Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2004
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2004 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Kelly Townsend, The Times-Journal

DRUGS CAN HIT ANYONE AT ANYTIME

Don't think it can't happen to your child - it can happen to anyone.

As 16-year-old Zack shared his story as a drug dealer, he tried to get the 
message across at the Adolescent Drug Intervention Summit on Tuesday in 
Rainsville that drugs aren't just a problem that affect a select few - 
anyone call fall into the trap.

Zack, along his mother, Tammy, and an undercover agent named Andy, took 
turns sharing Zack's encounter with drugs and how his problem affected 
their lives.

The Director of Bradford Health Services, Cheryl Harris, introduced Zack, 
Andy, and Tammy and said because of confidentiality reasons Zack's last 
name, the school and county in which he lives, along with Andy's own 
information, would not be mentioned.

Around 50 people, including school superintendents, public health 
officials, educators, coaches, sheriff deputies, principals and ministers 
throughout DeKalb County, attended in the auditorium at Sand Mountain 
Electric Coop.

Zack's and Andy's speech was one of many presentations during the summit. 
According to DeKalb County Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities 
coordinator Donna Taheri, the program was sponsored by Bradford Health 
Services, DeKalb County's Safe & Drug-Free Schools, and DeKalb County's 
district attorney's office.

It was designed to provide multi-presentations of the dangers of drugs, 
parent intervention, treatment potentials and methodology for parents and 
children to avoid being snared by dangerous and life-threatening situations.

Zack told how he started selling drugs when he was in the seventh grade. He 
had dealt with a bone disease, had not been able to play sports and found 
himself depressed and wanting some way to fit in with his friends.

He started selling his own pills before it escalated to stealing medicine 
from his parents and sneaking out in the middle of the night to make deals. 
He was making up to $3,000 at a time on a deal.

His grades dropped from average to F's, and his attitude changed from 
loving and compassionate to angry and moody.

It wasn't until he attended a youth group meeting that he began to realize 
his life was going down hill and he was helping to destroy the lives of others.

"That is when I decided to come clean and tell my mom," Zack said. "I knew 
it wasn't going to be an easy road, but I knew I needed help."

His mom, Tammy, said she didn't know how serious the problem was until her 
son came clean. She said she had been the kind of mother who was always 
around, asking her son where he was going, and was actively involved in his 
life.

"I couldn't believe that this had been happening and I didn't see the 
signs," Tammy said.

Zack said his parents were loving and devoted, always wanting to know what 
was going on his life. But as he became dependent on selling the drugs, he 
began learning techniques to trick them.

"Many people think it can't happen to the popular, church-going kids that 
come from good homes. But it can," Zack said. "I was all of that and it 
happened to me."

He was selling the drugs to people at school and church, clearing anywhere 
between $1,000 to $3,000 on a deal.

"It was unbelievable to have that kind of money and power at my age," he 
said. "Drugs are everywhere. Don't ever think they aren't because they are."

Undercover agent Andy met Zack when his mom came to him for help. She 
worked for his wife, according to Andy, and believed he would be able to 
help her in helping her son.

"He is my best friend," Andy said with a smile. "He has came a long way and 
I believe his story will help parents and other students see what drugs can 
do."

Zack's drug problem led to him losing his best friend, changing schools in 
his junior year and a lot of counseling. Most of all, he said, it hurt him 
to see all the hurt he had caused his parents.

Andy encouraged anyone in the room that was a parent to never hesitate to 
look for the signs.

"You can't be with your child 24-7 a day and there is a chance that your 
sweet, loving child can become a victim," he said.
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