Pubdate: Sat, 04 Feb 2006
Source: El Defensor Chieftain (NM)
Copyright: 2006 El Defensor Chieftain
Contact: http://www.dchieftain.com/site/feedback.html
Website: http://www.dchieftain.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2520
Author: Audry Olmsted, El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

DRUG AWARENESS MEETING SCHEDULED AT HIGH SCHOOL

Drug Awareness Meeting Scheduled At High School

The hot topics of discussion at a community meeting  next week will be
drug addiction and its consequences,  both personal and legal.

Law enforcement is teaming up as part of a community  policing effort
to bring awareness of drug abuse to  those in and around Socorro. The
presentation is  Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., at the Socorro High School
  gym.

Socorro Police Chief Lawrence Romero said his  motivation for putting
together a drug awareness  presentation is to make people aware of the
drug  epidemic in the community.

"It's all over. It's not unique to Socorro," he said.

"It's our town and drug addiction is killing our  families, kids, our
future," he said.

Romero said he wants to show people what drug abuse  "does to a
person, to their mind."

The presentation will encompass all drug abuse and  awareness, "but
I'm going to have a huge emphasis on  methamphetamines. That seems to
be the drug of choice.  It's very destructive," Romero said.

The meth problem is still the number one problem in the  state," said
Sate Police Capt. Jesus F. Orozco, who  will be giving a presentation
on that drug in  particular.

The presentation, which should last about an hour, not  including a
question-and-answer session at the end,  will include films, a
Power-Point presentation and  photographs of what drugs can do to a
person.

Romero said they would also have guest speakers with  personal
experience in using drugs.

The chief said some of the images might be graphic.

"The films portray a drug problem the way it is. It may  not be suited
for real young kids," he said.

Romero said maybe kids should see the films, so "they  can see the
ugly face of drug addiction and the  disfigurement it causes."

Romero said he is trying to get people from all areas,  including
medical personnel, to come and talk to the  community.

Through this presentation, Romero said he hopes people  will realize
the full scope of the drug problem and  take to heart what they have
learned.

Information will be available at the presentation for  drug treatment
and prevention options.

Romero said this is just another step police are taking  to
aggressively fight drug abuse and added that they  plan to put on
similar presentations for just high  school and middle school students.

Orozco said this presentation goes in line with their  goals of
becoming more community oriented.

He said that in a couple months, they will hold  another, larger and
more in-depth presentation on drug  awareness.
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