Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 Source: Anniston Star (AL) Copyright: 2002 Consolidated Publishing Contact: http://www.annistonstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/923 Author: L.E. Forster Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) NEW COUNTY SCHOOLS SURVEY IS FOCUS OF ANTI-DRUG MEETING Geri Doyle stood up to publicly share for the first time a story about the time her son, Ashley, surprised her on her 50th birthday. She wished there were more memories to share. Doyle's son, 21, and his friend, Josh Gaither, 22, were killed two years ago by a drunk driver. Her words on Wednesday provided encouragement to an audience of area residents and Calhoun County School System educators committed to preventing violence and drugs among students. "I don't want you to ever be discouraged in what you're doing," Doyle told the group. "What we're trying to do is prevent what happened to her son," Safe and Drug Free Middle School coordinator June Evans said. The gathering at Anniston City Meeting Center highlighted the results of a recent survey of Calhoun County school system middle school students, and the implementation of new programs aimed at decreasing drug use and violence. More than one-third of Calhoun County fifth through ninth graders surveyed reported having been drunk at least once. More than 10 percent reported trying marijuana at least once. "Maybe we ought to focus on more of these ubiquitous drugs," said Allen Smith, director of assessment at Jacksonville State University. Smith analyzed the survey administered by Evans and fellow Safe and Drug-Free coordinator, Beth Williams. The voluntary survey asked students about violence, drug use, and the home environment. New regulations require parental consent for students to participate in such surveys. As a result of the requirement, a minority of students in the grades surveyed - 36 percent, or 1,400 students - participated. The survey's findings do not shock educators, but they help to show where they should focus their anti-drug efforts. "It will provide a baseline of tobacco, alcohol and drug use; so then we can see the improvement from programs," Smith said. To test the level of honesty of the middle-schoolers' responses, some survey questions were posed to test validity. One, for example, asked if the student had used Doporal - a drug that does not exist. About 1 percent of respondents said they had used the drug. Teachers are in training now for the research-proven programs school communities have selected, Williams said. Using a $347,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Williams and Evans began last year identifying at-risk problems, undergoing training, and implementing programs for middle-school students. A primary motivator mentioned by many involved in the prevention programs is personal loss resulting from drugs or violence. The Wellborn community has implemented a Peer Making Peace program in response to the recent drive-by shooting that killed Wellborn High School student Marcus Pugh. Weaver High School juniors Justin Fox and Kelsey Angels attended the meeting as representatives of students who participate in a Teens Against Tobacco Use, or TATU, program to prevent drug use in younger students. Both students said alcohol and tobacco use is common among their peers, so they are working with younger students to prevent such use. "The earlier they start, then the better chance you have of making a difference," Fox said. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel