Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2002
Source: Bucks County Courier Times (PA)
Copyright: 2002 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content_cti.shtml
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/couriertimes/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1026
Author: Joan Hellyer

STUDENTS RESENT DRUG

High school students said the two adults charged yesterday with running an 
LSD ring in the area were "taking advantage" of the kids they allegedly 
recruited to sell the drugs.

"They're cowards," a Neshaminy High School student said after hearing about 
the two local men arrested yesterday for allegedly running an LSD ring out 
of his school.

"They're using kids to do their business," said Pete, a junior at the 
Middletown school who asked that his last name not be used.

A county grand jury indictment charges Donald Bound Jr., 26, of Hulmeville 
and Harry Giordano, 22, of Lower Makefield with supplying LSD to students 
at the high school as well as Poquessing Middle School, Carl Sandburg 
Middle School and the Bucks County Technical High School. The students then 
sold $5 hits of the hallucinogenic drug to their fellow students for about 
five years, according to county law enforcement officials.

"They're taking advantage of [the students]," Jeff Wetzel, a sophomore at 
the school, said yesterday while playing basketball at Veterans Park in 
Middletown. But he added that students who fall for the lure of drugs are 
ruining their lives.

"If they want to mess it up, they can," Jeff said.

Drugs are an issue in all schools, Neshaminy Superintendent Gary Bowman 
said in a statement released yesterday, and the district is taking a 
pro-active approach to fighting the uphill battle.

The preventive measures include recently criticized random drug dog 
searches and placing at-risk students in alternative schools away from the 
general student population.

"We're not backing away from our responsibility," Bowman said in the statement.

Brett, a sophomore at the high school who also asked that his last name not 
be used, said he didn't think it would be a good idea to sell drugs at 
school "because the consequences outweigh the advantages."

No one has ever approached him to buy drugs, but Brett said if anyone did, 
he'd know what he'd say to them.

"I'd tell them I'm not interested. I've got too much to look forward to so 
I don't have time to worry about drugs," Brett said.
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