Pubdate: Thu, 23 Oct 2003
Source: Corsicana Daily Sun (TX)
Copyright: 2003 Corsicana Daily Sun.
Contact:  http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2968
Author: Micah Chaplin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

D-FY-IT DRUG PROGRAM NEARS 1,000 ENROLLED FROM CISD

Keeping kids drug-free is a team effort for the Corsicana community with a 
program called Drug Free Youth in Texas (D-FY-IT).

"This program basically gives students rewards to stay drug-free," Officer 
Tim Brooks said.

Brooks has been an advisor to the program here for seven years. In that 
time, he has seen the enrollment numbers jump from 30 to more than 100. 
Currently, there are 980 Corsicana students involved with the program, but 
Brooks would like to see more students get involved.

"This year we had about 60 kids join out of the 400 seventh graders," 
Brooks said. "I'd like to get to the point where everyone is involved."

The Corsicana Police Department, Medical Arts Clinic, Navarro Regional 
Hospital, Corsicana ISD and several local businesses have all come together 
to reward students who are and remain drug-free. Together, these 
organizations encourage students to join Drug Free Youth in Texas, or D-FY-IT.

D-FY-IT is a voluntary, community-based program created to curb use among 
teenagers using rewards, not punishment. Students may enter the program in 
seventh grade, with permission from their parents and a one-time $8 fee. 
When they join, they are tested for five different drugs -- amphetamine, 
cocaine, cannabinoid (marijuana), opiates and phencyclidine (PCP).

"If they test drug-free, they're issued a card with the name of the 
program, their name and their photo on it," Brooks said. "They can then 
take this card to local businesses and get discounts and free items."

Some of those local merchant participants are Green's Western Wear, JC 
Penney, Taco Shop, Whataburger, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box and Sonic 
Drive-In. They offer everything from 10 percent discounts to a free food item.

 From seventh grade through senior year, the students are randomly tested 
until they graduate from high school and the program.

If they remain drug-free, they get to be included in various events such as 
pizza parties and trips to a Ranger game or the Mesquite Rodeo.

Those found with drugs in their system are not punished, but the rewards of 
the program are taken away.

"If they test positive for one of the drugs, we don't arrest them," Brooks 
said. "Instead, we offer them counseling so they can come back drug-free. 
If they are tested and found to be drug-free, they're re-admitted to the 
program."

Medical Arts donates its services, free of charge, as they transport the 
urine specimens from the school to Navarro Regional Hospital. At NRH, each 
sample is tested for $8, which is the fee the students already paid. This, 
too, is a donation of service since such tests often cost between $200 and 
$300.

"CISD helps a lot, too," Brooks said. "They give us a lot of leeway when we 
go in to test the students."

Brooks is thankful for the support from CISD, Medical Arts, NRH and the 
local merchants.

"This program really couldn't make it without their help," Brooks said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom