Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jan 2005
Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2005 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CRACKDOWN NEEDED ON DRUGS IN OUR SCHOOLS

They are selling drugs in our schools.

Who? Students, that's who. They sell in the bathrooms during break,
behind the school during lunch and after school in the parking lots.

It doesn't happen every hour or maybe not even every day, but it
happens. It is a reality we cannot afford to accept.

Amity Chandler, director of the Charlotte Alliance for a Safe and Drug
Free Community, says the proliferation of drugs in Charlotte County
has risen following Hurricane Charley. No one can point out why except
for the obvious fact that people are depressed and many lives have
been thrown into chaos. Families have been forced out of their homes,
students are attending classes on unfamiliar campuses at odd hours of
the day and many parents are out of work.

Neither Charlotte County Schools or the Charlotte County Sheriff's
Office are ignoring the situation. Both are very vigilant of the problem.

Just last week K-9 units were sent to Charlotte Harbor School and
earlier this year the dogs were taken into both high schools.

The problem is, no drugs were found. Does that mean the problem is
being exaggerated? No. It means the kids are smart.

Drug dogs are not allowed to sniff individuals or their belongings.
The searches are restricted to the parking lot and school lockers.
Handlers do not allow dogs to sniff out drugs on people because the
dogs are trained to go after the drugs and that could result in an
injury.

We believe there are things that can be done. The School Board must
consider a policy used in other Florida schools that allows K-9 units
to search the students' belongings. A few other school districts will
surprise students by asking them to leave the classroom without their
backpacks and books. The dogs are then brought in to sniff out drugs.

Another potential answer is to stress to students the dangers of drugs
and encouraging them to turn in dealers by calling the 1-800-780-TIPS
line.

We realize it is a difficult decision for a young person to turn on a
friend, or even someone they don't know. Snitches aren't popular. But,
there are two things students must keep in mind: that the calls are
anonymous and that turning in a drug dealer could save the life of a
friend. After all, in case anyone has forgotten, drugs can kill. And,
at best, drugs often ruin lives.

Too often, students don't take the dangers of drugs seriously. Just
last week a high school student caught smoking on campus by an
off-duty officer made light of his offense, berated the officer and
demanded to be released so he could get to work on time. This lack of
respect is all too often typical of so many students.

We don't have all the answers. Parenting is often pointed to as the
key ingredient to stopping drug use and teaching respect, but even the
best parents cannot control what happens once their child gets with
friends at school. And when parents do drugs themselves, or purchase
cigarettes and liquor for their own child, it only exacerbates the
problem for schools and police.

We must all commit to addressing the problem -- starting in our own
homes and on our school campuses.
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MAP posted-by: Derek