Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 Source: Jacksonville Daily News (NC) Copyright: 2003 Jacksonville Daily News Contact: http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/216 Author: Francine Sawyer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) JONES STUDENTS, PARENTS SET FOR DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM TRENTON - Former Maysville police chief Shawn Williams has seen the tragedy and destruction illegal drugs have left in their wake. Williams, who describes himself as the chief of the Jones County Schools Special Police, is excited about a drug information and awareness program scheduled at the Jones County Civic Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The workshop, called The Rave Phenomenon, is sponsored by the Jones County Safe and Drug Free Schools in cooperation with DARE, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. "It is no secret that our youth of today are still choosing to take drugs," Williams said. "It is a decision they have made using a variety of excuses, such as boredom, peer pressure, problems at home or at school." The speaker for the event is Martin County Sheriff's detective Mark Middleton of Stuart, Fla. Williams said Middleton is "well-known throughout the Southeast as a drug education specialist. He works well with young people." Middleton, Williams said, is expected to speak about club drugs, such as ecstasy. "Club drugs have been around for a long time," Williams said. "The youth in our community have easy access to these drugs. Who would have thought that simple household products such as vapor rubs and inhalers, pacifiers, Visine, cough syrup, bags of candy or bottles of bubbles could be linked to the use of illicit drugs." Other topics Middleton is expected to address include alerting parents to signs of possible drug use by their children. Middleton will conduct a workshop earlier in the day for teachers and law enforcement officers. Portions of college credit hours can be earned by those attending the earlier session from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. "Most have heard of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. These substances are part of our economic structure as well as our culture," Williams said. "Our youth have no fear of these drugs because most believe they are invincible and nothing can harm them." He said the program at the civic center is free, and the public is invited. For more information contact Joletha White at the Jones County Schools at 448-2531. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager