  2002 Carteret Publishing Co., Inc.
Fax: (252)726-6016
Author: Cheryl Burke

COUNTY AGENCIES BAND TOGETHER TO BATTLE DRUG USE

Several county agencies are banding together to inform parents about drug 
and alcohol abuse problems among young people.

Ann Walker, health and safety education director for the Carteret County 
school system, coordinated a meeting of law enforcement and community 
service agencies Thursday to discuss the matter.

"There are new types of parties and drugs being introduced to our young 
people," said Mrs. Walker. "When I started investigating and talking with 
the police and Neuse Mental Health Center, I decided it would be a good 
idea to pull a meeting together of people working in health and safety."

Mrs. Walker said law enforcement and community agencies are particularly 
concerned about the increased use of the party drug Ecstacy.

"We're not saying we have a serious problem here, but the national rates 
show an increased use of Ecstacy. As community agencies, we are here to 
support our youth. We felt by networking together we could better inform 
our citizens," she said.

Agencies taking part included Carteret County Schools, county, state and 
local law enforcement, and Carteret General Hospital.

With April and May high school prom season, Mrs. Walker and other agencies 
have coordinated a Parent Awareness Night.

The meeting, which will feature guest speakers and a panel discussion, will 
be held Monday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at West Carteret High School.

Guest speakers will include Regional SBI Agent Chevado Trusdell, Rob Nap of 
the NCIF from Camp Lejeune, and an Atlantic Beach police officer who has 
investigated rave parties, where officials say drug abuse frequently occurs.

"A lot of people don't realize that Ecstacy is a neurological toxin that 
stays in the body for 50 years," Mrs. Walker said.

To get a better idea of drug and alcohol use among high-schoolers, the 
Criminal Justice Division of Carteret Community College will conduct a 
survey of juniors over the next few weeks.

Mrs. Walker said the anonymous survey will be strictly voluntary, and be 
conducted during a homeroom period. Results will be given to Mrs. Walker, 
who will compile and analyze the data.

"I'm not sure what we'll do after the survey is conducted. It will depend 
on the results," she said.

There will also be a discussion about alcohol use among teens, and the 
liability of parents who provide alcohol to juveniles.
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