Pubdate: Tue, 17 Feb 2004
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2004, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Tracy Dash
Note: Complete series at http://www.mapinc.org/source/sun+herald

SERIES ADDICTION: BILLBOARDS NEW WEAPON IN ANTI-DRUG ARSENAL PART III

The Sun Herald continues today its three-day series looking at efforts
to curb drug abuse.

Sunday: A Long Beach woman has started what is believed to be the first
chapter of Nar-Anon in the state.

Monday: Officials involved with drug court in Harrison County say they
like the results they are seeing.

Today: New anti-drug billboards soon will be going up in South
Mississippi.

To make donations

A substance-abuse fund has been established in memory of Derek
Johnson, a 19-year-old who overdosed on Methadone. The money will be
used for drug-prevention awareness. Donations may be sent to the Long
Beach Substance Abuse Task Force, P.O. Box 555, Long Beach MS 39560.

The Long Beach Substance Abuse Task Force plans to plaster profound
messages on vacant billboards as part of a drug-prevention program
aimed at halting drug abuse in South Mississippi.

The group of parents, school officials, law enforcement and others
concerned about drug abuse has received donations from local
businesses that will be used to help addicts, their families and
friends deal with addiction.

The donations include money, time from volunteers and the use of more
than $3,000 worth of available billboard space in Long Beach to
advertise public service messages. An advertising company spokesperson
said it donates about $300,000 worth of space each year to numerous
local, nonprofit groups and programs.

The spokesperson said the drug prevention program is a good cause.

Public service messages will be displayed on billboards as space
becomes available and will remain until the space is needed for other
clients.

"We want to put out a message, but a message people can understand,"
said Angie Johnson, a member of the task force and the mother of a
teen who overdosed on methadone. "There are people to call."

Johnson's son, Derek, is among several Long Beach residents who died
last year from drug overdoses. He died Aug. 22, a few days before he
was to start a new semester at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Derek Johnson ate dinner with his grandparents the night before and
went out with some friends. A longtime friend picked him up at the end
of the night and took Derek Johnson home with him because it was late.
When he didn't wake up, the friend and his mother tried unsuccessfully
to resuscitate him.

The family later learned he had methadone in his system.

Angie Johnson received support earlier this week from the Long Beach
Board of Aldermen and permission to use the city's name in drug
prevention messages. The slogan: Long Beach Fighting Back.

Board members praised Johnson and the task force for their efforts.

Helping others deal with drug addiction, Johnson said, "is the only
thing helping me through Derek's death."

Although Long Beach has the highest per capita fatality rate in
drug-related deaths, drug abuse is rampant throughout the county,
officials said.

"If one person looks up there and stops and thinks 'I'm doing the
wrong thing,' Johnson said, "it will be worth it."
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