Pubdate: Sun, 14 Sep 2003
Source: Enid News & Eagle (OK)
Copyright: Enid News & Eagle 2003
Contact:  http://www.enidnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2012
Author: Scott Fitzgerald

MEDFORD FIGHTING DRUG, ALCOHOL USE

MEDFORD - The fuse runs short when alcohol and drug addiction is mentioned 
as a problem among young people in this small town located north of Enid 
near the Kansas state line. The county seat of Grant County has been rocked 
by a spate of news reports concerning teenage drinking, drug arrests and 
the consequences of rowdy behavior. Many residents have accused school 
administrators and trustees of having an indifferent attitude toward the 
problem. Noise intensified in mid-August when Medford High School star 
athlete Jason Kilian was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous 
substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. "Please don't take 
this wrong, but in light of the way our school has been treated by the 
media, there is nothing that I want to discuss," said Medford High School 
principal Richard Cobb. Some officials and residents have been willing to 
discuss it. Some have taken action to address the problem. And many have 
recognized the news value about reporting of the Medford incidents and 
conflicts. "This is not a Medford problem, this is a national problem," a 
reader recently commented about addiction problems as a whole among young 
people after Kilian's arraignment was reported Aug. 12 in the Enid News & 
Eagle. Regarding Kilian, an agreement currently is being negotiated by 
attorney Craig Box of Enid, the young man's legal counselor, and fourth 
judicial district prosecutors. "We expect a favorable resolution," Box 
said. A court hearing initially set for Tuesday is being rescheduled, Box 
said. The defendant's mother, Margaret Kilian, said legal counsel is 
working to get the charges dropped. Jason was in the wrong place at the 
wrong time. He had arrived at 323 S. 3rd, where one of the defendants 
lived, to return a CD when the bust occurred, Margaret Kilian said. A drug 
test Kilian submitted to after his arraignment showed negative results for 
any traces of drugs in his system. And he's learned from his mistake of 
being around unsavory people and locations, she said. Margaret Kilian said 
Jason spent a night in Grant County Jail before bail was posted for his 
release. "This hasn't been an easy situation," Margaret Kilian said. At the 
school level, which has been the target of much wrath, Superintendent Don 
Simmons said some changes are imminent. Although it is not official until 
the minutes are ratified or approved at the next school board meeting, 
school trustees have taken action to drop school sponsorship of senior 
trips in the spring beginning the next school year. A group of concerned 
Medford parents publicly gathered and discussed in May stories and pictures 
they gathered that indicated students were drinking during a senior class 
trip to San Antonio. They also presented a photograph of a teacher 
participating in a drinking party with students; however, the teacher has 
refuted those accusations, saying she was only there to pick up a student 
who had called her. They also hired Enid attorney Stephen Jones to exercise 
legal options in their frustration over trying to work with school 
administrators and trustees. "Not that many schools do it anymore," Simmons 
said about school sponsorship of senior trips. "We're living in an 
'individual' age," he said, noting student extracurricular activities are 
taken in smaller groups with more of a specialized focus. Simmons said he 
has worked with Cobb, the high school principal, to rewrite portions of the 
student handbook to make it "more understandable" and to encourage students 
on more positive approaches to their behavior. Medford teachers are being 
trained on how to recognize students with addiction problems and what to do 
about it. Simmons said in most if not nearly all the research he has 
gathered concerning young people with addiction problems the most important 
influence is parents - their examples and how they parent their children. 
It's a responsibility the school can't fulfill nor should it, Simmons said. 
"We always look to the community.

We are not the community," Simmons said. Jones said Friday nothing new has 
developed in his representation of the concerned group of parents.

No filings or requests to the court have been made on behalf of the 
parents. Some parents confirmed what Jones learned recently - they have 
withdrawn their children from Medford Public Schools and enrolled them 
elsewhere. Medford school administrators also have talked with 
Preventionworkz, an area resource center in Enid that works to deter drug, 
alcohol and tobacco consumption among young people, for help in 
establishing programs within the schools, Simmons said. Executive director 
Sean Byrne of Preventionworkz said Medford elementary teachers and the 
school principal have chosen to include a Life Skills program offered by 
the center into their curriculum. The program provides lessons in addiction 
prevention. It has a high success ratio if incorporated into curriculums on 
a continuing basis, Byrne said. As for the community as a whole, Medford 
Ministerial Alliance hosted a seminar in July and invited Preventionworkz 
to give a presentation. "We are looking for ways to include what they 
(Preventionworkz) offer into our religious programs," said Shane Rackley, 
pastor of Nazarene Church. Some training church officials may undergo 
includes detecting problems and working with convenience store owners and 
clerks where underage people may have purchased alcohol or tobacco, Rackley 
said.
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